Here is a moment where an old door opens again: Nintendo is bringing back Ocarina of Time, the 1998 game that first gave players a 3D Hyrule, on the Switch 2 in the first week of November. Its arrival is shaped by the franchise's fortieth year and by the company's wish to carry a foundational work into a new machine without losing what made it matter. Released alongside a crowd of major titles, including Grand Theft Auto VI, it asks whether an old journey can still find its place among so many new ones, and whether its price will hold steady once the early offers fade.
Ocarina of Time Remake Lands on Switch 2 November 5th, Modernizing a 1998 Classic
The best thing about Ocarina of Time: its timelessness
Mark
Why does a remake of a 1998 game matter this much?
Mimi
Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda, and it pioneered 3D movement and exploration. Nintendo is rebuilding that for the Switch 2, and it's the first Zelda exclusive to the console.
Mark
What actually changes for players?
Mimi
There's a dedicated jump button, simpler controls, a Threads of Time progression marker on the pause screen, and Zelda Notes in the Switch app for maps on your phone.
Luke
Keep in mind that the praise comes from hands-on time with only some sections of the game. That isn't a full review.
Mark
Fair. And the price?
Mimi
Physical is discounted $10 at Amazon and Walmart for now. After launch it will almost certainly go from $59.99 to $69.99, and digital stays at $59.99.
Luke
"Almost certainly" is the reporter's expectation, not a Nintendo announcement. I'd treat the increase as likely but not confirmed.
Mark
What about the timing?
Mimi
It lands in the same month as Grand Theft Auto VI, so it shares the month with another huge release.
Luke
Nothing in the reporting says how that will affect sales. That's unknown.
O Pulso
- Ocarina of Time returns to a crowded November, sharing its launch month with Grand Theft Auto VI and competing for attention among big-budget releases.
- Early hands-on impressions praise sharpened visuals and modernized controls, including a dedicated jump button that brings the 1998 classic closer to today's action games.
- Newcomers from Breath of the Wild get a Threads of Time progress marker and phone-based map access through the Nintendo Switch app.
- Physical copies sit at $59.99 with a limited discount window, and the price is widely expected to climb to $69.99 after launch, a shift players are watching closely.
Here is a moment where an old door opens again: Nintendo is bringing back Ocarina of Time, the 1998 game that first gave players a 3D Hyrule, on the Switch 2 in the first week of November. Its arrival is shaped by the franchise's fortieth year and by the company's wish to carry a foundational work into a new machine without losing what made it matter. Released alongside a crowd of major titles, including Grand Theft Auto VI, it asks whether an old journey can still find its place among so many new ones, and whether its price will hold steady once the early offers fade.
Next Thursday, November 5th, Nintendo releases its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Switch 2. Physical copies are still available at a $10 discount at Amazon and Walmart for about another week, after which the physical edition is expected to rise from $59.99 to $69.99, while the digital version holds at $59.99.
Nintendo revealed the date during a Zelda stream celebrating the franchise's 40th anniversary, after first teasing the remake in June with only a short trailer. Longtime producer Eiji Aonuma described it as "a faithful interpretation using modern technologies." It will be the first Zelda game exclusive to the Switch 2, arriving after Echoes of Wisdom in 2024 and following the upgraded Switch 2 editions of Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild.
Early hands-on time with the game has been encouraging. The original 1998 release pioneered 3D movement and exploration, and this version appears to keep that spirit while looking and playing better, addressing some of the original's most frustrating moments. The controls are easier for players used to modern third-person action games, and a dedicated jump button is now included. The reporter also found it surprisingly frightening at times.
For players who arrived through Breath of the Wild, Nintendo has added the Threads of Time progress marker, viewable from the pause screen, and Zelda Notes integration in the Nintendo Switch app lets players check maps and information on their phones.
The open questions are how the game holds its ground in a busy November and whether the physical price rises once the discounts end.
Next Thursday, November 5th, Nintendo releases its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Switch 2. Anyone who wants the physical edition has about a week left to get it with a $10 discount at Amazon and Walmart. After launch, the physical version will almost certainly rise from $59.99 to $69.99, while the digital version stays at $59.99.
The date was announced during a Zelda stream marking the franchise's 40th anniversary. Nintendo had first teased the remake in June with a brief trailer and little else. The stream gave a clearer look at how the company is handling one of its most influential games, and the first 3D Zelda adventure. Ocarina of Time will be the first Zelda release exclusive to the Switch 2. Longtime Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma called it "a faithful interpretation using modern technologies."
The release date also puts the game in company. It is one of only a few big-budget titles launching in the same month as Grand Theft Auto VI.
The remake follows a run of Zelda releases. Nintendo announced it during a Nintendo Direct on a Tuesday, with a 2026 window and a promise of more details later. It is the first major Zelda release since 2024's Echoes of Wisdom, which starred Princess Zelda. That game followed 2023's Tears of the Kingdom, the direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. Both of those games received upgraded Switch 2 versions when the console launched last year. In November, Nintendo also released the hack-and-slash game Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.
The Verge has played parts of the remake, and the early impressions are positive. The 1998 Nintendo 64 original pioneered 3D graphics, movement, exploration and openness. The reporter's hands-on time suggests the remake keeps what made it last while changing how it looks and plays. It is the best-looking and best-playing version, the reporter writes, and it addresses the most frustrating aspects of the original. The reporter also found it surprisingly terrifying at times.
The graphics and art style are called fantastic. Controls have been modernized so the game is easier to pick up for players used to third-person action games, including recent Zelda titles. There is now a dedicated jump button.
Nintendo has also added features for players who came to Zelda through games like Breath of the Wild. A new progression marker called Threads of Time can be viewed from the pause screen. Zelda Notes integration in the Nintendo Switch app lets players view game maps and other information on their phones.
The things to watch are how the game fares in a crowded November and whether the physical edition moves to $69.99 once the discounts end.
Citações Notáveis
A faithful interpretation using modern technologies.— Eiji Aonuma, longtime Zelda producer
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