"If you're Nintendo, you're looking to kill": Ocarina of Time remake teaser fell flat with Legend of Zelda fans because of leaks, ex-marketing leads say
"If that was actually a surprise… it would be insanity"
As Summer Game Fest came to a close, a surprise Nintendo Direct gave us Legend of Zelda stans what we've long been hoping for: confirmation of an Ocarina of Time remake.
It didn't exactly come out of the blue, however, as rumors have been circulating regarding the remake for some time, thanks to well-known leaker Nate the Hate. That might've put a bit of a damper on the entire "reveal" from Nintendo, which arguably wasn't the biggest out there.
It's a very short teaser, all things considered, showing a little bit of Link and a Triforce that has drawn attention for its appearance on the young protagonist's hand.
Former Nintendo PR managers Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang discuss the trailer – if you can call it that – and the effect Nate the Hate's leaks regarding the Ocarina of Time remake may be having on our reception of Nintendo's upcoming revamp.
Ellis asks Yang, "Did what we know about Ocarina impact the way you received that teaser?" She answers honestly: "I kind of feel like at this point I'm so desensitized."
It makes sense, and as Ellis goes on to say, the leaks had a "huge effect" on fans' reaction to the remake's official announcement. "If that was actually a surprise, and there was a teaser of an Ocarina of Time remake at the end of a Direct… it would be insanity."
Nintendo's choice to keep what was likely its original teaser – Link "sleeping on some dirt," as Ellis amusingly puts it – probably didn't help the whole situation, either.
The company is "stubborn," though, and "cannot rearrange" its plan – even if it might've left a more "surprising" reveal for fans in the end. "I think they should have rethought some stuff."
Ellis also admits he's "so mad at Nate the Hate for doing this," however, with Yang chiming in, "If you're Nintendo, you're looking to kill" – and, yeah, I get it. It does all stem from the leaks, really, even if Nintendo could've perhaps mitigated the damage a bit.
I feel that, regardless of the lukewarm reactions (or, at least, lukewarm compared to how they might've been without earlier leaks), the Ocarina of Time remake will perform well. Heck, I know I've been waiting years for it myself.
Searching for something else to wishlist aside from the Ocarina of Time remake? Here are the best new games coming this year and beyond to look forward to, spanning all platforms.
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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.
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