Zelda Remake Outsells GTA 6 on Amazon Despite Shorter Pre-Order Window

Key points

• Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has sold over 100,000 physical copies on Amazon in the last month, setting a record for the platform.
• GTA 6 physical pre-orders on Amazon total approximately 11,000 units in the same period, though its digital sales are significantly higher.
• Zelda pre-orders opened on September 8, while GTA 6 reservations began in late June, giving the latter a longer accumulation period.
• The Zelda title is currently the best-selling game on the U.S. Amazon marketplace, aided by a $10 pre-release discount and limited foil cover art.
• The release coincides with the launch of the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console and Pro Controller, which have sold out at major retailers.

Background

Nintendo scheduled the Ocarina of Time remake for November 5, 2026, directly competing with the anticipated release of GTA 6. Previous coverage noted that the game would be a Switch 2 exclusive, featuring a graphical overhaul while retaining the original N64 art style. The 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console bundle, launching October 29, had already sold out at retailers like Walmart and Best Buy, driving demand for the game itself.

How outlets are covering it

Notebookcheck emphasizes the raw physical sales numbers, highlighting that Zelda's 100,000 units in 30 days far exceed GTA 6's 11,000 physical units, despite the latter having a longer pre-order window. Mashable focuses on the consumer value proposition, detailing the $10 discount on the physical edition and the price guarantee offered by Amazon. Both sources agree that the physical edition's appeal is driven by limited foil packaging and the broader hype surrounding the 40th Anniversary hardware, but Notebookcheck notes that GTA 6's digital sales (estimated at 5.75 million units) likely surpass Zelda's total, making the physical comparison a specific niche rather than a total market dominance.

Why it matters

This data indicates that Nintendo's strategy to counter GTA 6's massive digital footprint with a physical-first, collector-focused release is working. The strong physical pre-order numbers suggest a dedicated core audience willing to pay premium prices for tangible goods, even when competing against a blockbuster title with broader cross-platform availability.

What to watch

The game is set to release on November 5, 2026. Retailers like Best Buy are hosting midnight launch events due to high demand. Scalpers are already inflating prices for both the game and the associated hardware, suggesting potential shortages in the immediate post-launch period.