One of the most beloved video games ever made is back, and it is the talk of the gaming world this week. Nintendo’s remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched on Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, November 5, 2026. At the same time, the special Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console that many fans hoped to pair with it is still sold out at most major stores, with restocks vanishing within minutes.
What happened
The new Ocarina of Time went on sale Thursday, and Best Buy held midnight launch openings at select stores the night before, according to Nintendo Wire and TechRadar. Vice describes the game as a ground-up remake with voiced cutscenes, an orchestral score and an ocarina players can play by humming into the console’s microphone. TechRadar’s review gave it five stars.
The game runs on any Switch 2, but not on the original Nintendo Switch, Vice reports. It also does not come packaged with the anniversary console, which mainly changes the system’s look rather than how games play.
The anniversary hardware is the harder find. Vice reports that pre-orders sold out within hours. As of Friday morning, TechRadar’s live tracker showed the Nintendo Store had stock on November 5 before selling out again, with Target confirming in-store and online restocks for November 6. GamesRadar+ reported that a Walmart restock of the matching Pro Controller on November 5 reportedly failed at checkout, and that GameStop is selling the console in stores only.
Why it matters
Nintendo itself has acknowledged the crunch. In an interview reported by GamesRadar+ in October, Bill van Zyll, Nintendo’s vice president and general manager for Latin America, said the company misjudged interest in the edition.
“We underestimated how well it would be received.” (Bill van Zyll, Nintendo)
He said replenishments are underway but will take time, and asked fans to be patient. With the holidays approaching, that shortage has pushed some shoppers toward resellers. GamesRadar+ reported eBay listings of around $750 for the console and $150 for the controller, and it advised against paying those prices.
Context: why this game still matters
The original Ocarina of Time came out in November 1998 on the Nintendo 64. Many parents who played it as kids are now sharing it with their own children, which helps explain the excitement. According to Wikipedia’s summary of Nintendo’s announcements, the remake adds full voice acting in cutscenes, a freely controllable camera, and the ability to sprint and jump manually. Nintendo Wire noted that Matt Mercer is voicing the villain Ganondorf, citing a cast list shared by Nintendo Everything.
Prices at a glance
- The game: Vice lists the digital version at $59.99 and the physical cartridge at $69.99. The first print run of the cartridge has a textured foil cover while supplies last. Prices vary by retailer.
- Standard Switch 2: About $499 at major retailers, according to Vice.
- Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2: TechRadar reports a $519.99 price at the U.S. Nintendo Store, when it is in stock.
- Watch for inflated listings: GamesRadar+ spotted a temporary Walmart listing at $599 for the console, which it said was likely an error that has reverted before.
Why it matters for families
For parents, the most useful detail is the content rating. The ESRB rated the remake E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) for Animated Blood and Fantasy Violence, according to Nintendo Wire’s report on the Nintendo eShop listing. That means sword fights with monsters and fantasy combat, but no realistic gore. As always, parents of younger children may want to watch or play a little together first.
If you are holiday shopping, remember that the game plays the same on a standard Switch 2 as on the anniversary edition. Families who already own a Switch 2 do not need the special console to enjoy the adventure. If your child is set on the collector’s model, buying from major retailers at list price is safer than paying a reseller markup. For more holiday budgeting ideas, see our look at Thanksgiving meal deals at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Aldi. And for another family screen pick this season, check our parents’ guide to Netflix’s A Dog’s Perfect Christmas.
What to watch next
Retail trackers expect more anniversary console restocks in the coming days. Target confirmed a November 6 restock, and Walmart is rumored, though unconfirmed, to follow. Nintendo has said more stock is coming but has not given a timeline. Upstormed News will keep an eye on availability as the holiday shopping season heats up.
Read more: Viral Simpsons blackout claim is false; Nov. 17 brings only an alert test
Did you play the original Ocarina of Time, and will you share the remake with your kids?
Sources: Vice, “The Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Is Still Sold Out, but You Can Play Ocarina of Time Right Now” (November 5, 2026); TechRadar, “Nintendo Switch 2 – Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition restocks live” (November 6, 2026); Nintendo Wire, “Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Launch Guide: Restocks & More” (November 4, 2026); GamesRadar+, “Legend of Zelda Switch 2 restocks live” (November 6, 2026); GamesRadar+, “Nintendo ‘underestimated’ how well its Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 would sell” (October 19, 2026); Nintendo Wire, “Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Remake Gets E10+ Rating From ESRB” (July 29, 2026); Wikipedia, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” (accessed November 6, 2026)
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