Nintendo dropped one of the biggest announcements of the June 9 Direct without much warning. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, and Nintendo described it as being “reborn,” suggesting something more substantial than a straight port of the N64 original.
Ocarina of Time originally launched on the Nintendo 64 in 1998 and is widely considered one of the most important games ever made. It set the standard for 3D action-adventure design, introduced Z-targeting as a combat system, and built the version of Hyrule that every Zelda game since has in some way referenced or reacted to. It has sat atop critical best-of lists for over two decades.
The last major reimagining of the game was the Nintendo 3DS remake in 2011, which updated the visuals to take advantage of the handheld’s 3D display, added a Master Quest mode with mirrored dungeons and rearranged puzzles, and improved the Water Temple’s item menu to be less frustrating. That version has not been available on a Nintendo platform since the 3DS eShop closed in 2024, making this announcement particularly welcome for players who missed it or want it on a current system.
The word “reborn” does a lot of work in Nintendo’s announcement. It leaves open the question of whether this is a visual overhaul similar to the 3DS version, a more ground-up remake with modern graphics and reworked systems, or something in between. Given what Nintendo has done with Star Fox and other revisited classics on Switch 2, a meaningful visual upgrade alongside quality-of-life adjustments seems like the baseline expectation. What exactly that looks like in practice will depend on the trailer and further details Nintendo shares before release.
Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 arrives sometime in 2026. No specific release date has been confirmed beyond the year.
