Image via Nintendo
At long last, The Legend of Zelda fans were treated to an in-depth look at the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake. In a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, Nintendo showed off what’s next for the franchise. Naturally, that included our first real look at gameplay for the Ocarina of Time remake, along with the game’s release date. As if that wasn’t enough, we also got a brand-new trailer for the upcoming game. There were plenty of other exciting surprises in store, including a Legend of Zelda edition of the Nintendo Switch 2 and new Amiibo. But for those with as much Ocarina of Time nostalgia as me, that gameplay reveal was pretty hard to beat.
As confirmed during the September 8th Legend of Zelda Direct, the Ocarina of Time remake will release on November 5th. Unlike most game developers, Nintendo shows no fear in the wake of GTA 6. With both of these games coming out within a few weeks of each other, November 2026 is poised to be one of the biggest months in gaming history. Personally, I’ll be far more invested in returning to Hyrule than checking out Vice City. And this first in-depth look at the remake only has me even more excited.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Gets In-Depth New Trailer & Gameplay Preview
As most of us suspected, the 40th Anniversary Direct primarily focused on the Ocarina of Time remake. Most notably, we finally saw some gameplay! Guided by series producer Eiji Aonuma, the gameplay demo features 15 minutes of in-game footage. As we went along, he highlighted new features in the remake. The Ocarina of Time remake brings in several quality-of-life upgrades, like the ability to freely rotate the camera angle and the ability to control Link’s jumps with a button, instead of automatically. There are also new dialogue lines for various NPCs, giving them more personality and character. The soundtrack, however, feels delightfully familiar, with all the nostalgic sounds you might expect, reimagined for the modern game.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Switch 2 game without a few creative uses of the console’s technology. Players will be able to hum songs to play the Ocarina using the built-in Switch 2 microphone, or even play a real-life Ocarina to use the in-game instrument. Motion controls will also be available for certain features, including aiming your slingshot.
The graphics honestly look amazing, bringing Young Link, Navi, and the world of Hyrule to life in a whole new way. As someone who has fond childhood memories of playing the original, I came away pretty impressed with what we’ve seen so far. But don’t just take my word for it. You can check out the gameplay demonstration from the Direct below:
Following the gameplay overview, the Direct also wrapped up with a brand-new trailer for the game. This gave us a first look at several iconic locations across Hyrule, along with the new design for adult Link, Ganondorf, and several core characters. The trailer also showed off even more gameplay and cinematic goodness, including confirmation that the Great Fairy herself will indeed return. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake releases as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive on November 5th, 2026. It is priced at $59.99 USD on the Nintendo eShop, with pre-orders available now. A physical edition will be available along with the digital eShop version.
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