Walmart offers $519 gift cards after cancelling Zelda Switch 2 preorders
Walmart cancelled Zelda Switch 2 preorders days before the October 29 launch. Now some buyers are getting $519 gift cards and a 48-hour chance to buy again.
Walmart is trying to make amends after cancelling preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition shortly before its October 29 launch. Some affected US customers are now being promised $519 gift cards, and some are getting a restored reservation with a 48-hour window to check out.
What happened
The trouble started in the final days before release. Walmart told many preorder customers the console was out of stock, even though some stores already had units on display. Shoppers who tried to buy those display units reported that checkout would not go through.
Deals tracker Wario64 then shared screenshots of two emails Walmart sent to people caught up in the cancellations. The first admits the cancellations were a mistake and says an "Exclusive Reservation" item has been placed in the customer's cart. Buyers get 48 hours to complete the purchase, limited to one console per person. The second email promises a gift card worth $519.
Not everyone gets both offers
Reports from affected buyers vary. Some found the reservation waiting in their cart, while others received the gift card email with no second shot at the console. Several customers say their original payments were refunded or their card holds released, which means the gift card could cover most of the cost of a new unit. It will not quite cover everything: the console retailed for $519.99 before tax.
Walmart has not said publicly how many customers qualify or whether every affected buyer will receive both offers, so the gift cards are a promise until they land in accounts.
Why stock is so tight
The anniversary console is scarce across US retail. Some GameStop stores expected between zero and five units for launch, and a separate report says Walmart told staff to hold certain units until at least November 6 because of supply problems. Some Best Buy locations expect 30 to 100 consoles for midnight events tied to the November 5 release of the Ocarina of Time remake.
What it means for SEA players
This is a US retail story, so buyers in Singapore, Malaysia and the rest of the region are not directly affected. It does show how thin supply is for the limited edition, which matters if you plan to import one. Nintendo is also marking the 40th anniversary elsewhere, including free Zelda designs in Animal Crossing.
If your Walmart preorder was cancelled, check your account and email now. The restored reservation expires 48 hours after it is issued.
Source: Notebookcheck, citing emails shared by Wario64.
