Zelda Switch 2 Leaks: Twilight Princess, Themed Console

New leaks suggest a Twilight Princess return and a Zelda-themed console could both be landing on the Nintendo Switch 2 sooner than expected.

If you've been keeping an eye on Nintendo Switch 2 rumors lately, you're going to want to pay close attention to this one, because two separate leaks just dropped within a day of each other, and together they paint a pretty convincing picture of what's coming next. A patent surfaced that appeared to show a potential new screen design for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Today, that patent appears to be confirmed through an actual product listing, and it might also be tied to a long-rumored Zelda-themed special edition of the console. On top of that, there's a fresh leak about an entirely different Zelda game, and no, it's not the Ocarina of Time remake everyone already knows about.

Let's start with the Twilight Princess leak, since it's the shakier of the two but still worth talking through. This one comes from a leaker named Nash Weedle, and it's fair to go in with some skepticism. Nash Weedle has gotten things right before, including details on Elden Ring and the Kingdom Hearts trilogy, but they've also whiffed on plenty of other claims.

Still, the timing lines up with something you may have suspected for a while now: that a new version of Twilight Princess could be heading to the Nintendo Switch 2 at some point this year. According to the leak, a new version of Twilight Princess might be in development, with the source claiming they hadn't heard much about it until recently, but that strong rumors have started reaching them.

Interestingly, the same leak claims that a Wind Waker remaster or port is stuck in limbo, with no real momentum behind it. That detail actually tracks with a theory that's been floating around for a while. Wind Waker already got its HD treatment on the Wii U years ago, and it's also playable through Nintendo Online right now.

It would be a strange move to offer the game for free through a subscription service and then turn around and sell fans a separate enhanced version on the Nintendo Switch 2.

There's just not a lot of room left to justify another release of that particular game. Twilight Princess, on the other hand, never got the same spotlight treatment despite being one of the more beloved entries in the franchise. Its Wii U HD version didn't exactly show off major visual upgrades, and it never got folded into Nintendo Online either.

That absence stands out, especially with Nintendo seemingly holding it back rather than releasing it quietly through a subscription tier. All of those points toward Twilight Princess being saved for something bigger, possibly a full remaster or reimagined edition built specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, and possibly timed around the franchise's 40th anniversary celebrations.

Nintendo officially confirms none of this, and it's worth remembering that leaks like this are more speculation than fact. But it does align with a broader sense that the Ocarina of Time remake probably won't be the only major Zelda release tied to the anniversary.

A new 2D Zelda title feels plausible, too, but reworking Twilight Princess with some added gimmicks, maybe motion or mouse-style controls using the Joy-Con 2, fits right into what Nintendo has been doing with re-releases lately. Now here's the part that's actually backed up by hard evidence rather than a leaker's word.

A listing recently popped up on a Chinese resale site that appears to show a new LCD panel model for the Nintendo Switch 2.

The current console uses a screen manufactured by Innolux, but this new listing points to Sharp as the manufacturer behind the updated panel. The circuit connector and cabling shown in the listing look noticeably different from the original setup, suggesting this isn't just a small manufacturing tweak but an actual hardware redesign.

These lines up almost perfectly with that patent from the day before, which showed a new display design aimed at improving heat management inside the console. The console shown in that patent filing wasn't drawn to match the current Nintendo Switch 2 either, which raised some eyebrows at the time.

Seeing an actual screen listing appear less than 24 hours later makes it pretty hard to write off as a coincidence. So why would Nintendo bother designing a brand new screen at all? This is where things get a little more speculative, but there's a reasonable theory worth walking through. 

A separate, previously known upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 involves an easier-to-remove battery. Aimed at improving repairability, something that's been discussed in relation to right-to-repair standards in the UK. That version sounds like a minor internal revision rather than a full redesign, meaning it probably wouldn't need a whole new display to go along with it. 

That leaves the Zelda-themed console as the more likely candidate for a new screen.

Back around two months ago, when Ocarina of Time remake leaks were picking up steam from sources like NateTheHate and an Italian YouTuber, another insider known as Shpeshal Nick also weighed in. Shpeshal Nick has a reputation for sharing information that turns out to be accurate rather than speculative guesswork.

They claimed that Nintendo is planning a Zelda-themed limited edition Nintendo Switch 2 to coincide with the Ocarina of Time remake's release. However, it's unclear whether it will come as a standalone console or as part of a bundle. Now that the Ocarina of Time remake is essentially confirmed, that older claim about a Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 looks a lot more credible in hindsight.

And if that console is indeed getting a different screen and possibly an improved battery on top of themed branding, it would essentially make it a second hardware revision of the Nintendo Switch 2, separate from the repair-focused version mentioned earlier.

There's also a pricing angle worth considering here. By the time this special edition would likely launch, probably around October or November alongside the Ocarina of Time remake, the standard Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be priced at $500.

That makes a themed version at the same price a tough sell for anyone who already owns the console.

A modest bump to something like $550 wouldn't be unreasonable for a special edition. Still, a jump all the way to $600 would need some real justification beyond just Zelda branding slapped onto the shell and maybe a couple of differently colored Joy-Con 2 controllers.

If that price ends up being $600, having an upgraded screen and an improved battery baked in, plus a copy of the Ocarina of Time remake included in the package, would make that price feel a lot more reasonable. It's also worth noting that throughout this entire console generation, there hasn't been a single themed edition released for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Despite plenty of games that could have justified one, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Mario Kart World, or even a Pokémon crossover. A Zelda-themed version tied to a major remake launch would be a natural way to finally fill that gap.

From a business standpoint, pairing a themed Nintendo Switch 2 release with the Ocarina of Time remake could work well for Nintendo on two fronts, giving both the console and the game a sales boost. None of this is locked in, and Nintendo hasn't directly confirmed a Zelda-themed console, a new screen, or a Twilight Princess remaster.

But between the patent, the leaked screen listing, and multiple leakers pointing toward the same general timeline, the pieces are lining up in a way that's hard to ignore. It will depend on how things play out in the future, but the pattern emerging with the Nintendo Switch 2 and its link to The Legend of Zelda is becoming less likely to be dismissed as a mere coincidence.