In a surprise announcement during the The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct, Nintendo officially unveiled a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console and a special Pro controller.
A New Era for Zelda Collectibles
These new products are being released to commemorate four decades of the iconic The Legend of Zelda series. Both the special edition Switch 2 console and the Pro controller are slated for release on October 29th. A special version of the Pro controller, which includes a display stand, will be available exclusively through the Nintendo Store.
A Rich History of Themed Consoles
Nintendo has a long-standing tradition of releasing themed consoles for its beloved franchises, and The Legend of Zelda is no exception. For over two decades, nearly every handheld Nintendo console has received a special edition inspired by the series.
The history of these collectibles includes:
- In 2004, Nintendo released a gold Game Boy Advance SP featuring the Triforce symbol on its lid, bundled with The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap.
- This was followed in 2006 by a gold DS Lite themed around The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
- The series’ 25th anniversary in 2011 saw a black 3DS special edition.
- Subsequent releases included a gold and black 3DS XL for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, adorned with the Triforce, and a gold New Nintendo 3DS XL for The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D.
Home Console Editions
The tradition extends to home consoles as well. Nintendo previously offered a limited edition Wii U bundle for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, which included a themed GamePad. More recently, a special edition Switch OLED model featuring a white base was released for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In 2024, a gold Switch Lite was also launched, adding to the impressive collection of themed hardware.
The announcement of the Switch 2 special edition console and Pro controller signals Nintendo’s continued commitment to celebrating its flagship franchises with unique hardware for its dedicated fanbase. Fans eager to get their hands on these commemorative items will want to mark their calendars for the October 29th release date.
