Nintendo Apologizes for Underestimating Zelda: Ocarina of Time Demand

Nintendo says it underestimated how popular the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time remake would be, apologizes for sellouts, and promises restocks of both the game and the 40th anniversary console.

Nintendo has issued a mea culpa over the hype surrounding The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2, and it comes with some good news for anyone still hunting down that 40th anniversary console.

The remake has been a monster since it was announced this summer, and things only got hotter after its proper reveal last month. The gameplay trailer has already racked up over 10 million views on Nintendo's US YouTube channel, and the game is charting on multiple bestseller lists off preorders alone.

That enthusiasm has spilled over to the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console, which sold out almost instantly in many regions and hasn't seen a major restock since. Turns out, Nintendo didn't see any of this coming.

In a recent interview, Bill van Zyll, Nintendo's VP and General Manager for Latin America, called the Ocarina of Time remake "a global phenomenon" and admitted the company "underestimated how popular it would be." He added that the US market has also performed "extremely well."

When asked if Nintendo expected Zelda products to sell out, Zyll didn't mince words: "If we had expected it, we wouldn't be in this situation, right? At least not to this extent. I can tell you, this is a global phenomenon. We're seeing this everywhere. We apologize for that. It certainly wasn't our intention. We underestimated how popular it would be. Of course, some markets stand out especially."

He continued: "The US has also done extremely well. It's a global phenomenon, and products are running out. Preorders hit their cap, and that's exactly what happened in Brazil. We're working hard to replenish stock of the special hardware and software, but it'll take a little time. So what I'll say to you now is: please be patient. To answer your question, yes, it caught us off guard. We expected a positive response, but this scale is really surprising."

Zyll was also asked whether he could confirm restocks for the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console. Nintendo does plan to restock, though specifics remain vague. The company stated: "Yes. I can't give you a date right now. We're working on it. I can't give you quantities either. It's all in progress, but that's our current plan—special controllers, hardware, and software."

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches on Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, with the 40th anniversary console arriving slightly earlier on October 29. Are you hoping to snag one of these restocks, or have you already given up? Let us know!