Zelda Switch 2 buyers promised $519 gift cards after Walmart's preorder fiasco

Walmart’s disastrous handling of the limited-edition Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda console has taken an unexpected turn. After abruptly cancelling preorders shortly before launch, the retailer is reportedly offering affected customers another chance to purchase the console. Some are also being promised $519 gift cards, potentially making their next console purchase almost free.

As we reported earlier, Walmart cancelled numerous preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition just before its October 29 release. Customers were informed that the console was out of stock, leaving many scrambling to find alternatives.

The cancellations were particularly frustrating because some Walmart locations already had the consoles on display, as we reported on October 26. However, customers attempting to purchase them were reportedly unable to complete checkout. Now, prominent gaming deals tracker Wario64 has shared screenshots of two emails apparently sent by Walmart to affected customers.

The first acknowledges that the preorder cancellations were a mistake. Walmart claims to have restored the customer’s ability to purchase the console through an item called Exclusive Reservation, which should already be waiting in their shopping cart. Customers receiving this offer have just 48 hours to complete checkout, with purchases limited to one console per person.

With some customers confirming that their original payments were refunded or authorisation holds released, the compensation could effectively cover almost the entire cost of another Zelda Switch 2 console. It is worth noting that the console originally retailed for $519.99, meaning the gift card would not necessarily cover the full price after taxes.

Several buyers discussing the situation on Reddit report receiving similar messages. However, not everyone appears to be getting both offers. Some have found the reservation in their shopping carts, while others report receiving the gift-card email without being offered another console.

The situation comes amid a broader shortage of Zelda-themed hardware. We previously reported that some GameStop locations expected as few as zero to five consoles for launch.

More recently, another report revealed that Walmart had instructed employees to hold certain units until at least November 6 because of supply-chain problems. Meanwhile, some Best Buy locations reportedly expect between 30 and 100 consoles for their midnight launch events coinciding with the November 5 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake.

For now, the $519 gift cards remain promised compensation rather than confirmed deliveries. It is also unclear how many customers are eligible or whether Walmart intends to provide both offers to every affected buyer. Those whose Zelda Switch 2 preorders were cancelled should check their Walmart accounts and associated email addresses. Customers receiving a restored reservation have a particularly short window to act.