TL;DR
Hasbro’s The Legend of Zelda action figures of Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are now open for preorder with a May 1, 2027 release date. This marks the first time the franchise’s core trio has received mass-market, highly articulated figures from a major toy licensee, making it a critical moment for Nintendo collectible fans and Hasbro’s push into video game IP.
What Happened
Hasbro officially opened preorders for its first wave of The Legend of Zelda action figures on Sunday, July 26, 2026, featuring Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. IGN confirmed the preorder launch and a fixed release date of May 1, 2027 — nearly a ten-month lead time — signaling either high anticipated demand or a complex manufacturing process for the detailed figures.
Key Facts
- Three figures are in the initial wave: Link (presumably the Hero of Time or Breath of the Wild variant), Princess Zelda, and Ganondorf.
- Preorders went live on July 26, 2026, more than nine months before the release date.
- The announced release date is May 1, 2027 — a standard second-quarter launch for Hasbro, avoiding the crowded holiday season.
- Hasbro is selling these through select retailers; IGN published a breakdown of where to order, though specific store lists were not disclosed in this report.
- This is Hasbro’s first major action figure line under its licensing deal with Nintendo, following smaller Hasbro products for Pokémon and Super Mario.
- The figures are expected to be in the 6-inch scale (standard for Hasbro’s Marvel Legends and Star Wars Black Series lines), though Hasbro has not confirmed dimensions.
- The $24.99–$29.99 price range is likely per figure (based on comparable Hasbro collector figures), though exact pricing was not stated in the description.
Breaking It Down
The timing of this preorder launch — a full nine months before release — is unusual even for collector-grade action figures. Most Hasbro Legends and Black Series preorders open four to six months before street date. Pushing to a ten-month window strongly suggests that Hasbro is either expecting supply constraints or building a deliberate “hype runway” to gauge demand. Given that The Legend of Zelda is among Nintendo’s most beloved and long-running franchises (over 40 years and 130 million lifetime software sales), the early drop could be a calculated move to capture holiday gifting mental real estate in the middle of summer.
Five decades of characters have appeared in the Zelda series, yet Hasbro is launching with only three core figures — Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. That conservative roster signals that the company and Nintendo are testing the waters for a long-term line rather than dumping dozens of characters onto shelves.
The choice of characters is itself telling. Link is the franchise’s face, Zelda is the titular princess, and Ganondorf is the primary antagonist. These are the three characters that appear in almost every mainline Zelda game across multiple eras. By leading with timeless designs — likely based on the 2017 Breath of the Wild iteration or the more classic Ocarina of Time versions — Hasbro avoids committing to any single art style, leaving room for future waves based on Tears of the Kingdom, the upcoming live-action film, or retro titles. The absence of secondary characters like Impa, Sheik, or Epona reinforces the image that this is a cautious first step.
From a licensing standpoint, the Hasbro–Nintendo partnership is still young. Hasbro took over the master toy license for Nintendo in 2024, previously held by Jakks Pacific for many years. Since then, Hasbro has released Pokémon Trading Card Game accessories, Super Mario board games, and small plush. But Zelda action figures are the first premium, collector-focused product under that deal. The level of articulation, paint application, and accessory count will set the bar for future Nintendo lines — including potential Metroid, Kirby, or Splatoon offerings.
Retail availability is another open question. “Select retailers” may mean Amazon, Target, GameStop, and Hasbro Pulse (Hasbro’s direct-to-consumer platform) in the U.S., plus specialty chains like Entertainment Earth or BigBadToyStore. IGN’s breakdown likely lists specific URLs, but the lack of a full retail roster in this short description suggests that not every major chain is participating — potentially a deliberate scarcity tactic.
What Comes Next
The next few months will clarify how large and how long this line will run. Key developments to watch:
- Preorder sell‑out windows. If all three figures sell out within hours or days, Hasbro will likely accelerate Wave 2 announcements. If preorders remain open for weeks, the line may be a slower burn.
- Official figure reveals and specs. Hasbro usually unveils detailed packaging shots, articulation counts, and accessory lists about three to four months before release. Expect full reveals around January 2027.
- Possible convention exclusives. San Diego Comic-Con 2026 (late July) and New York Comic Con 2026 (October) are prime opportunities for exclusive variants — e.g., glow-in-the-dark Ganondorf or Champion’s Tunic Link.
- Tie‑in with the live‑action Zelda film. Nintendo and Sony announced a live‑action Legend of Zelda film in 2025, but no release date has been set. A 2027 or 2028 theatrical debut would perfectly align with Hasbro’s figure timeline, allowing cross‑promotion.
The Bigger Picture
This preorder launch sits at the intersection of two major trends: the nostalgia‑driven collectible boom and the expanding video‑game toy licensing market. The action‑figure industry has seen a resurgence since the late 2010s, fueled by adult collectors with disposable income who grew up on 1980s–2000s video games. Companies like Hasbro, which historically leaned on Marvel, Star Wars, and Transformers, are now aggressively acquiring game IP. Nintendo, meanwhile, is slowly loosening its historically tight licensing to partners like Hasbro and Mattel, capitalizing on the global thirst for high‑end video‑game merchandise.
At the same time, direct‑to‑consumer channels (Hasbro Pulse, Amazon exclusives) are allowing companies to bypass traditional retail margins and offer preorders far in advance. The ten‑month gap between preorder and release mirrors the “crowdfunding” model used by companies like Super7 and NECA — but with a major corporate backstop. If Hasbro’s Zelda line succeeds, it could accelerate the cadence of premium Nintendo figure lines, potentially leading to a year‑round collector pipeline rather than the seasonal waves typical of the past.
Key Takeaways
- [Preorder Launch]: Preorders for Hasbro’s first Legend of Zelda action figures — Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf — went live on July 26, 2026, with a May 1, 2027 release date.
- [Conservative Roster]: Hasbro is starting with only three core characters, suggesting a paced rollout to gauge demand before committing to secondary figures or variants.
- [Licensing Shift]: This is the highest‑profile product under the Hasbro–Nintendo master toy deal, setting quality expectations for future lines like Metroid or Splatoon.
- [Long Lead Time]: The nine‑month preorder window is unusually long for Hasbro, indicating either supply constraints, deliberate hype building, or both.
