Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: 3 big announcements Nintendo could make

Today, Nintendo will dedicate an entire Direct to the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. The presentation begins at 10 AM EDT and is expected to last around 30 minutes. For once, there’s no wider Nintendo line-up competing for airtime. This presentation is focused on Zelda, giving Nintendo half an hour to cover one of its biggest series and several projects already moving through its release schedule. Some pieces are already in place. Ocarina of Time is heading to Nintendo Switch 2. The live-action Zelda film is set for 2027. Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD remain absent from Nintendo’s current console catalogue. So there’s plenty to cover. Nintendo hasn’t outlined the full programme for the anniversary show, leaving three obvious areas open for new details. Ocarina of Time is the safest bet. The two Wii U HD releases remain easy candidates for Switch 2, and Nintendo’s Zelda film is close enough to release for footage to make sense.

Ocarina of Time has the clearest route onto the stage

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is already confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, so this part needs little guesswork. Nintendo announced the new version earlier in 2026 and placed it within the console’s 2026 release schedule, but firm details have remained limited. A Zelda-focused Direct gives Nintendo room to change this.

Gameplay is the obvious next step. Players still have plenty of questions about how far the new release moves beyond the Nintendo 64 original, from visual changes and controls to environments, combat and interface work. Nintendo could answer much of this in a few minutes of footage. The release date matters more.

A retailer listing previously pointed to 12 November 2026, but Nintendo hasn’t confirmed it. Until Nintendo puts a date on the screen, the game remains a 2026 release with no fixed launch day. Ocarina of Time could easily form the centrepiece of the broadcast. It’s already announced, it’s tied closely to Zelda’s history, and it gives Switch 2 a major first-party release for the closing months of the year.

Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD still make sense on Switch 2

Two Zelda games continue to stand out through their absence from Nintendo’s newer hardware. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD both appeared on Wii U, yet neither HD edition has moved to Switch or Switch 2. An anniversary presentation offers a neat place to change this.

Nintendo has several routes available. Each game could arrive separately, the pair could appear in one package, or Nintendo could use the Direct for a digital release with little lead time. None of those options has been confirmed, so any such announcement remains speculation. Still, the timing is easy to understand.

Switch 2 already has Zelda represented through updated editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, with Ocarina of Time joining the line-up. Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD would fill two clear gaps in the series catalogue without asking Nintendo to introduce a completely new game. For a 40th anniversary show, this is straightforward material.

The Zelda film is close enough for footage

Nintendo’s Zelda plans no longer stop at games. A live-action film is in production for a May 2027 cinema release, placing it less than a year from the anniversary Direct. A first teaser would fit comfortably here.

Nintendo could use the broadcast to show footage, character imagery or a short production update. A full trailer may be less likely this far from release, but the project is far enough along for Nintendo to start presenting it as more than a future date on a calendar.

The company has treated film projects as part of its wider handling of major game properties, so giving Zelda screen time during a dedicated anniversary presentation wouldn’t be a strange move. It could separate the anniversary broadcast from a standard software showcase. Games can take most of the runtime, with the film providing a final segment or closing reveal.

Thirty minutes leaves Nintendo plenty of space

Thirty minutes is substantial for a presentation focused on a single Nintendo series. Ocarina of Time already gives the show a confirmed anchor. Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD remain obvious Switch 2 possibilities. The live-action film provides a third area with a firm release window and growing relevance.

Nintendo could spend the entire broadcast on projects already announced, or it could add something unexpected. At this stage, the programme remains open. One point is clear: Zelda has enough active projects to fill the slot comfortably. The 40th Anniversary Direct now has the chance to put dates, footage and release plans around them.

Spread the love