The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is officially happening, and thanks to the recent Zelda Direct for the series' 40th anniversary, we now have a release date.
This has been a long time coming after much speculation about its existence; however, Nintendo finally confirmed the remake of Ocarina of Time with an exciting trailer that debuted during the Nintendo Direct June 2026 showcase. Now, with the most recent Zelda Direct, we got to see some gameplay, a closer look at Link's new design, and release information (which confirmed that it is indeed still coming out this year). So far, it all looks fantastic, and that the modern take on one of the best Zelda games ever made will be well worth all our patience.
But while we wait to learn more about this big upcoming Switch 2 game, you can get excited with me as I break down everything you need to know about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake down below. From release date confirmations, story details, trailers, and more, I've left no stone in Hyrule unturned.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time release date
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's release date is scheduled for November 5, 2026. This news came our way during the Zelda Direct for the series' 40th anniversary on September 8, 2026.
So yeah, this means that the title is looking to be one of Nintendo's big sale tickets this holiday season as we close out 2026. Originally, I was worried about a potential delay, considering The Legend of Zelda movie is planned for 2027 and it would make sense to release both closer together. However, it looks like my fears were misplaced and that there will be no delays in the future. I'll keep you posted if anything changes.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time platforms
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's remake will be a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, which means you unfortunately won't be able to play this on a base Nintendo Switch. Nor will it land on another platform, as Nintendo famously keeps the Zelda series exclusive to its own consoles.
If you don't own a Switch 2, sorry to be the bearer of bad news – but if it helps, we've hand-picked the best games like Zelda to scratch the itch no matter your console of choice.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time trailer
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time story and gameplay
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time tells what is arguably the series' most foundational story: when Link, the only child in Kokiri Forest without a fairy companion, meets the great Deku Tree. He's then shortly sent on a quest to save Hyrule from the schemes of Gerudo thief, Ganondorf. Not only does this serve as the introduction to the series' main antagonist, but nearly every Zelda game released since can trace its story back to Ocarina of Time – which famously split the series into multiple timelines with its paradoxical ending.
As for how Ocarina of Time will play on Switch 2, we got to see a glimpse of it during the recent Zelda Direct for the series' 40th anniversary. In the showcase, we saw a completely new-looking Link; however, from the game's map and levels, it does seem to be very faithful to the original so far.
Just like in the original, Link is set loose in a central area (in this case, Hyrule Field) from which he can explore Hyrule, tackle optional minigames and stories, and clear dungeons to foil Ganondorf. However, there are some new features in this remake. Firstly, Link can now jump (huge news), swim, dive, and you can rotate the camera. There is also a new feature called Threads of Time, which lets you track your progress and easily check in with your next objective. A really cool mechanic in this new feature is that as you progress through the game, a tapestry will fill out as well, which I'm very excited to see.
The Ocarina itself also has some new tweaks, including the ability for you to hum a tune and then watch as Link plays it. Nintendo is also selling physical Ocarinas that you can use to influence the gameplay. This is going to be an important gameplay feature as well, since certain songs can influence things like day and night changing, which in turn can influence certain events you get as well.
Looking for something to play while you wait? You're in luck: we've ranked the best Switch 2 games you can play right now.
