Zelda launch draws hundreds as gamers seek physical copies

Hundreds of customers gathered at a Helsinki game shop for the midnight release of a new Zelda game, highlighting continued demand for physical games even as sales move online, Yle reports.

Shop owner Juho Korkeaoja estimated that 250 to 300 customers had visited during the day, based on the number of pre-orders. The first person in line had waited outside for 16 hours.

Among those waiting was Niko Kaavari, who arrived straight from work before 4 p.m. He had come for Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a fully remade version of the Nintendo 64 classic released about 30 years ago. The new game is for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Kaavari said he was not surprised by the long queue for a remake of one of the world’s best-known games.

Another major release, GTA VI, is also approaching, but its pre-orders at the shop are far lower, Korkeaoja said. Zelda pre-orders are currently five times higher. He attributed the difference in part to the fact that GTA VI will not be sold on a physical disc. Instead, customers will receive a game case containing a download code. Korkeaoja said many customers want a disc and some enthusiasts are angry about its absence.

Kaavari and fellow customer Timja Aunola said they value physical copies even as digital sales grow. Kaavari said having the game on a physical card meant he would always have it.

Korkeaoja said game sales began shifting gradually to digital downloads after major manufacturers introduced online services in the late 2000s. He said some players remain wary that access to digital purchases may not last indefinitely, particularly if consoles and servers are eventually shut down.

He compared the interest in physical games with demand for books, vinyl records and CDs. Aunola said story-driven games can be consumed much like books. Korkeaoja added that older Zelda or Pokémon games can become valuable after 20 to 30 years, and some people buy games as investments.

Queues of hundreds are unusual at the shop and tend to form only for highly anticipated releases, Korkeaoja said. Aunola described waiting in line as a social experience, saying it was easy to meet people with similar interests. She planned to stay until midnight.