Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Skips US Pre-Order Bonuses

Most of the talk around the Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake has focused on changes to the original experience, especially after new gameplay footage and a preview event showed adjustments to certain sections. Some fans think the game has been made easier, and they argue that a few changes could strip away the challenges that made the original so memorable.

Those worries deserve a hearing, but judging the whole game from a handful of discoveries seems premature. Zelda: Ocarina of Time brings in different movement and exploration mechanics, so some adjustments were bound to happen. It also adds new characters, dialogue options, and mini-quests, which means it offers more than a straight recreation of the original.

If the finished Zelda: Ocarina of Time turns out too easy and has no harder mode to compensate, the criticism would be fair.

For now, though, there's still plenty left to find out before anyone reaches that verdict. A separate issue has turned into a much bigger source of frustration: the pre-order bonuses. Several countries are getting physical extras through select retailers, while American customers seem to get little beyond the standard package. For people who have loved this game since childhood, that gap is hard to ignore.

Canada is one of the clearest examples. Customers who pre-order through EB Games, one of the country's major dedicated video game retailers, can get a free holographic slipcover while supplies last. It has textured foil artwork and comes with the game's box, so it's more than a small promotional trinket. The packaging gives collectors something extra to keep next to their physical copy.

American fans don't appear to have the same offer. They may get foil cover art, but the Canadian package adds an extra collectible, something more tangible for early orders. That difference has made the pre-order bonuses a sore spot for players who would happily pay for the same item, or earn it, in their own region.

The comparison stings even more because EB Games used to operate in the United States too. GameStop eventually acquired several retail chains, including EB Games, Rhino Video Games, Software Etc., Babbage's, and FuncoLand. That consolidation left American customers with few large specialist video game chains beyond GameStop and independent shops.

Still, the lack of a similar retailer offer doesn't explain why the collectible couldn't be made available some other way.

There's also the predictable worry that scalpers will buy up limited items and list them on resale platforms at inflated prices. A fan who wants the slipcover could end up searching eBay, Whatnot, or Mercari and paying far more than the item originally cost. The frustration isn't just missing a free collectible; it's being pushed into resale markets to get something other players receive with a regular pre-order.

Canada isn't the only country getting appealing packaging. France is also getting a special Nintendo 64-style box, which adds to the feeling that different markets are receiving physical extras American fans can't easily get. If the company can arrange special packaging for buyers in France and Canada, it's reasonable to ask why the United States doesn't have an equivalent incentive.

One alternative would be to offer the box through My Nintendo as a reward for Platinum Points. That would give fans an official way to get it without relying on a retailer-specific promotion or paying inflated resale prices. Even a limited points reward would be better than having no official option at all. For collectors, packaging is part of the appeal, and a cardboard box can still mean a lot to someone who wants to display a physical release.

The range of pre-order bonuses worldwide makes the difference especially noticeable. The textured foil cover is available worldwide, but many other gifts are tied to specific countries or retailers. In the United Kingdom and Europe, some customers can get coasters themed around the Spiritual Stones: Kokiri's Emerald, Goron's Ruby, and Zora's Sapphire. France also offers coasters, and certain French pre-orders include a wallet.

Other regions get even more extras, including posters, keychains, and ceramic ocarinas.

Portugal has a double-sided poster, while the United Kingdom and Europe can get a Zelda: Ocarina of Time keychain. An exclusive pin is available in the United Kingdom and Europe. New Zealand gets a ceramic ocarina, and Spain is getting sticker sets. Japan's extras include art cards, stickers, and either an acrylic or a paper stand.

South Korea seems to have the widest selection. Alongside a tote bag, customers can find slipcovers, keychains, custom keycaps, a clock, a keychain stand, and a commemorative coin. Different buyers prefer different items, but the point is that these markets offer several merchandise options, and some combine multiple incentives.

That's why the situation in America stands out. Across the listed regions, retailers are finding different ways to make a pre-order feel special, from practical accessories to display pieces. Yet Nintendo of America hasn't announced a comparable selection of extras.

Regional promotions don't always have to match, but the United States seems to have been left out almost entirely, even though it's a major market for Nintendo hardware and games. The United States is a big part of the console market, and American customers account for a large share of software sales, even though some games naturally do especially well in Japan and other regions.

The lack of American pre-order bonuses is harder for dedicated fans to understand.

Buyers who have supported Nintendo for years would like the chance to get something extra, especially for a game like Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which means so much to them personally. A physical strategy guide would have been a welcome addition too. Older game releases often came with guides and other printed material that made a purchase feel more complete.

Even modest collectible packaging would give fans something to look forward to alongside the game itself. The criticism targets Nintendo of America as a company, not any one executive. Leadership has changed, but the complaint about missing pre-order incentives hasn't.

From the customer's side, the result is the same: other markets get interesting extras, while American buyers are left wondering why nothing similar was arranged for them. There's an environmental irony here, too. The pre-order bonus in Canada includes a piece of cardboard packaging, something that can be recycled.

Zelda Fans don't necessarily need an expensive statue or elaborate electronic collectible to feel their purchase was considered. A simple box or slipcover would be enough for many people, especially those who collect physical releases and like displaying them.

The bigger worry is that the current approach could feed resale speculation.

If American customers can't get the items through local retailers or an official rewards program, some will turn to overseas listings. Scalpers know collectors may pay a premium for merchandise unavailable in their market, and limited regional stock can make the problem worse. Instead of rewarding pre-orders, the arrangement risks giving resellers another chance to profit from demand.

For hardcore Zelda fans following the Ocarina of Time Remake, the early gameplay debates may get settled once the full game is out, but the pre-order bonuses remain a separate concern. Several regions have announced exclusive gifts, while the United States has no equivalent lineup.

It shows how regional deals can leave loyal fans feeling forgotten, even though everyone gets the same main game. Nintendo could still ease the frustration by running a promotion with an American retailer, putting some of the items on My Nintendo, or finding another official way for fans to get the collectibles.

Until then, the contrast between Canada, France, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, and South Korea on one side and the United States on the other will likely keep bothering collectors. For a company bringing a beloved classic back to players, a small extra could go a long way toward making American fans feel included.