The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Launches November 5 for Switch 2

Nintendo has officially announced that the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be released for Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. 

This remake is described as a “faithful interpretation with modern technologies.” Plus, characters are now fully voiced during cutscenes. 

New footage of the remake surfaced, with entirely new visuals that evoke nostalgia for the original game. The new footage takes place in the Kokiri Village. There is plenty of new dialogue to emphasize character personalities, and Link can now jump manually with the press of a button. 

While swimming, Link can dash and dive underwater for items. Items can now be swapped with a single button, and the slingshot can be targeted via motion controls. 

The showcase then goes to the first dungeon, the inside of the Great Deku Tree. The room layouts and puzzle-solving elements appear identical to the original game. Loading screens have been kept to maintain the essence of the original game.

Then, Hyrule Field is unveiled. A new feature called Threads of Time lets players see their ongoing progress and what their next objective is. A large tapestry in the menu will gradually fill in as the adventure progresses, too. Now, holding down the A button will make Link roll and dash. 

Hyrule Castle Town is next, with plenty more characters compared to the original game. Quite a few new details, including those that were merely backdrops from the original game, have been added. Townspeople have notable conversations, too. Time will now pass in town as well. 

At nighttime in Hyrule Field, the presentation introduces the Ocarina with the Sun Song, transforming it from night to day. On Switch 2, the game supports microphone usage and a real-life version of the Ocarina that Nintendo will sell. Epona’s Song is played at Lon Lon Ranch, concluding the showcase. 

The Zelda Notes app on smartphones will support this release, too, letting you see your accomplishments on a particular day in chronological order. The app automatically takes screenshots and adds them. Stats, including defeated enemies and distance traveled, are added. 

Gossip Quests feature specific locations to find in-game, giving points that grant music scores for the Ocarina. The Play Ocarina menu lets you freely play the instrument on your phone. You can play along with a guide, listen automatically, or make your own scores and QR codes. 

The Ocarina of Time Quiz menu tests you on how well you know the game across over 2,000 questions. You can take the quiz once per day, but you can transfer rupees in-game to take it more times. 

New planned amiibo include Young Link and Young Zelda for early 2027, granting special in-game masks. Lastly, a special edition Switch 2 celebrating the franchise’s 40th anniversary is in the works for October 29, 2026, along with a pro controller, carrying case, and screen protector. 

The standard release will have textured foil cover art while supplies last. 

Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, the title follows Link on a quest to stop Ganondorf from obtaining the Triforce. Players travel between Link’s childhood and adulthood, exploring dungeons and solving puzzles.

It’s widely regarded as a defining release for the medium as a whole. Ocarina of Time introduced mechanics that would become standards for 3D games, including lock-on targeting, context-sensitive actions, and cinematic exploration.

While Nintendo previously released an enhanced version of Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, this revisit is far loftier.