Nintendo Dates the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake for November 5
Nintendo has set a November 5 launch date for the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake, the flagship reveal of the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct that aired on September 8. Series producer Eiji Aonuma presented an extended gameplay walkthrough during the broadcast, confirming that the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic is being rebuilt rather than lightly remastered. Pre-orders opened the same day through the Nintendo Store and retail partners.
What began as a brief teaser in Nintendo's June Direct is now confirmed as a ground-up reconstruction. The remake pairs completely overhauled visuals with fully voiced cutscenes, expanded character dialogue, and a symphonic orchestral soundtrack. Combat is faster, and the camera and movement systems have been reworked: a dedicated jump button joins redesigned swimming controls that bring the 28-year-old adventure closer to the feel of modern action games.
Inside the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake
The ocarina itself gets the most distinctive change. A companion app called "Zelda Notes" lets players sing or blow melodies into the microphone, replacing the button-based song input of the original. Nintendo pitched the feature as a way to keep the game's defining musical mechanic while removing the fiddly note mapping of the N64 version.
The digital edition of the Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake is priced at $59.99 USD, while a physical version with textured foil cover art runs $99.99 CAD. The title is exclusive to the Switch 2.
Anniversary hardware lands first
Themed hardware reaches shelves before the game does. A Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console, listed at $709.96 CAD, spreads Zelda artwork across the system, its dock, and the Joy-Con 2 controllers, and ships October 29 alongside a matching Pro Controller and carry case. Nintendo also unveiled a HORI Electric Ocarina accessory and a 1,750-piece LEGO Ocarina of Time set as part of the anniversary lineup.
The 40th-birthday push runs well into next year. A live-action Zelda film is scheduled for theaters on April 30, 2027, and an orchestral concert series opens in North America in February 2027 before moving to Europe in April and Australia in May. Young Link and Young Zelda Amiibo figures were teased during the broadcast. A separate general Nintendo Direct covering Switch 2 software follows on September 9.
Why this matters
The Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake carries two jobs for Nintendo: it refreshes a game first released in 1998, and it gives the Switch 2 a marquee exclusive timed to the pre-holiday window, one week after the anniversary console reaches stores. Voice acting, a jump button, and a $59.99 USD price tag all point to a flagship release rather than a back-catalog port. Players deciding whether to replay the adventure will weigh how much the rebuilt presentation changes a story many already know by heart.
Photo by Kedibone Isaac Makhumisane on Unsplash
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