It was during the most recent Nintendo Direct showcase that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake was finally announced after months of rumors and speculation. Giving a modern-day makeover to the beloved 1998 Zelda title, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake aims to cater to both original fans and for those wanting to try out the Nintendo franchise for the first time.
However, there is a catch that could see the highly-anticipated remake be unplayable for many upon its launch later this year.
First, some history. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was first released almost 30 years ago for the Nintendo 64. Marking the first Zelda entry to feature 3D graphics, Ocarina of Time followed Link as he heads to Hyrule to put an end to the tyrannical reign of king Ganondorf. By traveling through time and navigating a series of dungeons and overworld areas, Link must play the ocarina in order to progress.
For many, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is considered to be the best installment in the beloved Nintendo franchise, so it is no surprise that millions of fans were over the moon to see an official remake announced at Nintendo Direct. Although Ocarina of Time received a remake for the Nintendo 3DS back in 2011, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, this is the first time that it will make its way to modern-day consoles.
However, with the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusively, that means that millions of players will miss out on the opportunity to play the new-and-improved version of the Nintendo Classic.
Since its launch back in 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 has become one of those purchases that many gamers are just uncertain about. With just a few exclusive titles under its belt, many are still choosing to stick with the Nintendo Switch until a game comes along that will justify its price point. For many, this could be the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, which is set to launch later this year, but for those unable or unwilling to upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2, there will be no other way to play it, albeit officially.
It is the sad truth of many upcoming releases, with even Sony recently deciding that its future exclusive games will no longer receive PC ports later down the line. With players encouraged to purchase every new piece of hardware under the sun, it is just not viable, and unfortunately, it seems as though The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake fans will be the latest group affected.
- Released
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2026
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
- Number of Players
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Single-player