Zelda Nintendo Direct recap — Ocarina of Time Remake gameplay and limited-edition Switch 2 console confirmed
Zelda Direct confirmed Ocarina of Time launches this November
Over the past four decades, The Legend of Zelda has become one of the most iconic franchises not just in gaming, but in all of pop culture, and Nintendo marked the 40th Anniversary with a dedicated Zelda Direct showcase earlier today.
This 30-minute Nintendo Direct celebrated the franchise's legacy with a whole bunch of announcements, including new Amiibo, merchandise, events (including a Zelda live music tour) and more. The highlights were an extended look at the upcoming Ocarina of Time Remake, which releases on November 5, and a limited edition Zelda Switch 2 console.
If you missed out, you can rewatch it down below, or check out my live coverage, which recaps all the biggest news from the Zelda Direct.
I'm a Senior Entertainment Editor at Tom's Guide and one of the biggest gamers on staff. I'm a little newer to the Zelda series, with Breath of the Wild being my first adventure in Hyrule, but it made me an instant fan.
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Welcome!
Good morning! It's set to be a BIG day for Zelda fans, and with a few hours until the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct begins I'm here to bring you all the build-up, with the latest news and a few last-minute rumors ahead of 30 minutes of Zelda goodness!
What is the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct?
For those super out of the loop, today's Zelda Direct is in honor of the franchise's 40th Anniversary, and will be a 30-minute showcase packed with information about how Nintendo plans to celebrate the occasion. Expect to see games, merch, maybe even movies, and lots more. It begins at 10 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. PT / 3 p.m. BST.
Ocarina of Time Remake is definitely going to feature
It's always a little risky to declare something will "definitely" feature at a Nintendo Direct, but in the case of the Ocarina of Time Remake, it seems a real certainty.
Nintendo confirmed this remake of the beloved N64 title during a June Direct, and it's been dated for release in 2026. All we've had so far is a very teasing reveal trailer, and it's expected to be the cornerstone of the Zelda 40th Anniversary celebration.
I'm very confident it to take up a sizable portion of today's Zelda Direct. We'll likely see gameplay, and a firm release date also seems very likely. Let's hope I don't look very foolish later today, if it's a no-show, but I just can't see that happening!
Could we get look at the Zelda movie?
Nintendo has used Directs before to announce details for "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and its sequel, so it's only logical that the upcoming Zelda movie could feature during today's Zelda-themed Nintendo Direct.
Called "The Legend of Zelda" (naturally), it's set to hit theaters on April 30, 2027. It's directed by Wes Ball and stars Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda. To date, we've only got a couple of images of the stars in costume, so the time is right for us to get our first proper look at the movie.
I'm not sure what form this will take; it could be a full trailer, but it wouldn't surprise me if we got a short scene instead. Nintendo did something similar with the first Mario movie, giving eager fans a brief clip first, rather than a longer trailer.
Zelda Direct will be here before you know it!
We're just two and a half hours from the Zelda Direct beginning. The hype is building, and there's still plenty to discuss (including a few rumors, which I'll get into next), so the wait shouldn't feel too long. Let me know in the comments what you're hoping to see today, are there any reveals that would make your day?
The Switch 2 might get a Zelda makeover
Last month, the internet was abuzz after a potential leak of a limited-edition Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 console and Pro controller (via Notebook Check).
Nintendo has created themed hardware and accessories to celebrate major games and series before, and it certainly makes sense that Zelda would get some limited-edition items to celebrate the 40th Anniversary. This leak seems particularly credible, and the images are convincing, but until confirmed, consider this a rumor.
If the Zelda Switch 2 and Pro Controller are real, then I would expect them to be revealed during today's Direct. The pre-order battle for them might be fierce, but Tom's Guide will be on hand to help you secure these items when the time comes.
Reddit thinks its discovered Ocarina of Time's price!
Reddit is a solid source for gaming leaks and rumors, so long as you remember to take everything posted with a healthy grain of salt. Over on the popular GamingLeakAndRumors subreddit, it appears one user might have spotted a listing for the Ocarina of Time Remake, which may have confirmed pricing.
The listing is in Australia, with the game costing AU$94.95. That's the same price as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book in Australia, which retailed for $60 in the U.S. This could indicate that the hotly anticipated Zelda remake will cost the same.
But remember, Nintendo hasn't been afraid to price games higher. Mario Kart World cost $80, and Donkey Kong Bananza was $70. So, a $60 price point for Zelda: Ocarina of Time would be very welcome. But again, this is very much a rumor!
What about Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD!
During the Wii U era, Nintendo released HD remasters of two popular Zelda titles, The Wind Waker (originally released on GameCube) and Twilight Princess (a Wii launch game, which was also available on GameCube). Curiously these well received HD version were never brought over to the Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo ported the majority of the Wii U's first-party library to Switch, and while a Wind Waker/Twilight Princess HD double-pack was a persistent rumor, these requested ports never materialized. Instead the Switch 1 got a HD edition of Skyward Sword, one of the more divisive mainline games in the Zelda series.
But could these games finally be freed from Wii U prison to mark Zelda's 40th Anniversary? As somebody who has never played either, I'm really hoping so!
Just 30 minutes to go!
Time flies when you're having fun talking about Zelda, and we're now just 30 minutes away from the Zelda Direct. Gets your snacks ready, because you won't want to miss a moment of this showcase!
YouTube stream is up, and the waiting room is filling
Right now, there are currently 90,930 people starring at a static image, that shows you how much hype there is for this Zelda Direct. The YouTube link is live (see above), so you can get set up ahead of the showcase starting in 15 minutes time!
We're just minutes away!
There's now 306,591 people watching the YouTube live stream, and with the Zelda Direct about to begin in just a matter of minutes, if you're not watching and you want to follow along live now is the time. Or you can just stay here for my updates!
Here we go, it's Zelda time!
The Zelda Direct starts now, and we're first being treated to a walk down memory lane scored to the series' iconic music performed by an orchestra!
Shigeru Miyamoto takes the Direct stage!
After that nostalgic look back at the franchise's past, Miyamoto is here to introduce the Zelda 40th Anniversary celebration, and we've gone straight into a look at the Zelda movie's official logo, will a trailer follow?
Was that it for the movie talk?
Miyamoto is now talking about Zelda-themed events at the Nintendo Museum in Japan, updates to the Nintendo Today app, and new Merch including new Amiibo and Lego products. Was that it for the movie updates? Just a logo, not even a clip?
Now we're getting into the good stuff!
After the announcement of a Zelda concert series (which will be held across the U.S., Europe and Australia), we're getting into the games, with Ocarina of Time Remake getting the spotlight. Let's see how this looks!
Our first look at Ocarina of Time Remake
We're being treated to an extended look at the Ocarina of Time Remake, including our first chance to see it's overhauled graphics. The art style was designed to invoke nostalgia while also bringing the game up to a more modern standard!
Remake adds a new Threads of Time feature!
The Ocarina of Time Remake is adding a new Threads of Time feature in the pause menu which can be used to track your adventures across Hyrule! It's basically a simple quest log, but that's a very useful QoL feature.
Switch 2 lets you hum songs into the mic!
Another new feature is the ability to hum into a microphone and have Link match the tune via the in-game Ocarina. Seems like a novel idea, but I'm not sure it's one that I'll actually use more than once just to try it out!
Ocarina of Time Remake has a release date!
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. That's just a couple weeks before GTA 6!
Zelda Notes is getting a big update for Ocarina and Amiibo!
The Zelda Notes app is being updated to support the Ocarina of Time game, and two new Amiibos are coming, one for Link, one for Zelda!
Limited Edition Zelda Switch 2 confirmed!
The leaks were right, the Switch 2 is getting a Zelda makeover, it's out on October 29, 2026, and there will be a companion Pro Controller and Switch 2 Carry Case.
And that's the Zelda Direct over!
The Switch 2 Zelda edition was the last major announcement, and now it's into a final trailer for the Ocarina of Time Remake. That's the Zelda Direct over and done!
A solid showcase, but there was a lack of major surprises, I guess the wait for Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD to be released from Wii U jail goes on...
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