A remarkably rare, sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda has recently fetched a jaw-dropping $288,000 at auction. However, its journey to this staggering price tag was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride, as it had briefly been listed on eBay for a mere fraction of its eventual value.
According to a press release, a young gamer known as Kiro initially listed what he believed to be a valuable copy of The Legend of Zelda on NES on eBay, hoping to secure around “$15,000 or $20,000.” However, his expectations were swiftly surpassed when several individuals reached out to inform him that his listing actually featured the rarest and most coveted variant – a pristine, first-production sealed copy.
Realizing the true potential of his item, Kiro promptly removed the listing from eBay and sought the expertise of Heritage Auctions, where the game ultimately fetched an impressive $288,000.
While the sum may seem exorbitant for a single video game, it pales in comparison to previous auction prices. In 2021, for instance, another sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda sold for a staggering $870,000 at Heritage Auctions.
Moreover, according to Nasdaq, the record for the highest amount ever paid for a video game cartridge stands at an astonishing $2 million, achieved for an original, sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. on NES.
What makes this story particularly notable is the seller’s initial lack of awareness regarding the rarity and desirability of his cartridge. Thanks to the prompt intervention of informed individuals, Kiro narrowly avoided potentially losing hundreds of thousands of dollars to a less scrupulous buyer.
It’s truly heartening to hear Kiro’s account of how “within minutes of listing it, I had multiple people getting in touch with me to ask me if I knew what I had,” showcasing the goodwill and integrity within the gaming community.
