Saturday Night Live recently addressed the anticipated video game releases of Grand Theft Auto 6 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake with a skit on its Weekend Update segment. The bit starred live-action interpretations of GTA 6's Jason, played by Marcello Hernández, and The Legend of Zelda's Link, portrayed by Mikey Day, who engaged in a debate over their respective games.
The segment, which ran for six minutes, incorporated references to vehicle theft and stealing cars for the GTA franchise, alongside puzzle-solving and the kingdom of Hyrule for The Legend of Zelda. The episode was hosted by Dakota Johnson, with Turnstile as the musical guest and a surprise appearance by Taylor Swift.
Online reactions to the sketch have been largely critical. Many viewers expressed disappointment, finding the humor dated and the portrayal of the characters lacking depth. Specific criticisms included the perceived low-effort costume for Jason and jokes that were perceived as repetitive or unoriginal, with some noting that the humor seemed to echo jokes made about the Zelda series two decades prior. One commenter stated the sketch presented "surface level nonsense" with a "middle school talent show presentation."
Amidst the criticism, a few comments acknowledged the challenging position of satirizing a character from a game not yet released, with one noting confusion about the sketch's premise given GTA 6's unreleased status. The costume for Link received some praise for its accuracy to the character's Ocarina of Time remake tunic, though the accompanying jokes did not fare as well.
The sketch's timing comes as both games are slated for release in November 2026. Many game developers cleared their release schedules to avoid direct competition with GTA 6. However, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2, will launch on November 5, followed by GTA 6 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on November 19. This places the two major titles within a few weeks of each other, presenting a difficult choice for gamers.
Details on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake have been showcased in extended clips, while new information regarding GTA 6 has emerged through its age rating, which confirmed details about mature content. The two games represent significant releases for their respective franchises and platforms.