The Legend Of Zelda 40th Anniversary Remake Plans Just Took A Big Hit

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Austin King is the Senior Editor of Gaming at ScreenRant and has been with the site since 2020 with a focus on RPGs and tabletop games. He previously managed content for Geek to Geek Media, and has served as a writer for sites like Nintendad, Geek Fitness, and more.

In addition to his work at ScreenRant, he also hosts the Dragon Quest FM podcast and is the author of several books, including co-writing Nimbus (a #1 bestseller in 2013). His latest is the nonfiction The Dragon Quest Book, available now.

He's written about pop culture, video games, and genre studies over the course of his career. You can find him on BlueSky, X, and at Dragonquestaustin.com

The Legend Of Zelda turns 40 this year, marking four decades since the debut of its first game in 1986. Fans are expecting Nintendo to celebrate in a big way, with long-awaited remasters of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker on Switch 2 seeming like viable options. While nothing is confirmed yet, rumors and leaks keep swirling online. But at least one aspect of those plans took a major hit this week.

One of the more prominent rumors online has been that Nintendo will celebrate Zelda's 40th Anniversary with a remake of Ocarina of Time. It's arguably the best game in the series, with a storied legacy since it originally launched on the N64, and its reputation has only grown since a 3DS remake came out in 2011. Over on X, popular insider Nate the Hate was asked about the Ocarina of Time remake, and the answer was... disappointing.

Zelda's Rumored Ocarina Of Time Remake Shut Down

Young link with Navi over an image of Link riding Epona in Ocarina of Time

When asked if he'd heard anything about the Ocarina of Time remake, Nate the Hate replied, "Not even a whisper." That's sad news for anyone hoping for a remake to be in the works, since presumably an insider like Nate the Hate would've heard about it if even an inkling of it were true.

If you had your hopes up regarding an Ocarina of Time remake, then it appears you may be in for disappointment, although I suppose there's always a chance Nintendo has just kept the game SUPER secretive (but not secret enough for so-called leaks to appear online). I'd love an OoT remake just as much as the next person, but it does feel like there's no merit to it happening right now.

What Does Nintendo Have Planned For Zelda's 40th?

Link playing his ocarina in Ocarina of Time.

That leads to the question of what Nintendo has it store for Zelda's 40th Anniversary. That's a pretty big milestone, and it's doubtful NIntendo will simply ignore it. Fans have been clamoring for Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD to arrive on Switch 2, and that sounds doable.

Since 2026 marks 40 years since the first The Legend of Zelda title, it's also possible NIntendo will give us something relating to that game, whether that's a remake or commemorative re-release (similar to the Zelda Game & Watch we got a few years back). At this point, there's nothing official, so this is only guesswork.

No matter what, though, it seems likely we'll get something for the 40th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. Hopefully, Nintendo will announce something soon, so everyone can stop guessing. I'm just as eager as the rest of you to hear how we're celebrating this year.