6 Officially Confirmed Changes In The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake

As the beloved franchise marks its 40th birthday, many fans are eager to experience the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Expected to release later this year as part of the anniversary celebration, the classic N64 adventure from 1998 is sure to be a stunning remake of one of the most beloved games of the series. From an unforgettable story to puzzles with just the right amount of challenge, the game did more than just introduce Link to the world of 3D.

Not only did Ocarina of Time put us on an epic quest to stop Ganondorf by traveling through time, but the game provided some of the most often quoted lines in gaming. With this modern revival, the remake of Ocarina of Time opens the door for a new generation of gamers to see what makes it so special, as well as providing a beautiful but nostalgic experience for those of us who played it nearly three decades ago.

This Is A Full Remake, Not Another Remaster Or Emulated Port

As wonderful as the original Zelda: Ocarina of Time was, it was also one of the first 3D action-adventure games when it released on the N64. Truly, it was one of the best games ever made, but trying to play it again in 2026 shows some of the harsh realities of just how far technology has progressed in gaming.

Thankfully, Nintendo knew that just porting the game to current hardware wasn't going to be enough. The upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Switch 2 will be a full remake of the game from the ground up. This means they aren't just overhauling the graphics or making it simply playable, but rather the team is having to make the game from scratch. It will only be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 and will include many changes in addition to quality-of-life upgrades.

The Graphics Have Been Completely Rebuilt

One of the most immediately obvious changes in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake's trailer shown above is the graphics. Zelda has never been known to stick to just one art style over the course of the franchise, and this reveal trailer depicts graphics that are much different than the original game.

For the Nintendo Switch 2, the graphics have been completely rebuilt with high-polygon character models, advanced real-time lighting, high-resolution textures, and more to bring a much more realistic and modern feel to the adventure. Looking at the trailer, it appears that every hair on Link's head and the texture of his clothing and tapestries are visible, which could push the graphics to an entirely new level for The Legend of Zelda if it remains that way for the entire game.

Admittedly, this has been a very divisive topic among players, with many wanting the game to remain closer to its original look while others appreciate the more impressive style, but having some division in thought regarding the art style of a Zelda game feels pretty on brand for the entire franchise.

Characters And Environmental Elements Have Redesigned Appearances

As the overall graphics are getting an upgrade for the remake, so too are many of the characters and environmental elements. Link and Navi both feature completely redesigned face animations and models which are going to be particularly noticeable during cutscene events. Similarly, Princess Zelda, Impa, Saria, and Darunia have all been completely redone, which many would likely agree is for the best, considering the very clunky graphics of the original models.

Additionally, many of the familiar landscapes of Hyrule, including the Castle Town and many temples and dungeons, feature new looks to make them more current for the areas we know and love. New modern lighting and detailed environmental assets give a more modern and cinematic look, while also providing a more beautiful experience for running around the world.

Although it hasn't been confirmed, there's even speculation that the Great Fairy and other fairies may have undergone a much more modest change, as the wording "suggestive themes" has been removed in the latest ESRB rating.

The Familiar Music Is Receiving New Arrangements

Another noticeable change from the original that we can hear in the reveal trailer is the soundtrack. The classic, memorable melodies of the Ocarina of Time soundtrack can't change too drastically without getting backlash from its audience, but the sound quality and new arrangements make these songs even more impressive.

The game is said to have a broader range of orchestral instruments, which is likely only achieved now due to the higher power of modern hardware being able to manage more. At least some of the songs do feature new arrangements, but still hold true to the original tune and feel that those of us who know the original will appreciate.

There's New Cinematic Material, Including Spoken Narration

Zelda has a history of using footage from actual cutscenes from their games in the teaser trailers, and there's no reason to believe it will change that pattern now. The cutscene shown in the teaser trailer for Ocarina of Time's remake would be a fitting scene to include in the game, particularly showing new details such as Link's hand.

Additionally, the music isn't the only bit of sound quality getting an upgrade. Voice acting has been a part of Zelda since The Breath of the Wild debuted in 2017, and now feels like a natural addition to any game in the series. In fact, it would feel a bit odd now if Ocarina of Time, particularly with its new cutscenes, did not feature voice acting.

While we currently do not have any confirmation of who the voice actors will be, or even what extent of the game will feature voiceover work, the trailer certainly implies that it will be included.

Young Link Is Shown With The Triforce Mark Much Earlier

That cutscene or video that the trailer shows off while revealing Ocarina of Time's remake focuses in on a very young Link's hand. On his had is a glowing Triforce symbol, which was not something that happened in the original game. Not only does this suggest many more little details will be fleshed out and used to tell the story in a more emotional and meaningful way, but it will also be interesting to see what the Triforce mark at such a young age will suggest for our hero.

As impressive as this project for the remake looks, it is easy to fear that the game will not arrive in 2026 as originally planned. Though we don't yet have an official release date, Nintendo has recently confirmed that the Ocarina of Time remake will release this year. Most likely, it will be in November, just before the start of the important holiday shopping season, and coinciding with leaks for when new Zelda amiibos will be launching.

Of course, we still don't know that for sure, but at least we can feel fairly certain that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 2026 remake will actually arrive in 2026.