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Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches on Switch 2 with new developer lead

Summarised from 6 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 11:15 · Archive

Nintendo has released a remade version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, developed internally with a younger generation of developers taking the lead.

Nintendo has released a Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, arriving 28 years after the original 1998 Nintendo 64 release. The remake was developed internally at Nintendo, marking a departure from the studio's typical practice of farming remakes to external developers. Series producer Eiji Aonuma, who directed the original game, oversaw the project alongside Hidemasa Fujibayashi, who has directed multiple Zelda games since 2001 including Tears of the Kingdom. According to an Ask the Developer interview on Nintendo's website, both men intentionally took a step back to allow younger developers to lead the initiative. Aonuma explained the reasoning: 'If the producers say, "This is how it should be", the team would naturally feel obligated to do it that way.'

The remake features a significant visual overhaul with high-resolution models replacing the blocky polygons of the original, giving the game a more realistic visual style while retaining the feel of the 1998 version. Art director Aya Shida stated the goal was to rebuild Hyrule while maintaining the original's essence. The game includes modern improvements such as a jump button, a sprint function, full voice acting, cleaner translations, and additional cutscenes and dialogue. A new 'Threads of Time' feature helps players track their progress through the story.

The story remains unchanged from the original. Players control Link, a forest dweller, as he embarks on an adventure to save the fantasy realm of Hyrule from the villain Ganondorf, with the narrative centring on a magical ocarina with special powers. The game plays almost identically to the original, with only very minor changes that most players may not notice, making it essentially a 1:1 remake of the nearly 30-year-old title.

Reviewers have praised the remake's preservation of the core experience alongside its technical improvements. Engadget described 'the magic of the original' as 'fully intact while looking and playing better than ever'. TechRadar noted the remake's thoughtfully redesigned locations and enemies alongside quality-of-life additions that remove frustrations from the original. Multiple outlets remarked that the remake demonstrates there remains 'life left in the traditional Zelda formula' despite recent mainline entries like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom emphasising player freedom and open-ended design.

Some reviewers expressed reservation about the approach. NPR's review noted that despite 'stupendous production values', the game left them 'oddly bereft', while TechRadar suggested it may be 'lacking a little ambition'. The Verge observed that the game accomplishes what a good remake should: preserve the original experience while making it more accessible for modern audiences.

Nintendo released the game on 5 November 2026 and launched a special Switch 2 and Switch 2 Pro Controller variant featuring Triforce imagery to celebrate the franchise's 40th anniversary.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches on Switch 2 with new developer lead
Image: The Guardian

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How it is being reported

In this story: Nintendo · Eiji Aonuma · Grezzo · Monolith Soft · Hidemasa Fujibayashi · Aya Shida · Link · Ganondorf

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