TL;DR: The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has a confirmed launch date. The game will arrive on November 5 for the Switch 2. Nintendo shared the launch date during a 40th anniversary Zelda-themed Direct presentation that premiered Tuesday morning.
The remake brings one of Nintendo's most beloved games into the modern era. The original arrived on the Nintendo 64 in late 1998 and was unlike anything seen up to that point. The 3D action adventure game was initially planned for the 64DD, but was eventually moved to cartridge when that peripheral was canceled. Despite having just 32MB of memory to work with, Nintendo put out a masterpiece that pushed the limits of storytelling, puzzle-solving, and combat to new heights.
The remake features a complete graphical overhaul that initially makes the game look more like a new entry than something from the past. Iconic scenes and elements from the original like Epona galloping across the sweeping plains of Hyrule as the Moon hangs in the distant sky and versions of Link as a child and an adult, however, bring us right back to reality.
The new game additionally features more NPC dialogue, enhanced camera controls, a jump button that replaces Link's auto-jump ability, and a new feature called Threads of Time that serves as a guide for your next objective. Nintendo has also added an exclusive feature that allows you to hum a song into the controller, and Link will play it on his in-game ocarina.
Nintendo shared a three-and-a-half-minute trailer for the new game that should whet the appetite of most. Those interested in learning more are encouraged to check out the extended 15-minute preview hosted by series producer Eiji Aonuma.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches on Switch 2 on November 5. Pricing is set at $59.99 for the digital edition and $69.99 for a limited edition physical copy featuring a gorgeous retail box complete with textured foil cover art. Between this, GTA 6, and a handful of other upcoming titles, gamers will have plenty to look forward to this holiday season.