Nintendo has revealed extensive details about the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, showcasing a wealth of new features and enhancements during its 40th-anniversary showcase.
Producer Eiji Aonuma demonstrated numerous updates, beginning with a closer look at young Link's character model, which features increased detail and texture work. An extended trailer also provided glimpses of adult Link and various moments and characters from the game.
The remake brings significant quality-of-life improvements, including full camera control and the ability for Link to jump on command, a departure from the original game's automatic context-sensitive jumps. Link can also now swim faster.
While NPCs like Saria will still deliver brief greetings, the game's cutscenes will now be fully voiced. The item management system retains the traditional equip screen but also incorporates an item scroll system similar to Breath of the Wild, allowing players to cycle through items using the R shoulder button and use them with ZR. Navi, Link's fairy companion, will offer more contextual reactions and information.
Hyrule Field has been updated to allow Link to sprint after a single roll, an action now available across the game world. A new 'Threads of Fate' screen will serve as a quest log, tracking player progress and filling in a tapestry over time.
Exploration in Hyrule Castle Town has also been enhanced, removing the original game's fixed camera and allowing for full camera control. Animations across characters have been heavily overhauled, imbuing them with greater life. A notable change is that time will now flow normally throughout the game, unlike the original where time would halt in towns.
The iconic ocarina functionality remains, but Nintendo is also releasing a physical, playable ocarina accessory. This accessory will interact with the Switch 2's microphone, allowing players to activate in-game music by playing the physical instrument or even by humming. Playing Epona's Song on the ocarina was demonstrated to summon Epona.
In conjunction with the remake, The Legend of Zelda app, Zelda Notes, will connect to the game. Players will earn points through gameplay, which can be used to unlock songs within the app. These songs can be played in the app or learned on a real ocarina, and players can also design and share their own ocarina songs via QR codes. The app will also feature a daily trivia game, with additional questions available for purchase using in-game rupees.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is slated for release on November 5, 2026.