
Nintendo has just dropped one of the biggest gaming announcements in years — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a full ground-up remake, and it’s coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. I’ve been waiting for this confirmation for months, and it’s finally here. Here’s everything we know so far.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Game | The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Remake) |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 (Exclusive) |
| Release Window | 2026 (exact date TBA) |
| Original Release | November 1998 (Nintendo 64) |
| Announcement | Nintendo Direct — June 9, 2026 |
| Type | Full ground-up remake (not a remaster) |
Nintendo revealed the remake during the Nintendo Direct on June 9, 2026, confirming what had been rumored since at least March. The official announcement from Nintendo of America read: “The Nintendo 64 classic returns for a new generation in 2026, reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.” Short, sweet, and absolutely massive.
The reveal was a brief cinematic teaser — no gameplay footage was shown. What we did see was a new, beautifully modernized Link model, and the detail level is a serious step up from anything before. According to multiple outlets, there’s even light reflecting in Link’s hair, which hints at a high-fidelity engine under the hood. The trailer tells the tale of Link, the boy without a fairy companion, born in the lands of Hyrule — a nod to the game’s iconic opening.
This is very much a teaser, not a full reveal. Nintendo ended the Direct by promising: “More details will be announced in the future. So please look forward to them.”
Multiple insiders — including leaker NateTheHate, who first reported on this project months ago — have confirmed this is a full-blown remake and not a simple remaster. Nintendo’s own language of “reborn” strongly supports that framing. Some insiders have also claimed it may use the Breath of the Wild engine, though Nintendo hasn’t verified that yet.
This would make it only the second major revisit of Ocarina of Time after the 2011 Nintendo 3DS remaster, which updated visuals and added touchscreen support. This new Switch 2 version is shaping up to be something far more ambitious.
Ocarina of Time originally launched in November 1998 on the Nintendo 64 and went on to become one of the highest-rated games in history, sitting at a 99 Metacritic score — the top of their all-time chart. It was the first 3D Zelda game, introducing players to Hyrule in full three dimensions for the first time, complete with Link’s iconic horse Epona and the legendary Temple of Time.
The remake also ties directly into The Legend of Zelda franchise’s 40th anniversary in 2026, alongside the upcoming live-action Zelda film. Nintendo is clearly going all-in on Zelda this year.
No specific release date has been confirmed yet. The window is 2026, and speculation points toward the holiday season — possibly November, which would be a symbolic nod to the original’s November 1998 launch. However, that would put it in direct competition with GTA 6, which launches on November 19 on other platforms. Whether Nintendo goes head-to-head or opts for a Q3 window remains to be seen.
A limited edition Nintendo Switch 2 bundle themed around the OoT remake has also been rumored by leakers, though nothing is official yet.
Yes. Nintendo has confirmed it is exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, with no Switch 1 version planned.
Based on Nintendo’s “reborn” language and insider reports, this is a full ground-up remake — not a simple remaster like the 2011 3DS version.
Nintendo has confirmed it will launch in 2026, but no specific date has been announced. More details are expected later in the year.
Yes, the original version of Ocarina of Time is currently available on Switch and Switch 2 as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.
Nintendo has not officially confirmed the development studio. It’s speculated that Monolith Soft, who wrapped Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, could be involved, but nothing is confirmed.