Panini Is Producing a Legend of Zelda Trading Card Set for the Franchise's 40th Anniversary

Panini is producing a Legend of Zelda trading card set tied to the franchise's 40th anniversary. The announcement lands inside a larger Nintendo rollout that includes a special edition Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console priced at $520, launching October 19, and a matching Pro Controller at $100 with pre-orders already live. A physical edition of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 is also getting limited-time textured foil packaging as part of the same anniversary wave.

Panini entering the gaming IP space with one of Nintendo's most iconic franchises is a meaningful signal. Zelda carries the kind of multigenerational fanbase that can drive serious secondary-market demand, and the 40th anniversary hook gives this set a cultural anchor beyond a standard licensed product. The timing with the Switch 2 console launch means Nintendo is putting real marketing weight behind this moment, which typically translates to mainstream visibility for everything in the anniversary lineup, cards included. The key unknowns right now are checklist depth, parallel structure, and distribution format, and those details will determine whether this becomes a collector's set or a mass-market novelty.