Nintendo is turning The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary into one of its biggest franchise celebrations yet, bringing a heavily reworked version of Ocarina of Time to the Switch 2 while preparing a wave of new Zelda products and experiences.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, nearly three decades after the original game debuted in 1998. Nintendo says the new version features completely overhauled visuals, fully voiced cutscenes, expanded character dialogue, symphonic music and redesigned camera and movement controls.
But Nintendo is using the anniversary for more than a game release.
An anniversary-themed Switch 2 console will launch on October 29, alongside a matching Pro Controller and carrying case featuring the Triforce design. New Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo are also planned for 2027, with special in-game masks tied to a retro visual style.
The celebration will extend beyond Nintendo hardware. A global Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert series is planned for 2027, while Nintendo Today! users can already collect digital Zelda cards through the company's mobile app.
The timing also connects the gaming franchise with Nintendo's broader entertainment strategy. The live-action Zelda movie is scheduled to hit theaters worldwide on April 30, 2027, from Nintendo, Arad Productions and Sony Pictures.
That makes the anniversary more than a nostalgia play. Nintendo is using one of its most valuable gaming franchises to create a year-long push across games, hardware, merchandise, music and film.
For longtime fans, Ocarina of Time may be the headline act. But Nintendo's larger bet is clear: Zelda is being positioned as an entertainment franchise that can reach well beyond the Switch 2.
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