Ocarina of Time remake launches November 5 with major gameplay changes

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake finally has a release date, with Link’s return to Hyrule locked in for November 5, 2026.

Nintendo confirmed the date during its 30-minute Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8, where fans were also treated to an early look at the Switch 2 remake and The Legend of Zelda film details.

The new footage showed how Nintendo is bringing the Nintendo 64 classic to Switch 2, with revamped visuals, expanded locations, and several modern gameplay changes.

Ocarina of Time Switch 2 trailer & details

While the remake’s new visuals look drastically different from the original 1998 game and its subsequent 3DS remake, the story and characters all appear to be the same.

However, the new footage showed off a larger, more detailed Kokiri Forest, with new pathways, dense vegetation, and a mini-map highlighting its expanded layout.

Saria was one of the characters shown off, with Nintendo confirming that additional dialogue has been written to flesh out various NPC personalities. That's not all, though, as the remake is taking a leaf out of the Breath of the Wild playbook by giving OoT's cast a voice. Yes, love it or hate it, everyone barring the silent protag himself will talk during cutscenes!

We also got a look inside the Great Deku Tree dungeon, which now features improved lighting and more detailed textures. While the dungeon boss wasn't shown off, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma did fight the series’ iconic Deku Babas, giving us an early glimpse at the remake’s revamped combat.

https://youtu.be/wuFfiTEr2yc?si=_zE6BCVawa-bSYGG

The pint-sized hero's basic movements have also been modernized, allowing players to jump and sprint by tapping and holding down the A button. This means fans will no longer need to repeatedly roll across Hyrule and have to constantly hear a combination of high-pitched 'hyaaaaaaps' and 'hyaaaaas' (always a bonus for your ears).

The presentation also revealed a sweeping new look at Hyrule Field, with Hyrule Castle and Death Mountain visible in the distance. Despite the larger environments, Nintendo has revealed that they've kept the loading screens between areas to preserve the structure and feel of the original game.

Hyrule Castle Town is another area that has been fleshed out further, with areas that previously served as backdrops in the original being expanded into new spaces that players can explore.

Adding to the revamped look are two new features, with the first being Threads of Time, which helps players keep track of Link’s adventure between sessions.

Players can also play the Ocarina's signature tunes by humming them into the Switch 2 microphone, with Nintendo mentioning that Link's real ocarina will be available to purchase through the Nintendo Store.

Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5, 2026, and will cost $59.99.