Zelda Switch 2 Edition Is Already Being Scalped on eBay for Over $1,000

Zelda fans face inflated prices after Nintendo’s special Switch 2 edition disappears from retailers and reaches eBay listings.

Nintendo has announced a special, Zelda-themed Switch 2 console and a slew of peripherals, and it’s already proving hard to get your hands on the special gear. The system is due on October 29, a week before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is launched on November 5. It will be $520.

The new system is already proving a hit with Zelda fans because of its themed design and green Joy-Con controllers. For existing Switch 2 owners, though, the idea of having to buy an entire other system just to get the special Joy-Cons might not be a tempting proposition. Nintendo also doesn’t seem to be planning to sell the controllers separately, which might make them all the harder to find.

Fans may be even more annoyed by the situation, as resellers have already begun to swoop in on the limited-edition gadgets. The rumored Zelda Switch 2 has reportedly sold out fast following its release, and the themed Pro Controller has supposedly been selling out at retailers across the board.

Zelda fans could have to pay much more because limited hardware sells out fast.

There are Zelda-themed options beyond the console and Joy-Cons. Nintendo is also releasing a themed Switch 2 Pro Controller, which will be available separately, as well as a stand. The Pro Controller has been spotted in some stores for around $100, with reports that the Nintendo website sells it for $110.

There’s also a Zelda Switch 2 carrying case for $40. These accessories offer fans additional ways to celebrate the franchise without having to purchase the unique system, albeit the limited supply of some products is already presenting problems. Eventually, these resale prices began to hit $1,000+.

Which means some Zelda fans who missed out on the original retail stock may have to pay nearly twice the official price to purchase the limited-edition console. The biggest worry is the secondary market. Zelda Switch 2 began to sell out; there were eBay listings with even higher costs. Initial posts were purportedly for $850, hundreds of dollars more than Nintendo’s $520 asking price.

Zelda Switch 2 prices are now over $1,000 thanks to eBay dealers.

This is a perfect example of the limited-edition hardware problem in gaming. When a product runs out soon after it’s released, there is suddenly an opportunity for resellers, especially when demand is high from collectors and admirers. The absence of separate packaged Joy-Cons could add to the problems for Zelda fans.

If you've already got a Switch 2 but want the special green controllers, there may be no official way to get them other than buying another unit. Consequently, resellers may get substantially higher costs when they remove the controllers from the whole system. Nintendo's new Zelda presentation may have raised more questions than answers.

The Direct supposedly had over five million views, and a lot of the presentation was Ocarina of Time related. The upcoming remake is shaping up to be one of Nintendo’s major offerings this Christmas season. It does include vastly better visuals, modernized controls, expanded exploration, new dialogue, and fully voiced cutscenes and is aimed for 60 FPS.

These changes could make the remake more appealing not only to longtime Zelda fans but also to a wider public audience. The holiday season might give Nintendo another big boost because of the remake and the unique hardware. After the Zelda-themed Switch 2 on October 29, we get Ocarina of Time on November 5, which will tie the hardware directly to one of Nintendo’s most famous titles.

Ocarina of Time could provide a huge holiday sales boost for Nintendo’s Switch 2.

The timing makes it fascinating considering that Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated to release around the same time. Demand for the early Zelda hardware is huge and suggests Nintendo may still have a lot of momentum heading into the holidays despite the competition. The primary problem at the moment is availability.

Should Nintendo restock, users might be able to get another opportunity at purchasing the console for the official $520 price. But chronic shortages could push more customers to the secondary market, where prices have already skyrocketed. The early resale activity additionally emphasizes the value of Nintendo’s Zelda brand.

A system that’s firmly linked to one of the company’s most popular properties could be in high demand even before the game that goes with it is out. With Ocarina of Time launching in November and the Zelda-themed Switch 2 currently fetching resale prices north of $1,000, Nintendo seems to have another potentially powerful system-selling combination on its hands.