Zelda's Big 2026 Comeback Could Challenge GTA 6 Hype Strongly

Nintendo is reportedly preparing a massive Zelda celebration, with Ocarina of Time Remake expected to headline its 40th anniversary plans alongside the live-action movie and more Switch releases.

2026 is set to be one of the largest holiday seasons in gaming history, and much of the attention is on Grand Theft Auto 6. Rockstar's blockbuster sequel is predicted to drive sales and discussion across PlayStation and Xbox and is one of the most anticipated releases ever. But while Nintendo may not have a game that can compete with the likes of GTA 6, the studio may have something just as strong, but with different nostalgia.

According to an increasing number of rumors about what Nintendo might do next, The Legend of Zelda is the centerpiece of Nintendo's Christmas plans. Instead of trying to compete with GTA 6 on its own terms, Nintendo seems to be doubling down on one of gaming's most cherished properties, with a celebration of the series’ 40th anniversary.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake is at the center of it all, a title that’s been spoken about for months and is expected to be one of the largest remaining Nintendo games for 2026.

For millions of longstanding Zelda fans, Ocarina of Time's return might be an immediate day-one purchase regardless of what else launches this year. The original game hasn't had a remake in almost a decade, even on the Nintendo 3DS. That release is now over a decade old, leaving one of Nintendo’s most influential titles without a modern adaptation.

A full recreation on the Nintendo Switch 2 would offer the iconic adventure to a new generation of gamers and bring longstanding fans back to Hyrule. Not many games have had as much impact on the industry as Ocarina of Time. Released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, it forever changed how fighting, exploration, and dramatic storytelling worked in 3D action games. Its legendary Z-targeting system created the template for lock-on combat in other games.

Many fans took cues from Ocarina of Time, and its impact may still be seen in the action-adventure genre decades later. While modern games like Dark Souls have given rise to a whole host of imitators in recent years, Zelda’s lock-on combat arguably had an even wider impact when it initially launched. That heritage is exactly why a remake has created so much buzz.

But fans want more than just better graphics. They want Nintendo to reinvent the experience while maintaining everything that made the original great. A remake made for Switch 2 hardware should modernize gameplay, movement, and fighting animations, and refresh environments that pushed the Nintendo 64 to its boundaries.

The hope is that Nintendo has something considerably more ambitious in the works than a straight remake.

You should expect many adjustments to almost every area of the game, as the original animations and character movement would probably look dated by today's standards. The remake is said to have entirely new character animations, rebuilt environments, updated cutscenes, and gameplay tweaks, while retaining the basic story.

Instead of a higher-resolution, one-to-one reconstruction, it’s believed that Nintendo is rebuilding significant swathes of the adventure from the bottom up. That's probably why Nintendo has been so quiet about the project. The company is apparently holding out on its biggest revelation for a huge presentation later this year, perhaps giving players their first prolonged look at gameplay during a Nintendo Direct in September.

If accurate, the remake would be a lock to become one of Nintendo's greatest Christmas system sells on Switch 2. Apart from Ocarina of Time, Nintendo is reportedly planning a dedicated Zelda 40th anniversary celebration, akin to the company’s Mario anniversary showcase from prior years. Reports suggest the presentation would focus on Zelda news for about 15 minutes before transitioning into a bigger Nintendo Direct with more game reveals and updates.

That structure would let Nintendo celebrate the franchise's heritage while also showcasing its future. Another big potential is the live-action Legend of Zelda movie. So far, Nintendo has released only stills from the film, and it is believed production is nearing completion. That has sparked speculation that the first official footage could come before the end of 2026.

So a Zelda-focused Direct might pair game announcements with the movie's debut trailer, making for one of Nintendo's biggest presentations of the year.

The anniversary celebration may not end with Ocarina of Time. Fans have been clamoring for ports of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD, both of which launched on Wii U. Here are a few possibilities. After Wind Waker arrives on the service, Nintendo might offer the GameCube version of Twilight Princess to Nintendo Switch Online. Another possibility is to release both HD versions together in a physical set.

One of the most prevalent speculations is a collection release, like Super Mario 3D All-Stars. A collection like that might premiere on the Nintendo Switch, but also receive a free Switch 2 performance update, allowing Nintendo to sell the games on both platforms.