Nintendo held a special event, known as Direct, to mark the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda this Tuesday (8). The presentation featured Shigeru Miyamoto, one of Nintendo's main creators, who is responsible for The Legend of Zelda and was also involved in the development of iconic franchises such as Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, F-Zero, and Pikmin.
The celebration began with an orchestral performance playing notable Zelda musical themes, musically revisiting the four decades of the series. Following this musical introduction, Miyamoto dedicated approximately half an hour to revealing various news and announcements related to the franchise.
Among the highlights of the event was the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which received a more detailed gameplay demonstration. Furthermore, details were revealed about a special version of the Nintendo Switch 2, new game releases in the series, information about the live-action film, and a worldwide concert tour focused on Zelda music.
Music played a central role in the commemoration. In addition to the orchestra that opened the event, Koji Kondo, composer associated with famous soundtracks from the franchise, announced a series of performances by the The Legend of Zelda thematic orchestra in various global locations.
The main focus remained on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This title, originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, is being completely rebuilt for the Switch 2. Eiji Aonuma presented new scenes and emphasized that the goal is to maintain the essence of the original while integrating contemporary technologies and features. The graphical overhaul will be complemented by improvements in gameplay, implementation of free camera, dialogues, and the option for Link to jump directly with a single command.
The gameplay demonstrated that despite possible visual changes or in certain sequences, Ocarina of Time maintains its nature as an action-adventure game, not a survival game. Nintendo assures that exploring Hyrule, solving puzzles, combat, and progressing through dungeons remain pillars of the experience.
The commemoration also reached the hardware, with the presentation of a special edition of the Nintendo Switch 2 inspired by The Legend of Zelda, aligned with the commemorative campaign. Although this product had already been seen in leaks alongside themed accessories, it now officially integrates into the series festivities.
During the Direct, Nintendo also announced re-releases of other old Zelda titles, increasing opportunities for players to relive distinct moments of the franchise on its anniversary. Shigeru Miyamoto also participated in the broadcast to discuss the cinematic adaptation, which will be simply titled The Legend of Zelda. The premiere of this feature film is scheduled for April 30, 2027, marking the first live-action adaptation of the franchise for cinema and representing Nintendo's expansion beyond the video game universe.
Additionally, Koji Kondo disclosed the initiative for an international concert tour dedicated to Zelda melodies. The 40th-anniversary celebration will continue in the coming months, but the Ocarina of Time remake establishes itself as a fundamental project for both the franchise and the Switch 2 itself. The official page also confirmed that the game will support the Portuguese language.