Images of what appear to be a Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 have been circulating online, and if true, the special edition hardware looks stunning. Take this with a pinch of salt — the authenticity of these images is still unconfirmed — but there’s another, less glamorous detail that gamers should be aware of: a US price rise for the Nintendo Switch 2 may make waiting for a limited edition more expensive.
What Was Reported
According to GamesRadar, images of what look like a Link tunic green Switch 2 and matching Joy-Con were shared online yesterday at ResetEra and then spread across social channels. The leaked flattened box photos were later re-posted by Nintendeal on X (Twitter), and other users re-shared packaging pictures and matching Pro controller boxes.
GamesRadar notes that "From September 1 onwards, the Nintendo Switch 2 is rising from $449.99 to $499.99 in the US", and that the official new UK price point has yet to be unveiled. The write-up adds that unless Nintendo decides to announce and roll out pre-orders over the next 20 days, it's going to be at least $50 higher than the basic standalone console.
Some X users, GamesRadar reports, are also claiming a specific launch date for the alleged special edition, with one re-share stating, "Apparently it'll be coming out on November 12, 2026." Take that particular claim with caution — it’s circulating as a community repost rather than an official confirmation.
The Source & Credibility
GamesRadar’s coverage — written by Hardware Editor Rosalie Newcombe — is careful to flag this as a leak. The images originated on ResetEra and were amplified by accounts on X (Twitter), including Nintendeal and others. The site stresses we don’t know for certain that the images depict an authentic Switch 2, nor do we know when such a special edition would be released if it were real.
That caveat matters. Leaked packaging photos can be compelling, but they’re not the same as an official Nintendo announcement. As GamesRadar reminds readers, there is a chance that Nintendo could surprise-drop an official post with pre-orders in the coming days, which might change the economics — but GamesRadar describes that as "a very slim one."
What It Could Mean
If the images are authentic and Nintendo proceeds with a Zelda-themed Switch 2, there are two immediate implications raised by GamesRadar: collector demand and price premiums.
- Special-edition hardware often costs more than the standard model. GamesRadar points to the Tears of the Kingdom OLED example, noting that while the original Switch OLED launched for $349.99, the Zelda-themed version retailed at $359.99.
- Applying that logic to Switch 2, GamesRadar suggests buyers could be looking at $509.99 in total for a Zelda Switch 2 special edition — a figure presented as a possible outcome rather than a
