While Nintendo typically doesn't lean to heavily into pre-order bonuses, GameStop has revealed a new and exclusive wooden plaque to go along with a The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pre-order. After a lengthy time under development, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is likely the biggest release in 2023 for the Nintendo Switch, with many fans assuming that it could be one of the final first party games before Nintendo moves on to the next console.Still, with as much excitement as there is for a new Zelda title, Nintendo has been incredibly secretive with it. With the title only 3 months away, there's still so much that fans don't know about the title, outside of a few short trailers teasing some of the bigger gameplay elements. Fans got their best look at the game during the recent Nintendo Direct which showed Link riding some sort of makeshift car and flying drone. While speculation continues to dominate gaming circles online, Nintendo also opened pre-orders for the title and GameStop may have a compelling reason for buyers to go there. Nintendo has a track record of not putting too much stock into pre-order bonuses with its games. While The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom seems to continue that trend, GameStop recently announced an exclusive pre-order bonus to anyone that throws money down there. Fans can pick up a Wooden Plaque, while supplies last, which features numerous designs and Sheikah stylized symbols fans have seen in the Breath of the Wild world. In the middle, there appears to be some sort of hand inside a black column with an eye on top of it, likely representing something inside of the game.
The announcement comes well after the opening of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom pre-orders, so naturally, there are fans who are wondering if this announcement is retroactive for those who already put money down. For physical copy preorders, the plaque will be available at the time of pickup. For online buyers, GameStop recommends printing out the order confirmation page and bringing it to a local store to receive the plaque bonus, though they advise calling the location first to ensure they have them available.
For some players, this bonus may not be enough as there are a sizable number of fans who remain disappointed with Nintendo's decision to raise the Tears of the Kingdom price to $69.99. While Nintendo has confirmed that this price hike will be a case by case basis, many players are calling the company greedy and feel like the game's technical performance won't justify it like other titles on a PS5 or Xbox Series X can.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is coming to Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.