Nintendo Goes All-In on Zelda Ocarina of Time Marketing

Nintendo is ramping up promotion for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time ahead of its November 5 launch, while Switch 2 players receive more VRR support, new sales updates, and promising news about HoYoverse games.

Nintendo appears to be making The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time one of the biggest Nintendo Switch 2 launches of the Christmas season. With the game launching Nov. 5, the company is beefing up its marketing presence across a variety of platforms, including movie theaters, public transit, and TV commercials. Pre-orders are strong, and the game is topping Nintendo’s eShop charts, so hype is already building around the upcoming release.

One noteworthy development is Nintendo's theater advertising campaign for Ocarina of Time. According to the Zelda Updates account on X, Nintendo has begun screening the game’s teaser in select theaters worldwide. This is another major promotional step for the upcoming release, showing that Nintendo intends to reach consumers beyond its existing fans.

The campaign also follows other promotional initiatives that have apparently rolled out elsewhere.

Nintendo has done public transit ads before, including a promotional tram campaign in Poland. Further marketing is due to take place in Japanese subway networks, bullet trains and television in the meantime. The corporation has also been raising its profile at big sporting events, suggesting that its advertising push could reach an even wider audience during the holiday season.

This is understandable given Ocarina of Time's prominence in the series. The game, which was originally launched in 1998, helped define many of the tropes that would become standard for three-dimensional action-adventure games. The Z-targeting system, strafing, and backflipping controls were all huge developments at the time. Before its introduction, manipulating people and managing camera movement in 3D landscapes might feel uncomfortable and too complicated.

Ocarina of Time changed that, and its targeting mechanics have influenced innumerable games since. Therefore, the next release is much more than just a revival of a classic Zelda adventure. It gives us a chance to bring one of gaming’s most influential experiences to a whole new generation, especially those born long after the original Nintendo 64 release.

The original game came out nearly 30 years ago, so many newer Nintendo enthusiasts have never played it. Even those who have played the Nintendo 3DS version may welcome the chance to replay the adventure with greatly better visuals and performance.

The original Nintendo 64 version ran at around 20 frames per second, and the 3DS release ran at 30 FPS and 240p resolution. The forthcoming Switch 2 version should provide a far smoother experience, with 60 FPS gameplay. These changes may make the adventure feel more approachable for new players who might otherwise struggle with the original game's older technical limitations.

Nintendo is also planning a big launch day party.

Best Buy is expected to be one of the stores attracting a lot of interest, with several businesses said to be planning midnight launch celebrations. Fans will also be able to buy unique Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 systems and themed Pro Controllers along with the game. If demand continues at its current level, these collectibles may be especially hard to get.

The commercial success also reflects the excitement around the release. Ocarina of Time has soared to the top of Nintendo’s eShop charts as of November 1, following a robust pre-order period. This early showing could make it one of the biggest launches on the Switch 2.

The title is set to be one of Nintendo’s biggest sellers for years. The reference point is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which held a strong position in Nintendo Switch sales statistics for most of the original system’s life. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom still grace bestseller lists on Nintendo platforms.

Ocarina of Time might see a similar path, especially with the franchise reaching its 40th anniversary and a live-action Zelda movie set for 2027. These features could keep interest in the series alive well after the game’s initial release window. The game's $60 price tag might also keep it from being a consistent #1 on revenue-based eShop lists, especially when new releases and premium editions drop. Even so, staying in the top 10 or 20 would be a huge feat.

There’s also speculation that Ocarina of Time could instantly become the second-best-selling game on Switch 2.

Mario Kart World is reported to have sold over 15 million units, while Donkey Kong Bananza is reported to have sold approximately 4.78 million. By comparison, you would think Ocarina of Time would sell at least five million copies pretty quickly, but we will have to see how it really does.

And outside of Zelda, the Nintendo Switch 2 is gaining another big technical boost. Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy will officially support the console’s docked Variable Refresh Rate feature, added with a recent system upgrade.

Some Switch 2 users have been disappointed by the comparatively small number of titles that support docked VRR. But developers can't just flip a switch for this feature in existing versions without extra work. Games should be patched appropriately and then tested to ensure performance, responsiveness, and stability remain consistent.

Ocarina of Time had revealed it would support the functionality, and now Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy joins the list. Other forthcoming products, like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, could also take advantage of VRR support.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is interesting, as the game didn’t initially find a huge audience when it arrived on PlayStation and Xbox. The action-adventure RPG puts you in control of Star-Lord rather than letting you play freely as each member of the Guardians. While the supporting cast is vital throughout the quest, some fans previously felt the choice was limiting.

The Switch 2 will have two graphical settings in television mode.

Quality mode is aiming for 1440p at 30 FPS, while Performance mode will be OK at 1080p and 40 FPS on a 120Hz television. It also uses the console's docked VRR capability. While 40 FPS doesn’t have the smoothness of 60 FPS, it can be gratifying when done right. The lower frame rate, along with VRR and a 120Hz display, should feel significantly smoother than a typical 30 FPS presentation.

But the overall experience will rely on how stable the game is and how responsive the controls seem. Poor frame pacing or considerable input lag can spoil the benefits of VRR. If the developers can keep performance consistent, the Switch 2 version could be a respectable way to experience the journey.

This is also good news for third-party support for Nintendo’s newest hardware. More developers should consider implementing VRR and offering 40 FPS settings when sticking to a steady 60 FPS target isn’t feasible. Another noteworthy development concerns HoYoverse and its planned Nintendo Switch 2 support. Petit Planet is coming to the system in 2027, the business stated, a big move for a publisher that has yet to make a big impact on Nintendo’s latest hardware.

This announcement is especially interesting considering that Genshin Impact was announced for the first Nintendo Switch back in 2020. But that version never came, and Nintendo fans have wondered whether the popular free-to-play RPG would ever make its way to the platform. Honkai: Star Rail is another major HoYoverse title that could also benefit from a handheld Nintendo version.

Both titles have attracted a huge following, and bringing them to the Switch 2 might expose them to a whole new generation of gamers.

HoYoverse may have started working more closely with Nintendo's next hardware, as Petit Planet is set to arrive in 2027. But the announcement doesn't say Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail will either. Any release is speculation, not an official plan.

HoYoverse also revealed a promotional offer linked to Petit Planet’s Switch 2 release. The campaign will also offer a chance to win a multilingual Nintendo Switch 2 system with a Pro Controller package, with three winners. Plus, 10 people will receive $50 gift cards. With the future of Nintendo releases from the publisher still up in the air, Petit Planet may be the start of a more meaningful connection between HoYoverse and Nintendo.

2027 might be a big year for fans hoping to play Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail on a portable Nintendo device. Until then, the only confirmed future HoYoverse title for Switch 2 is Petit Planet. Overall, Nintendo has something to be enthusiastic about in its Christmas roster. Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being given a more ambitious marketing push, eShop performance is promising, and third-party developers are beginning to roll out more Switch 2 capabilities. This next release from HoYoverse is another reason to watch the platform's 2027 software lineup.