Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct Reveals Ocarina of Time Gameplay, Themed Switch 2 and More

Young green-clad hero raises a glowing two-handed sword overhead in a stone temple, a bright fairy nearby.

Nintendo celebrated four decades of The Legend of Zelda on Tuesday morning with a dedicated 40th Anniversary Direct, giving us our best look yet at the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, plus new hardware, merchandise, and movie details.

The biggest gaming update was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was first announced during Nintendo’s June Direct. Series producer Eiji Aonuma showed off the Nintendo Switch 2 remake in action, highlighting its completely rebuilt visuals while retaining the feel of the Nintendo 64 original.

Nintendo has expanded dialogue for some characters, while Link now has a dedicated jump button instead of relying exclusively on the original’s automatic jumping system. Swimming has also been reworked. The game also incorporates voice dialogue in some cutscenes. Overall, the game appears to retain the same narrative, locations, and overall scope as the original. However, it’s now modernized with contemporary controls and a much prettier art direction.

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Nintendo announced that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. Pre-orders for a physical copy, featuring special packaging with a textured foil cover art, are now available in Canada for $99.99.

To coincide with the game’s launch, Nintendo also officially revealed a special Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 console. The system features Zelda-themed designs across the console, dock and Joy-Con 2 controllers.  A matching Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller and carrying case are also coming. All three products launch October 29. Two new Young Link and Young Zelda Amiibo figures are also releasing down the road.

The presentation wasn’t entirely focused on games. Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed Nintendo and Sony Pictures’ upcoming live-action movie will simply be called The Legend of Zelda. The film remains scheduled to hit theatres April 30, 2027.

Nintendo also announced a 40th Anniversary concert series running through 2027. Starting in February, the tour will arrive in North America, beginning in Chicago. Nintendo has not announced Canadian dates or locations. However, the official Nintendo of Canada social account says it will share “more details” later.

Finally, Nintendo announced new collaborations and collectibles. Those include new Hasbro figures, Huzzle puzzles and additional Zelda merchandise. This also includes another Ocarina of Time LEGO set, featuring Adult Link riding Epona. A playable ocarina is also being released.

The celebration follows the franchise’s 40th anniversary earlier this year and comes as Nintendo continues building out Switch 2’s second-year lineup. We outlined what to expect from the Zelda Direct earlier this week, but Nintendo isn’t finished yet. A second, 45-minute Nintendo Direct airs Wednesday, September 9 at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT, focusing on Nintendo Switch 2 games. It’ll be followed by a Nintendo Treehouse: Live presentation featuring extended gameplay from select titles.

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