Highlights:
- Nintendo has confirmed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2 will launch on 5 November, with first gameplay shown during a 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct.
- Series producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrated a new feature that uses the Switch 2's built-in microphone, letting players hum or play one of Link's ocarina melodies aloud for the character to perform in-game.
- It's the second time the 1998 original has been remade, following an earlier 3D remake for Nintendo 3DS in 2011.
Nintendo confirmed a release date for its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time during a dedicated 40th anniversary presentation, ending months of speculation since the project was first announced in June without any gameplay attached. The remake arrives on Switch 2 on 5 November.
What's actually changed in the remake?
According to Nintendo, the visuals have been completely overhauled, cutscenes are now fully voiced, character dialogue has been expanded, and the score has been rerecorded with a symphonic orchestra rather than the original's synthesised soundtrack. Camera and movement controls have also been reworked for a modern audience, addressing one of the more common complaints about revisiting the 1998 original today. A new quest log has been added to the menu, tracking objectives and progress, a direct response to a game that was famously vague about where players were supposed to go next.
From what's been shown so far, Nintendo appears to be treating this as a faithful remake rather than a reimagining, keeping the structure of the original 1998 adventure intact rather than altering it.
What's the ocarina-humming feature actually about?
A genuinely new piece of functionality built specifically around the Switch 2's hardware. Players will be able to hum or play one of Link's learned ocarina melodies within range of the console's built-in microphone, and the game will recognise the tune and have Link perform it automatically. It's a small addition, but it's the kind of detail that only makes sense on this specific console, rather than a straightforward visual upgrade applied to older mechanics.
| Ocarina of Time remake, confirmed details | |
|---|---|
| Release date | 5 November 2026 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Visuals | Fully overhauled |
| Cutscenes | Fully voiced, expanded dialogue |
| Music | Rerecorded with symphonic orchestra |
| New feature | Microphone-based ocarina song recognition |
| Previous remake | Nintendo 3DS, 2011 |
