Nintendo’s 40th anniversary celebration for The Legend of Zelda begins with a 30-minute Direct on Tuesday, 8 September. The broadcast promises “a variety of The Legend of Zelda related information”, leaving plenty of room for major announcements and surprises.
The showcase is expected to focus on the franchise’s next stage, including the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, the live-action film and possible additions to the Switch 2 and Switch libraries. Here are five announcements worth watching.
5. Ocarina of Time remake gameplay and a release date
The clearest headline is likely to be The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2. Nintendo has shared very little about the remake since its initial tease, despite the game being scheduled to launch within the next few months.
A substantial presentation could finally show the updated visuals, explain how the gameplay has been refreshed and confirm when the remake will arrive. Nintendo may hold more detailed demonstrations for its Treehouse stream the following day, but the Direct should cover the main points.
4. The first proper look at the Zelda film
The live-action The Legend of Zelda film is scheduled for release on 30 April 2027, yet very little has been shown beyond official images. That makes the anniversary broadcast a natural place for the first trailer.
A cast announcement could accompany the footage. Shigeru Miyamoto introduced the first trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, so Nintendo may use a similar format for its next major film project.
3. A Zelda-themed Switch 2
A possible special-edition console may already have been previewed by an August leak. Images showed a Zelda-themed Switch 2 with custom Joy-Con controllers, a dock marked with a large Triforce and a gold-and-green Pro Controller.
The images have not been confirmed and could still be fabricated. However, the design would fit Nintendo’s history of limited-edition hardware and could encourage new buyers to pick up a Switch 2 after the console’s price increase. A reported Zelda-themed Switch 2 and Pro Controller has already fuelled that speculation.
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2. Twilight Princess returns
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is the only mainline console Zelda game not currently available on Switch, making it an obvious candidate for the anniversary programme.
Nintendo could add it to the Switch Online GameCube Classics catalogue. Another possibility is a collection pairing the HD versions of Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker, following the model of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Whatever form it takes, bringing the game to Switch would complete a significant gap in the modern collection.
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1. A new Zelda game for 2027
A second new Zelda announcement might seem unlikely with the Ocarina of Time remake approaching, but a rumour has pointed to another project in development at Grezzo, the studio behind The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
Leaker Nash Weedle claimed in May that the project, reportedly codenamed Project Bernard, could be a new 2D Zelda game starring Ganondorf. The codename would be consistent with Grezzo’s previous internal names, including Project Edward. The studio’s connection to the project remains unconfirmed, and the rumour should be treated cautiously.
The timing would nevertheless make sense if Nintendo wants a game to accompany the film’s April 2027 release. Nintendo has previously aligned game launches with its movie projects, although a full Grezzo title arriving only three years after Echoes of Wisdom would be an ambitious turnaround. There were five years between Grezzo’s Link’s Awakening remake and Echoes of Wisdom.
More reporting has described the possibility that the studio is working on a new Zelda game, but Nintendo has not confirmed Project Bernard or its reported details.
What to expect from the anniversary broadcast
The strongest predictions are a major Ocarina of Time update, the first trailer for the film and a possible special-edition Switch 2. Twilight Princess and a new Grezzo project are less certain, but both would give Nintendo the kind of surprise announcement that can define an anniversary presentation.
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