- Primary Subject: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake (Initial Reveal / Reborn Edition 1.0)
- Key Update: Officially confirmed as the grand finale of the June 9, 2026, Nintendo Direct presentation, the iconic N64 masterpiece is being completely rebuilt as an exclusive launch-era showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 11, 2026
- Quick Answer: The Ocarina of Time Remake is an upcoming 2026 ground-up reimagining of the classic 1998 action-adventure title, built exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2.
For the grand finale of June's Nintendo Direct, fans were blessed with the announcement of a remake of a beloved classic: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. While a graphical overhaul is no big surprise, everything else that will change is up in the air, and has many wondering.
Given that the game already received a remake in the past for the 3DS, which did a good job improving nearly everything the original did, it raises even more questions about what the newer version might do to become even better than that. As someone who has played the current iterations of Ocarina of Time and is planning to enjoy the next one, there are a few things that can make the Switch 2 remake the definitive way to play the game.
1. Cutscenes With Voice Acting
While the ideal thing to do is to have every NPC in the game fully voiced, it could ultimately take away the spirit of Ocarina of Time. So, the next best thing that won't compromise the overall feel of the world of Hyrule is to have scripted cutscenes that come with proper voice acting.
Certain moments in the game would greatly benefit from such changes, such as when meeting the Seven Sages for the first time or the encounter with the Great Deku Tree, as the change could enhance their impact and tone. Much like the NPCs, not all cutscenes from the original and the 3DS version should be affected, and only those that emphasize the importance of the journey should be.
2. Using the Face Buttons of the Left Joy-Con to Assign Items
Regardless of whether it's the original or the 3DS version, Ocarina of Time never properly utilized the directional pad. The only thing it did was allow you to hide or show the minimap, and nothing else. The Switch 2 remake has the chance to rectify that issue by allowing the left Joy-Con's face buttons to do what previous direction pads didn't: act as a way to go through items on the fly.
Since there's no longer a second screen that would have aided with that, such an improvement only makes sense. With the face buttons being used as an easier way to equip or unequip whatever is needed, the change will make exploring much less tedious and even more enjoyable, and that can help players better appreciate the different areas they'll be traveling to.
3. Overhauling the Combat System
The biggest problem with Ocarina of Time's combat is that it can be very slow, since there are many moments where you have to wait until enemies expose their weak points and then take damage. You can also shield indefinitely, and so long as you're patient, you're not taking damage at all, leading to boring gameplay.
That being the case, the best thing is to change how combat works. The remake can make enemies more aggressive and attack all at once, provide a stamina bar to prevent abusing the shield or rolling, give Link more sword-attacking methods that can utilize the mouse feature, and more. Such changes can make fights more open-ended, which is good for ensuring that players are always engaged.
4. An Equippable Item That Increases Movement Speed
Getting around the world of Hyrule can be a chore, as Link isn't exactly the fastest character. You can circumvent that issue with a lot of rolling and side hopping, but having to press buttons repeatedly just to make things a little faster isn't exactly ideal gameplay.
So, the remake has the chance to give Link an item that increases his overall speed. Something similar to Majora's Mask's Bunny Hood would be excellent, as it provides the necessary boost that's not game-breaking. Although adding another item for that purpose would be more ideal, since the hood is already in Ocarina of Time, and must be given up for an optional quest.
5. Give More Life to Hyrule Field
For the better part of Link's journey, he will be going around Hyrule Field to make it to the many plot-important areas. While it is beautiful, it is also barren of anything to do, making it feel like a slog to go through in the long run. This was a problem that the 3DS version failed to resolve, so the Switch 2 remake can change that by placing whatever will make Hyrule Field more alive.
There can be a variety of new enemies, NPCs that you can trade with for items, or even mini-dungeons that can test players' abilities. Adding all that will make people want to keep returning to Hyrule Field, which can make the overall journey more enjoyable as a result.
While there may be other notable improvements, these are the ones I believe are substantial enough to make the next Ocarina of Time remake even better than its 3DS counterpart. Those changes are definitely possible, and if Nintendo allows their incorporation, then fans will truly have something to look forward to.
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