Zelda 40th anniversary direct to showcase Ocarina of Time remake

Developed over time first seen 2 months ago

Engadget · 2 months ago

Nintendo held a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct on 8 September, a 30-minute broadcast dedicated entirely to the franchise ahead of a separate, broader Nintendo Switch 2 Direct held later the same week. The showcase was built around fresh details of the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a title Nintendo had confirmed would feature prominently, with expectations beforehand centred on a firm release date given the game's planned launch within the year.

Coverage in the run-up focused on the likelihood of a release window before late November, positioning the remake to compete for Black Friday attention against Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto 6, alongside anticipated updates on the live-action Legend of Zelda film due in cinemas on 30 April. Commentators had also speculated that the half-hour slot might leave room for additional reveals, such as a possible Wind Waker remake or an early tease of the next mainline Zelda instalment, though the broadcast's actual content beyond the confirmed Ocarina of Time focus was not detailed in available reporting.

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In short

Nintendo ran a 30-minute Zelda-only Direct on 8 September marking the franchise's 40th anniversary.
Ocarina of Time remake was the confirmed centrepiece, with a release date widely expected.
Live-action Zelda film (cinemas 30 April) and other surprise reveals were also anticipated.

How this story developed

2 months ago The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct is due to begin at 10am ET on 8 September, running for around 30 minutes and dedicated solely to Zelda projects ahead of a separate, broader Nintendo Switch 2 Direct later in the week.
2 months ago Nintendo will hold a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on 8 September 2026 at 10am ET, a 30-minute broadcast confirmed to include new details on the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, ahead of a separate, regular Nintendo Switch 2 Direct later in the week covering other games.
2 months ago Nintendo held a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct on 8 September, a 30-minute broadcast dedicated entirely to the franchise ahead of a separate, broader Nintendo Switch 2 Direct held later the same week.
2 months ago Nintendo will host a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on 8 September 2026 at 10am ET, a separate 30-minute broadcast ahead of its regular Nintendo Switch 2 Direct later in the week, timed to mark 40 years of the franchise.
2 months ago Nintendo is hosting a standalone Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on 8 September 2026, a 30-minute broadcast separate from its regular Nintendo Switch 2 Direct later in the week, timed to mark four decades of the franchise.
2 months ago Nintendo is hosting a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on 8 September 2026, a standalone 30-minute broadcast separate from its usual Nintendo Switch 2 Direct later in the week, timed to mark 40 years of the franchise.

8 Sep, 01:13Nintendo Life Nintendo Reveals What To Expect From The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
8 Sep, 02:12GameSpot The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: Start Time, How To Watch, And What To Expect
8 Sep, 03:12Nintendo Life Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Price Seemingly Revealed
8 Sep, 09:13Nintendo Life Guide: Nintendo Direct September 2026 And Zelda: 40th Anniversary – Time, Date, How To Watch
8 Sep, 10:13GamesRadar+ How to watch the Zelda Direct for the series 40th anniversary and what to expect, including the Ocarina of Time remake
8 Sep, 10:14IGN Nintendo Store Leak Reveals The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake Pricing
8 Sep, 12:12Engadget Zelda 40th anniversary direct to showcase Ocarina of Time remake
8 Sep, 12:12Eurogamer Nintendo Zelda Direct live report – the big news from today's 40th anniversary showcase

Full account

Nintendo is set to host a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on 8 September, a half-hour showcase running alongside the company's regular Nintendo Switch 2 Direct broadcast later in the week. The special stream, confirmed via Nintendo's Japanese social media account, will focus squarely on the long-running franchise as it marks its fortieth year, promising both an update on the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2 and news on initiatives unrelated to games.

The centrepiece is expected to be fresh detail on the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which was announced in June and received a US rating in July. Nintendo has confirmed the remake will feature in the broadcast, and with the game still slated for release sometime in 2026, commentators anticipate a firm release date may finally be revealed. Speculation points towards a launch before late November, positioning the title as a potential counterweight to other major autumn releases on rival platforms.

Beyond the game update, Nintendo has signalled that non-game-related initiatives tied to the anniversary will also feature, which is widely taken to mean further news of the live-action Zelda film. The movie, previously delayed amid reported casting leaks, is now due in cinemas in April next year. Adding to the anticipation, Sony is reported to have registered a domain for the film shortly before the Direct, fuelling speculation that an official website could launch soon, while a Zelda-themed Switch 2 console and Pro Controller were also rumoured to have leaked last month.

Some commentary has speculated the broadcast could stretch beyond these two headline items, floating possibilities such as further remakes of classic entries or an early tease of the next mainline instalment, though Nintendo has not indicated either is on the agenda. The two sources reviewed diverge somewhat in tone and focus: one leans into speculative predictions about release timing, competitive positioning against other big autumn game launches, and possible surprise announcements, while the other sticks closely to Nintendo's own official wording, adds detail on the reported movie domain registration and console leaks, and notes fan reaction anticipating the broadcast.

Where outlets differ

From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:

One source frames the Direct partly around release-date speculation and competitive positioning against other big autumn game releases; the other outlet sticks more closely to Nintendo's official announcement wording and includes additional detail on the reportedly leaked Zelda-themed Switch 2 hardware and the film's domain registration.

One source speculates about possible surprise content such as further remakes or a tease of the next mainline Zelda game; the other does not raise this and instead focuses on confirmed items (Ocarina of Time and non-game anniversary initiatives, likely the film).

The two sources give slightly different framing for timing: one emphasises US Eastern time and a Wednesday follow-up Direct, the other quotes Nintendo's original Japanese-time announcement.

Explained simply

Nintendo's Legend of Zelda series turns 40 this year, and the company is marking the occasion with a dedicated video presentation, separate from its usual Nintendo Switch 2 game announcements. These "Direct" broadcasts are Nintendo's standard way of unveiling news directly to fans online, without a live audience or press conference.

The main point of interest is Ocarina of Time, a 1998 game widely regarded as one of the most influential in the series, which Nintendo has been expected to remake for modern consoles. Fans have also been waiting for word on other projects tied to the franchise, including a live-action Zelda film scheduled for cinemas in 2027, and whether older games or an entirely new entry might also get attention.

The event matters because Zelda is one of Nintendo's flagship franchises, and any remake or new release carries significant commercial weight, particularly with major games from rival publishers also competing for shoppers' attention later in the year.

Coverage · 8 sources

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Originally published by Engadget as “How to watch The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct”.

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