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Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Team Confirms Fast Travel Was Added, Then Removed
Nintendo’s *Ocarina of Time* remake will not include the fast-travel points the development team initially planned to add. Producer Eiji Aonuma said he asked for shortcuts, then had them removed after playtesting suggested they took away from the discoveries players make while travelling through Hyrule.
Aonuma and producer Hidemaro Fujibayashi said exploration and unexpected detours are central to the game’s experience. The remake, due out on 5 November for Nintendo Switch 2, will still make travel easier than in the Nintendo 64 version: players can sprint with a dedicated button and find Epona at Lon Lon Ranch.
In short
- Planned warp points were removed after playtesting.
- The team wanted to preserve discoveries along the way.
- Sprinting and Epona will still make travel easier.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Removing fast-travel points can protect the sense of discovery that defines Hyrule: journeys expose players to unexpected encounters and make reaching a destination feel earned. If playtesting showed that shortcuts drew attention away from those experiences, prioritising exploration preserves the game’s intended character.
The case against
Fast travel can respect players’ time, particularly when they need to cross familiar ground repeatedly. Keeping optional shortcuts would let players choose when to explore and when to move on, while still allowing the game to offer discoveries along the way.
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