Nintendo publicly thanked fans after Famitsu readers voted it the No. 1 game developer. The message celebrates Mario and Zelda, recalls the NES/Famicom era, and reaffirms Nintendo’s commitment to originality and delivering unique entertainment, while continuing a mutually beneficial partnership with Famitsu.
CryZENx has halted a ten-year Unreal Engine remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time after Nintendo announced an official modern remake, telling backers the project is officially stopped and that they will move on to multiple new projects chosen by backers. The creator had shared a PC demo and YouTube footage of the remake, but now plans to pursue other titles—both Zelda entries and non-Nintendo classics—while awaiting Nintendo's official release.
An extended listing on Nintendo’s official shop confirms The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is receiving a full remake for Nintendo Switch 2, promising updated visuals and classic gameplay. A teaser shown in the June 2026 Nintendo Direct suggested a 2026 release window, and fans spotted the listing in source code, fueling anticipation though no exact date has been announced.
Nintendo Direct announced a comprehensive lineup for the new Nintendo Switch 2, led by a Zelda: Ocarina of Time revival at launch in 2026 and KINGDOM HEARTS IV (plus a KH Collection) arriving on Switch 2, with a broad slate of new titles and upgrades across franchises—including Xenoblade Genesis, Star Fox, Minecraft Switch 2 Edition, Rhythm Heaven Groove, Splatoon Raiders, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen, and more—along with updates to Pokémon Pokopia, Duskbloods testing, and limited-time events. Release windows span 2026–2027, with demos, pre-orders, and Switch 2 Editions rolling out for multiple games and features across online play and GameShare.
Nintendo reportedly sent Cody Rhodes a polite cease-and-desist after he briefly wore boots featuring The Legend of Zelda's Triforce in 2013, with Rhodes saying Nintendo asked him to remove the logo even though he admired Zelda and felt the Triforce fit his character; he complied, and Nintendo's approach was described as kind.
Takashi Tezuka, a cornerstone of Nintendo who helped shape Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda and later produced titles like Super Mario 3D World and Breath of the Wild, will retire on June 26 after more than 40 years with the company at age 65. His departure follows a wave of retirement among Nintendo’s old guard, though Shigeru Miyamoto remains active in a creative role. The article also notes Switch 2 is underperforming relative to expectations, with a September price increase and a lower yearly sales forecast.
Nintendo veteran Takashi Tezuka helped pivot The Legend of Zelda toward smaller, more surreal and world-bending storytelling with Link’s Awakening, a shift that influenced later games like Ocarina of Time; he announced retirement after 42 years with Nintendo.
Rebekah Valentine revisits Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, arguing Miyamoto’s infamous “failure” label understates the game’s ambitious, open-world design and its influence on the series; as Zelda’s identity continues to evolve after Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the piece suggests Nintendo could benefit from leaning into that rough draft spirit and exploring fresh directions rather than sticking to a single modern formula.
Lego and Nintendo are teasing a new The Legend of Zelda set, likely based on the iconic Ocarina of Time game, featuring figures of Link, Navi, and Ganon, with a release expected in 2026.
Nintendo has partnered with Laced Records to release vinyl soundtracks for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild outside Japan, marking its first physical music release in the West and possibly testing the market for more physical music products from its IPs.
Shigeru Miyamoto explained that Nintendo is focusing more on movies because they allow fans to reconnect with their games, as films remain accessible longer than games. Miyamoto, now more involved in film and theme parks than game development, highlighted the company's expanding film projects, including upcoming movies for Super Mario Galaxy and The Legend of Zelda.
A new Zelda game, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, is announced for Nintendo Switch 2 with a trailer that received mixed reactions from fans, highlighting ongoing excitement and skepticism about the series' future releases.
Nintendo and Lego have partnered to release a Lego set of the classic Game Boy, featuring swappable screens for Mario and Zelda cartridges, available for pre-order with a release date in October 2025, celebrating gaming history and nostalgia.
Zelda fans are eagerly awaiting the first new game on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, with hopes for improvements in open-world exploration, dungeons, story, and graphics, inspired by previous titles like Breath of the Wild and Wind Waker.
Expedition 33, previously the highest-rated game of 2025 on Metacritic, has been surpassed by the Switch 2 upgrades for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, with Tears of the Kingdom now holding the top spot with a score of 95, and Breath of the Wild matching Expedition 33's score of 93, following the release of the new console upgrades.