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A full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches Thursday, November 5, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. The physical edition runs $59 and the digital version $52 (tax included). Built on the original 1998 Nintendo 64 release, it’s a ground-up remake with completely rebuilt visuals.
The reveal came during the “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct,” which aired September 8, 2026. And Ocarina wasn’t the only news. Nintendo dropped a wave of 40th anniversary announcements all at once: a Triforce-emblazoned Nintendo Switch 2 “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition” console (out October 29, $412), new amiibo, and a nationwide concert tour.
If your first thought was “ugh, another remake,” I hear you. I thought the same thing before the stream. Then I saw the actual gameplay footage, and that take went right out the window. Below, I break down everything announced based on first-party sources, so whether you grew up with Ocarina or you’ve never touched it, you’ll know whether it’s worth your money.
*Prices in this article are converted from Japanese yen at ¥153 = US$1 (September 2026 rate).
When Does the Ocarina of Time Remake Come Out? Price and Platform Details
The Ocarina of Time remake launches Thursday, November 5, 2026, and it’s a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive. Heads up: it won’t run on the original Switch. It’s rated CERO B (ages 12 and up) and supports amiibo.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Release date | Thursday, November 5, 2026 |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive |
| Physical edition | $59 (tax included) |
| Digital edition | $52 (tax included) |
| CERO rating | B (ages 12 and up) |
Link is the only boy in the forest without a fairy. One day, an encounter arrives that will change his destiny.
Source: Nintendo official website (Japan)
Nintendo’s official blurb traces the exact opening beats of the original. Naturally, the core structure of hopping between two eras, the world you ran through as a kid and the one you face as a young man, stays fully intact. The bones of the original are left completely untouched, while the visuals and controls get brought up to modern standards. Honestly, that’s about the most respectful approach a remake can take.
How Is the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time Different From the Original? New Features Explained
The Switch 2 version of Ocarina of Time brings five major changes and additions over the original. This isn’t just an HD coat of paint; Nintendo went all the way down to how the game fundamentally plays.
- Free camera rotation: A total overhaul of the mostly fixed N64 camera. You can look around just like in modern 3D Zelda games
- Manual jumping: Instead of the original’s “auto-jump off ledges,” you can now jump whenever you want
- Dash: Hold a button to run. Crossing Hyrule Field should feel like a completely different experience
- Voice-input ocarina playing: The game responds to humming or even real instruments. You get to physically perform the most iconic part of Ocarina
- “Trail of Time” recap feature: A new mode that lets you look back on your adventure so far
The voice-input ocarina genuinely floored me. Hum “Epona’s Song” into the mic, and Link answers you in-game. Z-targeting, the backbone of combat, is back, and so is the always-flowing day-night clock. The more time you spent with the original, the more you’ll appreciate how cleverly Nintendo drew the line between what changed and what didn’t.
Nintendo also confirmed that its companion smartphone service, ZELDA NOTES, will support Ocarina of Time. If you used it with Tears of the Kingdom, you already know the drill, and now it hooks into a game from 27 years ago. Real talk: the second I found out I could play the ocarina by humming, my wallet was already open. Who needs real-life crushes when you’ve got 2D ones? I mean it.
How Much Is the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2? Everything Announced Alongside It
Alongside the Ocarina remake, Nintendo unveiled a whole lineup of 40th anniversary hardware and merch. The headliner is the Nintendo Switch 2 “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition.” It launches October 29, 2026, a week ahead of Ocarina itself, and costs $412 (tax included).
| Item | Release | Price (tax included) |
|---|---|---|
| Switch 2 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition | October 29, 2026 | $412 |
| Matching Pro Controller | October 29, 2026 | $85 |
| Matching carrying case | October 29, 2026 | $26 |
| amiibo Young Link / Young Zelda | Planned for 2027 | TBA |
| The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert (5 cities in Japan) | 2027 onward | TBA |
The 40th Anniversary Edition features a special design with the Triforce crest on the back of the console, the dock, and the Joy-Con 2. The Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo are slated for 2027, and scanning them in Ocarina of Time unlocks special masks. Add in the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie (worldwide release April 30, 2027), and the calendar is wall-to-wall Zelda from fall 2026 through spring 2027.
If I had to name one downside, it’s the gap between launches: the amiibo don’t arrive until 2027, after the game is already out. If you’re in it for the masks, don’t sweat it; just start playing on launch day without them. On the flip side, the 40th Anniversary Edition console has “scalper bait” written all over it, so if you want one, keep a close eye on preorder news.
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The Bottom Line: The Ocarina of Time Remake Hits November 5, 2026, and It’s the Star of Zelda’s 40th
One last recap of the essentials. The The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches Thursday, November 5, 2026, exclusively on Switch 2, priced at $59 physical and $52 digital (tax included). It’s a full remake with free camera rotation, manual jumping, dashing, and voice-input ocarina playing. The Switch 2 “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition” arrives October 29 for $412 (tax included).
Remaking a game that’s been called “the greatest of all time” more times than anyone can count, Nintendo took the hardest road possible: preserve the original’s skeleton and modernize only the controls. What seals the deal is additions like the voice-input ocarina, the kind of thing only today’s tech makes possible. If you own a Switch 2 and have never played Ocarina, there’s no reason to skip this one.
On November 5, relive Hyrule’s seven lost years. Preorder early.
*Prices and specs in this article are based on official announcements as of September 2026. Check Nintendo’s official website for the latest information.
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Nokko Oda
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