Some Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake pre-orders delayed until after release date

Nintendo’s upcoming Zelda game has regularly sold out at retailers worldwide. Now, even secured Ocarina of Time remake pre-orders aren’t safe. Walmart, which has struggled with fulfillment in the past, is frustrating customers again. In some cases, the store now estimates delivery after the November 5th release date.

Sign of trouble?

After hearing of the problems, Nintendeal polled followers about their purchases. While a delay is better than a cancellation, several fans revealed they may now need to wait until November 7th. Most pre-orders aren’t affected, but it’s a disturbing trend for shoppers who remember the Switch 2 launch.

Leading up to the handheld’s June 2025 debut, Walmart nullified a significant number of reservations. The store blamed a system glitch and located replacement units for some impacted buyers. Fortunately, the hard-to-find Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console has, so far, escaped a similar fate.

There are also worries Amazon will disappoint buyers on the Ocarina of Time release date. The retailer has a mixed pre-launch record, including with the Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Edition. To this point, reports of delays or cancellations for the Zelda title have been rare.

When the Switch 2 game appears for sale, it rarely lasts long. The underwhelming restocks are not unique to the United States. Nintendo has acknowledged it miscalculated the demand for Ocarina of Time remake pre-orders. Vice President and General Manager for Latin America Bill van Zyll confirmed the shortage exists in multiple continents.

A physical collector's dream

One factor is that the physical version ships in a case with limited-edition textured foil cover art. It’s unclear how long the first print run will last, but collectors are taking no chances. Various shops are bundling additional bonus items like a N64-inspired box or slipcover.

Despite massive interest, Walmart and Amazon have also repeatedly discounted the Zelda game by $10. As they have become preferred targets, that only amplifies fears of overselling. If all else fails, the digital eShop download is always an option on the Ocarina of Time release date.