Nintendo Just Made Major Changes to the Most Iconic 'Legend of Zelda' Game in History

Published Sep 12, 2026, 5:14 PM EDT Randy Rhodes' first gaming memory is Kirby's Adventure on the NES, and his love for gaming only rose from there. Playing games eventually wasn't enough for him. He began following the industry closely. In 2024, he finally started putting that to use by launching the Project Untitled Gaming Podcast and later the Dual-Wield Gaming Podcast. Covering the news week to week turned out to be something he loved, but a weekly show only has so much room in it, and writing was already something he wanted to do more of. Randy has written for Lords of Gaming since March 2025 and already has over 200 articles published to show for it. His coverage centers on Nintendo, Xbox, and indies, and runs across news, reviews, previews, and editorial. He enjoys writing about and critiquing the games that he's played, but analyzing the industry brings just as much enjoyment for him. He tends to write editorials that try to dig deeper into the news instead of just restating it. Randy reviews and previews games broadly across all genres. He has a soft spot for co-op games, 3D platformers, and the majority of Nintendo's first-party output, but he also adores cozy and niche titles that don't always get a serious look: visual novels, farming sims, life sims, etc. He's always looking for up-and-coming indie games worth writing about. Outside of games, Randy is into DnD, cooking, music and music production, which inspired one of his favorite pieces to write: 50 Songs Leveled Up By Video Game Samples. He also cares about Black representation in games and in the industry behind them, and he's always looking for opportunities to cover it. The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct has premiered, and there is a lot to unpack. The headliner was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Nintendo Switch 2, which finally offered the first look at gameplay after a small teaser back in June. Series producer Eiji Aonuma showed off and narrated over 15 minutes of early-game footage, showcasing the Great Deku Tree, Hyrule Field, and more. Nintendo didn't stop there for the 40th Anniversary of the series, of course. There's a ton more for Zelda fans to look forward to in the coming months, including The Legend of Zelda live-action film. A celebration of four decades of Hyrule is underway, and the franchise feels strong enough to go another 40. Everything Announced for 'The Legend of Zelda' 40th Anniversary Image via Nintendo The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct blew through a lot of information quickly, but there were some big announcements outside the upcoming remake. A concert series for the franchise is one of the bigger announcements, touring globally through 2027 with a mix of iconic tunes from the past and present of the series. A Japan tour kicks off in Tokyo in January, a North American tour starts in Chicago in February, a European tour begins in London in April, and an Australian tour opens in Melbourne in May. The Legend of Zelda live-action film also received an update with Shigeru Miyamoto revealing the final title: The Legend of Zelda. It wasn't much of a reveal, but it will be releasing worldwide on April 30, 2027. This original story from Nintendo, Arad Productions, and Sony Pictures Entertainment will be built from the ideas and concepts the series has accumulated over 40 years rather than adapting a single game. The Nintendo Museum in Kyoto is also going all out with anniversary ticket designs, photo opportunities, and the opening of the Super Family Restaurant featuring Link. The Nintendo Today app will also be updated with Legend of Zelda digital cards that users can collect daily starting tomorrow. A few cool pieces of merchandise round out the announcements, including a LEGO Ocarina of Time Link and Epona set and a 27-inch Hasbro Electronic Master Sword with over 15 touch and motion-activated sounds. Both will arrive spring 2027. The Missing Links Image via Nintendo There was one glaring omission that may disappoint fans: not a single new Zelda game was announced. For a 40th anniversary celebration of one of gaming's most iconic franchises, you'd expect to have at least a couple of titles to look forward to. Yet, the Ocarina of Time remake is all we have to show for it. That hurts most for anyone who's still holding out hope for Twilight Princess HD or The Wind Waker HD on Switch and Switch 2. Both games received highly regarded HD remasters on the infamous Wii U, and both have been in the rumor mill to arrive on Switch for years. The Anniversary Direct was the most obvious venue, but it seems fans will have to wish for another year. An N64 Masterpiece Reborn The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake looks absolutely stunning in its first gameplay showing. It's easily the best looking first-party title on the Nintendo Switch 2, and somehow it runs at a smooth 60fps. The realistic, highly detailed art style can be jarring after nearly a decade with Breath of the Wild's heavily stylized design. It also doesn't help that years of Unreal Engine Ocarina of Time fan projects have made the realism look uncanny, but the charm grows as you watch it in action, and it becomes clear this still screams Nintendo. Almost everything has been overhauled beyond the visuals, with faster load times, remastered sound, and a bombastic symphonic orchestral score. Locations have been fully remodeled with brand-new details as well. The quality-of-life changes may be the most important updates for the 27-year-old game. Link can now jump freely and dash with dedicated buttons, as well as control the camera using the right stick without restriction. Although the original game is still a grand achievement of game design, the archaic camera controls and automatic jumping needed an overhaul for this remake to work. Other additions focus on immersion, such as full voice acting for characters that Link meets along his journey, including Navi and Saria. NPCs will also have more to say and cutscenes will be expanded for a more cinematic feel that fits in 2026. The day/night cycle keeps passing even when you enter a town, making Hyrule feel more seamless. A new Threads of Time feature keeps players on track by recording what they've done before and detailing what they need to do next. The 'Ocarina of Time' Remake Didn't Change Enough? A lot of changes have been made to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, but the structure is still faithful to a fault. It remains a near 1:1 recreation of the 1998 adventure, even down to the loading screens. Dungeon and town layouts are seemingly untouched, and the progression doesn't seem to be updated for a modern approach either. That will disappoint anyone hoping for a full reimagining in the vein of Resident Evil 2 or Final Fantasy VII Remake, which felt like brand-new games both visually and mechanically when they released. Nintendo went the opposite route, treating the Ocarina of Time remake as a restoration rather than a reinterpretation. There's an argument there, since this is a game that has topped GOAT lists for nearly 30 years straight. There's also an argument that this approach plays it too safe and doesn't give fans enough of something new. More Ways to Enjoy 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' Image via Nintendo Nintendo will also be releasing two ocarinas to celebrate the release, a playable version for the musically adept and an electric one manufactured by HORI that plays notes or entire songs with the press of a button. You can also use the physical ocarina to play the in-game melodies instead of using buttons. Two amiibo based on Young Link and Young Zelda arrive sometime in 2027, unlocking in-game masks inspired by the N64 original's graphical style. The previously announced Mineru's Construct amiibo for Tears of the Kingdom releases September 17. ZELDA NOTES also gets a major expansion to include the Ocarina of Time remake. It adds adventure tracking, Gossip Quest mode that provides hide-and-seek-style challenges, a daily quiz drawing from over 2,000 questions, and a virtual ocarina featuring the ability to create and share scores via QR Code. When Can You Play the 'Ocarina of Time' Remake? Image via Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches at a reasonable $59.99 digital and $69.99 physical, and the first print run of the physical copy sports special packaging featuring textured foil cover art while supplies last. A Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Nintendo Switch 2 arrives October 29 alongside 40th Anniversary Edition Pro Controllers, available with and without a display stand, and a carrying case with screen protector, all rocking a Triforce design. The Ocarina of Time remake arrives November 5, 2026, exactly two weeks before Grand Theft Auto VI lands on November 19, and that may be the boldest decision Nintendo made with this release. We've seen plenty of developers run from November after GTA 6's release date was set in stone, including Fable, but it seems Nintendo is very confident in their product. It's hard not to be when the game in question is the highest-rated title in Metacritic history, arriving on the fastest-selling console of all time. Ocarina of Time is shaping up to be a juggernaut and a surefire system seller for the Nintendo Switch 2 this holiday season. What was once a dream that Zelda fans thought might never happen on this scale is now a reality, and it may be the only game of 2026 with enough clout to stand that close to the giant without taking a hit.