Zelda Ocarina of Time Pre-Order Guide: Nintendo Switch 2 Relea...

Nintendo has finally put a release date on its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game launches November 5, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launches on November 5, 2026," Nintendo announced during its Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct. This is a ground-up remake rather than another remaster of the Nintendo 64 original, which was last substantially updated for the 3DS in 2011. Nintendo is changing more than the visuals. The remake adds a free-moving camera, a dedicated jump button and a new roll-and-dash movement ability. Cutscenes now include full voice acting and expanded dialogue, while a new "Threads of Time" menu tracks story progress and upcoming objectives. "After learning a song, hum the melody into the Nintendo Switch 2 microphone or play it on the separately sold ocarina to have Link play the song," Nintendo says. Switch 2 Is Required The hardware requirement is the biggest practical change for players who have stayed with the original Switch. Nintendo has announced the remake only for Switch 2, with no version for the first-generation Switch currently confirmed. That means the November release is a console decision as well as a game purchase for anyone who does not already own Nintendo's newer hardware. "The digital version is $59.99, and the physical version is $69.99," according to Nintendo's official game listing. The Switch 2 exclusivity also gives Nintendo room to build the remake around newer hardware rather than adapting it to the technical limits of the original Switch. The free camera, updated movement and expanded presentation are among the features Nintendo is using to distinguish this version from earlier releases. Ocarina of Time, But Link Can Finally Jump The original Ocarina of Time remains one of Nintendo's most acclaimed games, with a 99 Metascore on Metacritic following its 1998 release. "This is a full remake of the original Nintendo 64 game, rebuilt for Nintendo Switch 2," Nintendo says in its official description. "New movement options, including a dedicated jump button and a roll-and-dash ability, give Link new ways to explore Hyrule," Nintendo said in its announcement. The new movement options change how Link navigates the world, the camera gives players more control over what they see, and the "Threads of Time" system provides additional guidance through a game originally designed around late-1990s conventions. The changes should make the game more approachable for players who know Ocarina of Time as a classic but have not played it in years. They also give returning players reasons to experience familiar areas differently. November Gets Crowded The November 5 release date puts the remake just two weeks ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is scheduled for November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. The two games target very different audiences and are releasing on different hardware, so this is not a conventional head-to-head launch. But November is one of the busiest periods on the gaming calendar, and Nintendo is placing one of its most recognizable Zelda titles directly into that window. For Switch 2 owners, the choice is straightforward: the remake arrives November 5 at $59.99 digitally or $69.99 physically. For everyone still using the original Switch, the more consequential question is whether Ocarina of Time is enough of a reason to upgrade.