Some Pokemon Legends: Z-A fans have noticed their pre-orders have been canceled without explanation. The long, leak-filled wait for the Pokemon spin-off is almost over, but the excitement has suddenly turned into frustration and disappointment for some eager gamers whose pre-orders have fallen through right before launch. Anyone else who’s purchased Pokemon Legends: Z-A ahead of time may want to keep an eye on their order.
It’s been three years since the release of Pokemon Legends: Arceus and over a year since Game Freak officially unveiled Legends: Z-A, and many leaks and rumors have surrounded the game since then. Any lingering questions will soon be answered, with Pokemon Legends: Z-A releasing on October 16 in most regions. However, an unexpected development may mean some fans won’t get to play the game quite as early as they had anticipated.
Some Pokemon Center Pre-Orders for Pokemon Legends: Z-A Have Been Canceled
On October 14, Redditor Ok-Salamander-6604 shared that their husband and brother’s respective Pokemon Legends: Z-A pre-orders had been canceled. Both orders were through the Pokemon Center online store, not a third-party retailer like Game Stop, and both were the Switch 1 version of the game, with the OP saying their Switch 2 pre-order was still okay. Several other users replied saying they had also encountered cancellations affecting both the Switch 1 and the more expensive Pokemon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 edition with no reason given in the cancellation email. It does seem that most, if not all, of the fans getting these alerts had ordered the version with a Pokemon plush as a bonus, so the issue may have something to do with that specific pre-order bonus, but things are still uncertain for now.
Some users have reached out to Pokemon Center support for answers, but this has not seemed to clear things up. One fan said they were told there was an issue reauthorizing the payment method, despite their bank showing a charge for the correct amount had already been processed. Others have speculated that the pre-orders sold more plush inventory than the company had available. Whatever the case, it isn’t the first time the Pokemon Center has struggled with pre-orders. Earlier in 2025, some Pokemon TCG Destined Rivals pre-orders were canceled by the store after high demand led to hours-long queue times and site crashes.
Despite the sudden cancellations, some affected gamers have said their order status still shows as “received,” potentially raising hopes that the Pokemon Center will ultimately honor the pre-orders despite the current issues. However, without a formal explanation, it’s uncertain how things may unfold from here. Early reviews for Pokemon Legends: Z-A have outperformed Digimon Story: Time Stranger, though, building hype for the game, so hopefully it won’t take long to resolve the problem.
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
