Ocarina of Time Remake Leads Nintendo's Zelda 40th Anniversary Plans

Link’s 1998 adventure returns on Switch 2 November 5, with anniversary hardware, concerts, and a live-action film rounding out the celebration.

Nintendo is putting The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time at the center of the series’ 40th anniversary. Revealed during the September 8 Direct, the Nintendo Switch 2 remake launches November 5, 2026, with overhauled visuals, fully voiced cutscenes, and new movement controls. It leads a slate of anniversary releases and events continuing into 2027, from themed hardware and collectibles to a worldwide concert series and the live-action film.

Some of the remake’s most consequential changes concern how Link moves through Hyrule. Dedicated jump and run commands give players more direct control, while the right stick controls the camera. Locations have been remodeled with additional details, and the day/night cycle now continues everywhere, including towns. Combined with expanded character dialogue, those changes could give familiar places a different rhythm.

Nintendo also promises faster loading, smoother performance, refreshed sound, and a symphonic orchestral score. The announcement does not specify resolution or frame-rate targets. Expanded, fully voiced cutscenes represent another substantial change to the presentation, though how the additional dialogue fits the adventure’s pacing remains to be seen.

A new feature called Threads of Time records story progress and shows the next objective, with a tapestry gradually filling in throughout the adventure. Having that information available at any point should make it easier to pick up a save after a break without retracing your steps to remember what comes next.

The ocarina gets a more unusual addition. Hum a melody Link has already learned into the Switch 2’s built-in microphone, and he will perform it in the game. Instruments work too, including a playable ocarina and an electronic version from HORI due later this year. HORI’s version can play individual notes or entire songs at the press of a button, giving players a way to use the feature without learning the instrument themselves.

The first physical print run includes textured foil cover art, available while supplies last. Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo follow in 2027, unlocking in-game masks with a retro graphical style. The previously announced Mineru’s Construct amiibo for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom arrives sooner, on September 17.

The anniversary hardware reaches stores a week before the remake. Nintendo’s Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 system launches October 29, alongside a matching Pro Controller and carrying case with a screen protector. All feature Triforce designs. The controller will be sold with or without a display stand, with the stand bundle available only through Nintendo Store, Nintendo NEW YORK, and Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO.

Ocarina of Time will also support ZELDA NOTES through the Nintendo Switch App. Today’s Record tracks daily accomplishments and statistics, while Gossip Quest challenges players to find in-game locations using hint images. Completing those challenges earns points toward music scores for Play Ocarina, a virtual instrument with guided playing, automatic playback, and custom scores that can be shared through QR codes.

A daily quiz draws from more than 2,000 questions about the game, with additional attempts available by spending rupees earned during play. Between tracking progress, finding locations, and playing music, the app offers several optional activities to accompany the main adventure.

Music is also a substantial part of the anniversary outside the game. A worldwide concert series begins in 2027, drawing from across Zelda’s history. The Japanese tour opens in Tokyo in January, followed by North America in Chicago in February, Europe in London in April, and Australia in Melbourne in May.

Nintendo Museum in Kyoto is marking the anniversary with a special ticket design from September 9 and new photo opportunities from November 5. The Super Family Restaurant opens this fall, with Link among the Nintendo characters featured around the dining space. The museum’s anniversary activities will continue for one year. Nintendo Today! is also adding daily Zelda digital cards and calendar animations featuring games from throughout the series.

For collectors, LEGO’s 1,750-piece Ocarina of Time Link & Epona display set arrives in spring 2027. Hasbro’s Electronic Master Sword is due that spring as well, measuring 27 inches and featuring more than 15 touch- and motion-activated sounds.

The live-action The Legend of Zelda film opens in theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027. Produced by Nintendo, Arad Productions, and Sony Pictures, the film draws on stories, ideas, and concepts developed throughout the series’ four decades.

For players, the immediate focus is how Ocarina of Time handles the transition. Direct jump controls, a freely adjustable camera, and expanded character scenes all affect the experience beyond its appearance. The November 5 release will show how those changes fit an adventure built around a very different set of controls.