Nintendo held “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct” on Sept. 8, officially announcing that the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will launch on Switch 2 on Nov. 5. The physical edition has a Sale Price of NT$2,080 and is available for preorder starting today. Nintendo also announced a special-edition Ocarina of Time Switch 2 console, with a suggested retail price of ¥62,980 in Japan.
Announcement Details from The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
At “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct” on Sept. 8, Nintendo unveiled the latest trailer and gameplay footage for the Ocarina of Time remake, confirming its release on Switch 2 on Nov. 5. The Taiwan physical edition has a Sale Price of NT$2,080 and is available for preorder starting today. Nintendo also announced a special-edition Ocarina of Time Switch 2 console, with a suggested retail price of ¥62,980 in Japan (approximately NT$12,900).
In terms of the control system, the remake adds manual jumping, sprinting, quick item switching, and motion aiming. The overall map structure still retains the original’s segmented areas and loading-screen design, while Castle Town adds several shops and mini-games.
Seven Key Details in the Ocarina of Time Remake Trailer and Gameplay Footage
Based on the trailer and gameplay footage released on Sept. 8, the seven details worth noting are as follows:
Interface completely revamped: Link can play the ocarina with the directional buttons without equipping it; the item menu has been changed to a single scrollable menu; no Rupee counter is visible on-screen
Spin attack returns: The trailer shows Link performing a charged spin attack against enemies in the Desert Colossus, confirming that the original sword-technique system has been retained
Owl flight changed to third person: In the original, rapid movement while riding the owl used a first-person perspective; the remake presents Link flying over Lake Hylia from a third-person perspective
Great Fairy design unchanged: Despite the art style shifting toward realism, the Great Fairy’s costume design remains true to the original
Cucco Easter egg returns: Cuccos appear twice in the trailer—once wandering around Castle Town and once carrying Link as he glides
Bosses appear: The trailer’s closing segment shows bosses including Gohma and Volvagia, while also briefly showing Twinrova preparing to unleash an ice attack
Town mini-games return: Gameplay footage shows signs for a shooting gallery and a Bombchu Bowling Alley in the Castle Town market
New Features Explained
The remake adds several new features. A brand-new menu called “Threads of Time” will serve as a quest log; all cutscenes feature full voice acting; and players can hum melodies into a microphone to play the ocarina, expanding on the original’s core music-interaction design. Nintendo also announced a physical ocarina accessory that can interact with the game.
The Original Ocarina of Time’s Historical Significance
The original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and sold 7.6 million copies worldwide. It was the first game to receive a perfect score from Famitsu, earned a score of 99 from Metacritic, and was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2022.
In terms of technological innovation, 1998 marked the dawn of 3D game development. The Zelda development team visited Kyoto’s Uzumasa Studio to observe sword-fighting choreography in period dramas and created the “Z-targeting system,” allowing players to lock onto an enemy with a single button press. It subsequently became a standard feature in 3D combat games and, alongside Super Mario 64, stands as a key foundation in the history of 3D game development. Dan Houser, former producer of the GTA series and former vice president of Rockstar, once said that any 3D game developer who claims not to have borrowed from Mario or Zelda is lying.
Positioning of the Remake
Regarding the remake’s content and positioning, the current gameplay trailer suggests that the remake’s overall structure, enemies, and puzzle design remain highly similar to the original. Unlike the Resident Evil 2 remake or Final Fantasy VII Remake, it does not substantially overhaul the game’s content; it is positioned more as a high-end modernization than a reinterpretation. The new art style combines realism with fairy-tale elements, and player reactions have been divided: some character designs are considered somewhat uncanny, while the environmental art for forests, lakes, and other areas has received praise.
In terms of the market backdrop, the remake will launch in the same month as the highly anticipated GTA 6 (Nov. 2026), with some players describing the matchup as “the strongest of all time vs. the strongest of the modern era.”
FAQ
What are the release date, platform, and Taiwan physical-edition Sale Price of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake?
According to Nintendo’s announcement at “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct” on Sept. 8, 2026, the remake will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on Nov. 5. The Taiwan physical edition has a Sale Price of NT$2,080 and is available for preorder starting today.
What are the most representative control and feature changes among the Ocarina of Time remake’s seven major trailer details?
The seven details include a completely revamped interface (playing the ocarina directly with the directional buttons and using a scrollable item menu), the return of the spin attack, owl flight switching to a third-person perspective, and the addition of the “Threads of Time” quest-log menu, fully voiced cutscenes, and microphone-based ocarina interaction.
What are the original Ocarina of Time’s scores and historical significance in video game history?
The original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released in 1998, sold 7.6 million copies worldwide, was the first game to receive a perfect score from Famitsu, earned a score of 99 from Metacritic, and was inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2022; its pioneering Z-targeting system became a standard feature in 3D action games.
