Nintendo saved the biggest announcement of its June 2026 Direct for the very last minute. After months of leaks, rumors, and fan speculation, the Ocarina of Time remake is official. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the Nintendo 64 classic widely considered the greatest video game ever made, is being fully rebuilt for Nintendo Switch 2 and arrives later in 2026. The reveal lasted barely a minute, showed no gameplay, and left fans with as many questions as answers. It was still enough to set the entire gaming world on fire.
Here is everything we know about the Ocarina of Time remake.
Ocarina of Time is a complete modern reimagining of The Legend of Zelda, the 1998 Nintendo 64 masterpiece that introduced the world to 3D Zelda. Nintendo confirmed the project at the end of its June 9 Direct with a short cinematic teaser and a single official line: the Nintendo 64 classic returns for a new generation in 2026, reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
This is not a remaster or a port. The original game has been re-released on nearly every Nintendo platform since 1998, including the GameCube, the Wii and Wii U Virtual Consoles, and Nintendo Switch Online. The new project is a ground-up rebuild with a new engine, new visuals, and a new design philosophy, marking only the second time the game has been fully remade after the 2011 Nintendo 3DS version developed by Grezzo.
The Legend of Zelda is the highest-rated game of all time on Metacritic, holding a metascore of 99 that no game has surpassed in more than 25 years. It pioneered mechanics that defined the action-adventure genre, from lock-on targeting to time travel to dungeon-based progression, and its DNA runs through everything from Breath of the Wild to Assassin's Creed. For an entire generation of players, it was the game that proved 3D worlds could carry emotional weight. Remaking it is the gaming equivalent of restoring a cathedral.
The reveal trailer runs just over a minute and is fully cinematic, showing no gameplay. It opens with a narrated retelling of the game's iconic opening: the Kokiri children of the forest, each with a guardian fairy, and the one boy who does not have a fairy of his own. The narrator is widely believed to be Rauru, the Sage of Light, which would confirm one of the most significant changes in the remake: full voice acting, a first for the game.
The visuals shown are tapestry-like and symbolic, ending with a first look at the redesigned Young Link asleep in his bed, moments before his destiny begins.
The most discussed element of the reveal is the art direction. The remake clearly breaks from the cel-shaded watercolor style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, moving toward a more realistic rendition of Link and Hyrule, closer to his appearance in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate than to the Wild era games. Link also sports a redesigned outfit, a more casual take on his iconic green tunic. With The Legend of Zelda live-action film arriving in 2027, the cinematic quality of the teaser suggests Nintendo is deliberately aligning the franchise's visual identity across mediums.
The Ocarina of Time remake launches in 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has not announced a specific release date, saying only that more details will be shared later this year. The official Nintendo site lists the game as Coming 2026 with the tagline that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will be reborn on Nintendo Switch 2.
Nintendo has also not confirmed which studio is developing the remake. Grezzo handled the 2011 3DS version, while reports from VGC suggest Monolith Soft, which last shipped Tears of the Kingdom in 2023, could be involved. The 2026 window puts the remake at the center of what looks like a staggered 40th anniversary celebration for the Zelda franchise, with the Wes Ball live-action film starring Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth following in 2027.
The announcement validates a March report from insider NateTheHate, corroborated by VGC, which claimed both a new Star Fox game and an Ocarina of Time remake were coming in 2026. The Star Fox remake was confirmed in May and launches June 25, lending the Zelda leak credibility weeks before Nintendo made it official. Earlier leaks also pointed to expanded dungeons, reworked controls, and quality-of-life improvements, though none of these details have been confirmed by Nintendo.
The remake arrives at a pivotal moment for the franchise. The Zelda series turned 40 this year, the live-action film is in post-production, and the LEGO partnership has already produced an Ocarina of Time battle scene set featuring Link, Zelda, and Ganon. Nintendo is clearly positioning the remake as the cornerstone of a multi-year celebration of its most beloved fantasy universe.
For players, the promise is simple: the greatest game of all time, rebuilt with everything Nintendo has learned in the 28 years since. More details are coming later this year. Until then, the legend waits to be reborn.
Fan reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with excitement dominating social media and Reddit threads within minutes of the reveal. The most common complaint is not about the remake itself but about the teaser's brevity, with many fans wishing Nintendo had shown gameplay or familiar locations.
The enthusiasm is rooted in decades of anticipation. A full remake has been one of the most requested projects in Nintendo's catalogue since the 3DS version proved how well the game could be modernized. The realistic new art style drew particular praise, with many fans noting it resembles Link's design in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The skepticism that followed the initial leaks has also turned into vindication, as insiders like NateTheHate were proven right. Still, some fans voiced frustration that the trailer revealed neither Hyrule Field nor any gameplay, leaving the biggest questions for a future Direct.
Critics argue the remake reflects Nintendo's growing dependence on nostalgia over innovation. With Star Fox also being a remake and few major new titles announced for 2026, some commentators worry the Switch 2 lineup leans too heavily on revisiting the past instead of creating new classics.
There is also a creative risk specific to this game. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time holds a Metacritic score of 99, the highest of all time, and any change to its pacing, dungeons, or atmosphere risks alienating the very fans the remake is built for. Commentary published after the Direct asked openly whether Nintendo has become too obsessed with remaking old games, noting that remakes and ports are carrying the platform while genuinely new ideas feel scarce. The counterargument is straightforward: a new generation has never played the original, and a faithful modern rebuild is the best way to preserve it.
Players hope the remake includes expanded dungeons, modernized controls, quality-of-life improvements, and the Master Quest mode from previous releases. Full voice acting appears likely based on the narrated trailer, and many fans want the Water Temple refinements introduced in the 3DS version carried over.
Beyond those leaked and expected features, wishlists across fan communities are remarkably consistent. Players want Epona's controls rebuilt for modern hardware, an orchestrated soundtrack to replace the original MIDI score, and optional touches like a boss rush mode. Some hope for entirely new content in the spirit of Master Quest, while purists ask mainly that the original's pacing and atmosphere survive intact. The leaks pointing to expanded dungeons suggest Nintendo may be planning something more ambitious than a faithful one-to-one rebuild, though nothing beyond the 2026 window has been confirmed.
Olivia Blake · Editor
Editor
