Micromania cancels midnight launch events
Micromania, a French video game retail chain, has canceled its planned midnight launch events for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, which was set to release on Nintendo Switch 2. The decision was announced on October 27, though the company did not specify the exact reason beyond referring to "recent events."Midnight events affected multiple French stores
The midnight events were originally scheduled for eleven stores across France, including major cities like Paris, Nice, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Toulouse. These events were meant to allow fans to queue overnight for the game’s November 5 release, with participating stores opening at midnight.Looting incidents raise security concerns
One of the stores scheduled for the event, in Nice, was looted on October 17. A salesperson tried to block the entrance during the incident, which occurred amid broader unrest in France involving demonstrations and widespread looting in several cities. Similar incidents were reported in Paris the following evening.Retailer shifts to lottery system for rewards
Micromania decided to cancel the midnight events due to security concerns, stating it did not want to risk hosting them eight days before the game’s release. The retailer had previously condemned looting as "unacceptable acts." Instead of the guaranteed reward for pre-orders, the special Nintendo 64-style box will now be given out through a lottery.Lottery details and pre-order changes
The lottery will offer 5,000 copies of the special box to customers who pre-ordered the game up to November 1. Premium and Ultimate store members will have double the chance of winning. While the game is priced at 59.99 euros, some retailers may offer lower pre-order prices. The official launch remains set for November 5, 2026.
