Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake launches in November
What's happening
Nintendo has announced a November 5th release date for a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, arriving on the Switch 2. The announcement came during a livestream celebrating the franchise's 40th anniversary.
Who's involved
Nintendo is the developer and publisher behind both the original 1998 Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64 and this new remake for Switch 2, the company's latest gaming console released in June 2025. The Switch 2 represents Nintendo's current generation hardware with enhanced graphics and display capabilities compared to the original Switch.
Why it matters
This remake brings one of gaming's most acclaimed titles to modern hardware, likely driving early adoption of the Switch 2 during a critical launch window. The November release positions Ocarina of Time as a tentpole title for the holiday season, demonstrating Nintendo's strategy of leveraging beloved legacy franchises to establish momentum for new console generations.
The story
Nintendo has set November 5th as the launch date for a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Switch 2, according to The Verge. The announcement arrived during a livestream dedicated to the Legend of Zelda franchise's 40th anniversary celebration, marking a significant moment for both the series and Nintendo's newer hardware.
Ocarina of Time stands as a landmark title in gaming history. Originally released for the Nintendo 64 in November 1998 in Japan and North America, it was the first Legend of Zelda game to feature full 3D graphics, fundamentally reshaping how the franchise approached world exploration and puzzle-solving. The game's critical and commercial success helped define the Nintendo 64's library and influenced countless action-adventure titles that followed.
The Switch 2, Nintendo's current-generation console released in June 2025, represents a significant hardware upgrade from the original Switch. The new system features a larger liquid-crystal display, increased internal storage, and enhanced graphics capabilities alongside redesigned Joy-Con 2 controllers that attach magnetically to the device. Like its predecessor, the Switch 2 functions as both a handheld device and a console that connects to an external display via a dock.
The November 5th release date places Ocarina of Time among a select group of early Switch 2 titles and positions it squarely in the holiday shopping season. This timing suggests Nintendo intends the remake to serve as a system-seller, capitalizing on nostalgia among players who experienced the original on Nintendo 64 while introducing the classic adventure to those who may have missed it.
The remake represents Nintendo's ongoing strategy of reimagining its most celebrated properties for new hardware generations. By bringing one of gaming's most influential titles to the Switch 2's more powerful platform, Nintendo aims to demonstrate the console's capabilities while maintaining the portability that defined the Switch line. The project underscores how the company continues to draw upon its extensive back catalog to establish momentum during critical hardware transition periods.