Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2: release date, features and why it matters

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches on November 5, 2026, exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo announced it at the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8, 2026. It has rebuilt graphics, full voice acting, and an ocarina you can play with your own voice through the Switch 2’s microphone. It lands two weeks before GTA 6.

When does the Ocarina of Time remake come out?

November 5, 2026. Earlier rumours based on amiibo listings pointed to November 12, but Nintendo’s official date is November 5. See Nintendo’s official site for regional details.

What’s new in the Ocarina of Time remake?

• Rebuilt graphics: the whole game has been remade, not just upscaled.
• Full voice acting: a first for this story.
• Voice-played ocarina: you can hum or sing the songs into the Switch 2’s microphone.
• Gyro controls: the game uses the Switch 2’s motion controls, which is why it isn’t coming to the original Switch.

Why does Ocarina of Time still matter?

Ocarina of Time came out in 1998 on the Nintendo 64. It’s regularly ranked among the greatest games ever made. Its Metacritic score of 99 is still the highest on the site. It shaped how 3D adventure games work to this day, including the way you lock on to enemies in a fight.

What’s the hook of playing the ocarina with your own voice?

Here’s the Pylcrow take, from our games series The Hook. For people who played the original, the songs are the memory. Zelda’s Lullaby. Epona’s Song. The Song of Storms. Many players can still hum them decades later without thinking.

Letting you sing those songs into the console turns a memory into something physical. It’s no longer your thumb pressing buttons. It’s your own voice, the same voice that hummed those tunes as a kid. That’s a clever way to make a remake feel personal instead of just prettier.

Is the Ocarina of Time remake on the original Switch?

No. It’s Switch 2 only, because it relies on hardware features the original Switch doesn’t have. Nintendo also announced a Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 bundle with a Pro Controller, carrying case and amiibo.

Frequently asked questions about the Ocarina of Time remake

Is Ocarina of Time a remake or a remaster?

A full remake, with rebuilt graphics and new voice acting.

Do I need a Switch 2?

Yes. It’s exclusive to Switch 2.

Has Ocarina of Time been remade before?

Yes, as Ocarina of Time 3D on the Nintendo 3DS in 2011. This is the first full remake on a home console.

When was Ocarina of Time first released?

November 1998 on the Nintendo 64. Read more in Britannica’s Zelda entry.

What should you read next?

Go deeper: 6 Nintendo 64 limits the Ocarina of Time remake finally fixes.

For another story about returning to the past, read our take on Gears of War: E-Day. If game music is what unlocks your memories, try our November playlist.

Sources: Game Informer, Zelda Universe, Shacknews.