Nintendo saved its biggest announcement for the end of the June 2026 Nintendo Direct: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is returning as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive remake, scheduled for release later this year.

Hyrule Reborn on Switch 2

The June 2026 Nintendo Direct served as the stage for the reveal — and not just anywhere in the lineup: the Ocarina of Time remake closed the show. The trailer (embedded below) is entirely cinematic — no gameplay footage, just a narration centered on the forest child who had no fairy — but it confirms a 2026 release, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. More details are expected in the coming months, likely through a dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation.

Visually, even the brief glimpse shown was striking: light reflects realistically off Link's hair, a clear sign that Nintendo has gone far beyond a simple remaster. The official term used by Nintendo leaves no room for doubt: "reborn" — Ocarina of Time is being reborn.

A Rumor Becomes Reality

The existence of the project had previously been reported by leaker Nate the Hate, whose credibility had already been reinforced a few weeks earlier following the confirmed announcement of a new classic-style Star Fox title. The remake is part of Zelda's 40th anniversary celebrations and is expected to help drive Nintendo Switch 2 sales while fans wait for the franchise's next major installment. Nintendo's latest console still has a rather thin game library, with many cross-generation titles... And they need something to justify the price increase expected in September...

November in Sight

No specific release date has been announced yet, but the clues are lining up. Rumors point to a holiday season launch — November or December — which would mirror the original game's November 1998 release on Nintendo 64. The original version holds a Metacritic score of 99, a legacy that explains both the enormous anticipation and Nintendo's cautious approach to revealing information.

The community's reaction was immediate and unmistakable: raw emotion, reports of tears across social media, and comments that instantly transported players back to 1998. Some remakes arrive too late. This one seems to be arriving at exactly the right moment.

Sources: GameSpot, Shacknews, TweakTown, GamingBible

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