We can report, according to GamesRadar, that Nintendo officially announced a special **40th Anniversary** edition of the **Nintendo Switch 2** during its Zelda Direct on September 8 — following "plenty of spurting leaks in August." If true, the console will be available from October 29, and crucially the headline claim here is that the game is "sold separately".
What Was Reported
Per GamesRadar, the 40th Anniversary edition ships with a number of Zelda-themed extras but not the bundled game. The announcement allegedly specifies the console is packaged on its own, with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake sold separately. Accessories tied to the release include a 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller with emerald and gold decals, a 40th Anniversary screen protector and carrying case emblazoned with the Triforce, and an option to buy the Zelda Switch 2 with a display stand.
Importantly, GamesRadar reports that the Zelda Switch 2 with a display stand will be exclusive to the Nintendo store, including Nintendo's brick-and-mortar locations in New York and San Francisco. Pre-orders for the 40th Anniversary items will likely go live at Nintendo first and then reach other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, per the same reporting.
The GamesRadar piece also relays Japanese pricing pulled from a Nintendo Japan press release: the Zelda Switch 2 console is listed at 62,980 yen (about $400), the Pro Controller plus display stand at 12,980 yen (about $80), and the carrying case and screen protector at 3,980 yen (about $25). The piece contrasts those figures with an example pricing snapshot showing a Japan-language Switch 2 at 59,980 yen and a multi-language Switch 2 currently available in the US at $499. Finally, GamesRadar notes the release date for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is set for November 5.
The Source & Credibility
GamesRadar is the named source for these claims. Take this with a pinch of salt: the reporting cites a Nintendo Japan press release for the Japan pricing and specifies details such as Nintendo store exclusivity for the display-stand bundle, but uses phrasing like "likely" when discussing pre-order rollouts to other retailers.
We remain cautious about regional differences; GamesRadar itself warns that Japanese hardware pricing is generally lower and that international pricing "is not known yet." The presence of a press release in Japan lends weight to the reported yen amounts, but conversion estimates are presented in the piece as approximate.
What It Could Mean
If these claims hold up, the launch strategy on display would be deliberately unbundled: a celebratory console and accessory roll-out focused on collectors and fans, while the marquee game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, is treated as a separate retail purchase. That approach would let Nintendo sell a premium-themed hardware package without discounting the game itself.
- Merchandising Focus — A Zelda-branded Switch 2 and matching Pro Controller, plus themed carrying case and screen protector, suggests Nintendo is leaning into collectible hardware sales.
- Retail Exclusivity — The reported Nintendo-store-only display-stand bundle for New York and San Francisco implies a targeted in-person retail push for collectors and walk-in customers.
- Pricing Signals — The Japan press release pricing could foreshadow how Nintendo will position the special hardware versus core models, though GamesRadar emphasises regional price variance.
For more on how this 40th edition looks and the concerns about US pricing, see our earlier coverage of Zelda 40th Switch 2 Looks Gorgeous. For additional detail on the alleged console and controller specifics, we previously reported on Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 And Pro Controller Details.
Why This Matters
This is a story about how a major franchise anniversary could be monetised: a premium, collectible console and matching accessories that deliberately exclude the game itself. If true, Nintendo would be separating hardware fandom purchases from software sales, a model that could influence pre-order behaviour, collector demand, and secondary-market activity around limited-edition hardware.
We remain skeptical but intrigued: take these claims with a pinch of salt until Nintendo's full international pricing and retail plan are clarified. For now, fans should note the key points from GamesRadar — the Zelda Switch 2 is allegedly available from October 29, the console and accessories are priced in yen in the Nintendo Japan release, the display-stand bundle may be exclusive to Nintendo stores in New York and San Francisco, and the headline software, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, is listed separately with a reported release date of November 5. If true, this will be a must-watch drop for collectors and Zelda fans alike.
