Best Buy's Midnight 'Zelda' Switch 2 Console Release Is Already Intense
Updated Nov 4, 2026, 5:07 PM EST
Patricia is the former editor-in-chief of Kotaku, where she spent a decade writing and editing. Prior to that, she served as the Culture Editor at Polygon, and as a reporter at The Verge. Hernandez specializes in Pokémon TCG, Nintendo, and offbeat internet culture stories.
Zelda fans who haven't pre-ordered the game or its Switch 2 console face an uphill battle
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Ever since Nintendo announced the official release of a Switch 2 console for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, trying to get one has been a bloodbath. Even with constant restocks, the Triforce-themed hardware keeps selling out within seconds. Fans who are desperate to score the special Switch 2 or any of its Zelda accessories thought Best Buy was about to provide a viable alternative that couldn't be ruined by bots with Best Buy. Instead, it's regular 'ol humans who might become the problem at some locations.
Best Buy is holding a midnight launch for the upcoming Zelda game and its associated Nintendo Switch 2 system and Pro Controller tonight, on Nov. 4. Fans who already preordered but want to get in on the fun can have their goods shipped to a local store for pickup during the midnight launch. Fans who haven't yet secured the foil cover edition or its hardware accessories have good reason to show up as well. The Best Buy website says that a limited number of consoles and Zelda controllers will be available for purchase in store.
Fans have taken that warning to heart, it seems. Social media pictures of stores across the United States show that people are lining up hours, if not days, in anticipation of the new Nintendo console. Some onlookers have assumed the lines must be for Pokémon cards releasing on Friday, or for Black Friday deals. Most likely, the lines are for the hot products that are imminently releasing, not ones that are days away. In some cases, Best Buy locations have two lines: one for pre-orders, and one for people who don't have one.
Images: Redline's Pokemon Community/FacebookHow many Switch 2 Zelda consoles will my Best Buy stock for the midnight launch?
Stock will vary by location, but early estimates show that stores are receiving somewhere between 10 and 20 Switch 2 units. Given the lines (and the high resale prices), those units are bound to sell out quicker than physical game copies or accessories like controllers. Elsewhere, fans are being told that stores initially listed as midnight release locations won't actually be getting any Switch 2 stock on Wednesday night. The pre-orders aren't canceled — the affected stores just won't be selling them early.
Though Best Buy hasn't hosted any recent midnight launches, the rising popularity of Pokémon cards means many customers are already used to lining up outside the store ahead of hot releases. Fans should double-check that their local store is participating and assess line lengths at least a few hours before midnight. That way, folks who have struck out online won't waste time at stores that are already packed with customers.
Best Buy won't have any electric ocarina instruments to purchase on Nov. 5, which is a shame since the accessory is sold out on Nintendo's website. Fans shouldn't lose hope, though. The official Nintendo Store app is a great way to stay abreast of restocks for Zelda products, including the ocarina.
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