Walmart has reportedly cancelled a number of pre-orders for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 just days before the console's launch, according to reporting from Kotaku and messages shared by customers.
The cancellations, which customers say arrived as the product showed as out of stock, have reignited concerns about retailer pre-order management for limited-edition hardware.
Kotaku's coverage and customer screenshots indicate affected buyers received notifications from Walmart indicating their pre-orders were cancelled and that they would not be charged.
Multiple customers who contacted Walmart's customer service say they were told the retailer had "oversold" pre-orders — a phrase reportedly used by Walmart representatives when explaining the cancellations.
One buyer told reporters they considered the situation an unethical sales practice, arguing that allowing pre-orders beyond available inventory prevented other retailers from making sales and deprived eager customers of a chance to secure the limited-edition system.
The customer said they planned to attempt to purchase the unit from other retailers.
In addition to cancellation notices, some Walmart listings for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 have shown as out of stock while other listings for the same product appear at higher prices on the retailer's website.
These listing fluctuations were noted alongside customer reports of last-minute cancellations.
Nintendo, for its part, has told customers that restocks for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 will be forthcoming.
Retailers and Nintendo's official storefronts remain primary sources for confirmed stock updates.
Independent site Vooks.net also reported that the official Nintendo Store in Australia received additional units of the Zelda-themed Switch 2 this week, suggesting regional restocks are underway.
For customers still seeking the limited-edition system, the most reliable approach is to monitor official channels: Nintendo's online store listings, the Nintendo eShop for digital announcements where applicable, and retailer stock pages.
Nintendo often shares inventory and distribution updates through its official channels rather than third-party retailers.
This episode highlights ongoing challenges with managing demand for high-profile hardware launches.
Retailers, publishers and consumers will be watching how availability evolves in the coming days as restocks roll out and retailers update preorder inventories.
The cancellations, which customers say arrived as the product showed as out of stock, have reignited concerns about retailer pre-order management for limited-edition hardware.
Kotaku's coverage and customer screenshots indicate affected buyers received notifications from Walmart indicating their pre-orders were cancelled and that they would not be charged.
Multiple customers who contacted Walmart's customer service say they were told the retailer had "oversold" pre-orders — a phrase reportedly used by Walmart representatives when explaining the cancellations.
One buyer told reporters they considered the situation an unethical sales practice, arguing that allowing pre-orders beyond available inventory prevented other retailers from making sales and deprived eager customers of a chance to secure the limited-edition system.
The customer said they planned to attempt to purchase the unit from other retailers.
In addition to cancellation notices, some Walmart listings for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 have shown as out of stock while other listings for the same product appear at higher prices on the retailer's website.
These listing fluctuations were noted alongside customer reports of last-minute cancellations.
Nintendo, for its part, has told customers that restocks for the Zelda-themed Switch 2 will be forthcoming.
Retailers and Nintendo's official storefronts remain primary sources for confirmed stock updates.
Independent site Vooks.net also reported that the official Nintendo Store in Australia received additional units of the Zelda-themed Switch 2 this week, suggesting regional restocks are underway.
For customers still seeking the limited-edition system, the most reliable approach is to monitor official channels: Nintendo's online store listings, the Nintendo eShop for digital announcements where applicable, and retailer stock pages.
Nintendo often shares inventory and distribution updates through its official channels rather than third-party retailers.
This episode highlights ongoing challenges with managing demand for high-profile hardware launches.
Retailers, publishers and consumers will be watching how availability evolves in the coming days as restocks roll out and retailers update preorder inventories.
