Legend of Zelda breaks world record for most expensive game cart ever

A sealed cartridge of The Legend of Zelda bought on Friday for $870,000, making it the highest-priced online game ever bought at public sale. The sale broke the earlier document, held by the sale of a sealed copy of Tremendous Mario Bros. that went for $660,000 in April. Each video games had been bought by Heritage Auctions, and the value on every features a 20% purchaser’s charge.

The deal dwarfs earlier gross sales of The Legend of Zelda carried out by the auctioning web site. Previous to this, one other high-end cartridge of the sport bought for $50,400 in September of 2020, making this sale roughly 17 instances the value of that earlier one.

What accounted for the exorbitant worth hike? Effectively, this one’s manufacturing facility sealed and rated 9.0 A sealed by Wata (with ten being the very best potential score). However past its situation, a lot of its worth comes right down to this: It’s the solely copy from one of many earliest manufacturing runs that the public sale web site has had the chance to supply, and because the itemizing says, probably must supply for a few years.

Picture: Heritage Auctions

Picture: Heritage Auctions

“It’s broadly believed that the copy bought Friday is one among simply two sealed ‘NES TM’ copies graded by Wata,” a launch mentioned. The cartridge is a uncommon variant version of The Legend of Zelda that was solely produced for a number of months in late 1987 earlier than it was changed by one other. “Basically, this copy is the earliest sealed copy one may realistically hope to acquire,” the public sale description mentioned.

That, coupled with the sweeping fan curiosity and cultural significance of the The Legend of Zelda franchise at giant, made for a extremely fascinating merchandise. You possibly can learn a full description from the public sale right here:

The Legend of Zelda – Wata 9.0 A Sealed [No Rev-A, Round SOQ, Early Production], NES Nintendo 1987 USA. Actually, the time period “grail” solely begins to scratch the floor of describing this sport. Of all the video games we’ve provided in our auctions, this sealed, early manufacturing copy of the primary sport within the groundbreaking Legend of Zelda sequence is little doubt the apotheosis of rarity, cultural significance, and assortment centerpieces. A proverbial trifecta of collector perfection that just one will obtain the consideration of calling their very own.

Whereas it’s a laborious reality, it’s a reality nonetheless — not one of the copies we’ve provided of this title beforehand may even try to carry a candle to this one attributable to its extremely uncommon variant that holds early manufacturing standing. This matter is totally inarguable. That is the one copy from one of many earliest manufacturing runs that we’ve ever had the chance to supply, and, probably may have the chance to supply, for a few years to return. Contemplating this variant was solely produced for a number of months in late 1987 earlier than it was in the end changed by the “Rev-A” variant in early 1988, this assertion doubtless comes as no shock to collectors. Just one different variant precedes the provided “NES R” variant and that’s the “NES TM” variant, which is the true first manufacturing run. Nevertheless, it’s also broadly believed that solely a single sealed “NES TM” instance exists, and there’s no telling whether or not or not that duplicate will ever come to market. Basically, this copy is the earliest sealed copy one may realistically hope to acquire.

So for those who occurred to be the fortunate particular person with a spare $870,000, effectively congrats, you simply acquired a very nice, actually uncommon Zelda. Simply don’t open it!