The Next Legend of Zelda Is Officially Leaving Millions of Switch Players Behind
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
The upcoming Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will launch later this year as a Switch 2 exclusive, leaving millions of original Nintendo Switch owners behind.
Nintendo is getting ready to test the patience of its massive handheld community. According to a recent report by GameRant, the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is slated to launch later this year as a hardware exclusive for Nintendo's successor console, currently referred to as the Switch 2. For the massive install base still happily gaming on the original Nintendo Switch, this means a flagship Zelda title is officially bypassing the older hardware for the first time in nearly a decade.
Moving past aging hardware is a necessary step for modern development, but it still stings for players who have not yet made the jump to the next generation. The original Switch has been an incredible home for the franchise, hosting everything from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom to the retro catalog on Nintendo Switch Online and the recent series debut of Princess Zelda as a playable lead in Echoes of Wisdom. Leaving those players behind will inevitably cause some friction in the community, especially as the cost of upgrading hardware continues to be a major talking point across the industry.
At the same time, developing exclusively for the Switch 2 means the development team can push the technical envelope without being held back by nearly decade-old mobile hardware. Official details on the Ocarina of Time remake remain scarce following its brief teaser appearance during a previous Nintendo Direct. Speculation is currently split between a faithful remaster with modern visual polish, similar to what we have seen with other classic re-releases, and a more sweeping reimagining akin to modern survival horror remakes.
Fortunately, history suggests Nintendo will host its usual September digital showcase, meaning we likely will not have to wait much longer for a deep dive into the project. For players sticking with the original Switch, hope is not entirely lost just yet. Persistent industry rumors point toward long-awaited ports of The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD still waiting in the wings, which would make perfect sense as a final hurrah for the original console.
Even so, the writing is on the wall for anyone hoping to stay current on new Nintendo releases without upgrading their setup. If you want guaranteed access to the future of Hyrule, budgeting for the next generation is becoming less of a suggestion and more of a requirement.
Tags: Nintendo, Zelda, Switch 2, Gaming News
Original article: Game Rant