Legend of Zelda News

Pre-ordering The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is quickly turning into a side quest of its own.

Nintendo’s Nintendo Switch 2 remake launches on November 5, 2026, but what you get for ordering early depends heavily on where you live — and in some cases, which retailer gets your rupees.

Fans in Canada can get packaging based on the original Nintendo 64 release. European players have access to replicas of the three Spiritual Stones. Japan is getting an entirely different set of physical collectibles, while retailers in France, Spain, Germany, Israel, and New Zealand have added their own bonuses on top.

Meanwhile, American fans are looking across the border with more than a little envy.

Here’s every Ocarina of Time remake pre-order and early-purchase bonus we’ve been able to verify as of September 12, 2026.

First, About That Textured Foil Cover

Before getting into the regional exclusives, there is one collectible that is much more widely available.

The first physical print run of Ocarina of Time features special packaging with textured metallic foil cover artwork. This is not technically a retailer-exclusive pre-order bonus. It is part of the initial production run, meaning early physical copies should include it while supplies last. Nintendo has not disclosed how many foil copies are being produced.

That distinction is worth remembering. A retailer may advertise no additional bonus while still shipping the limited foil version of the game.

United States: The Foil Cover, But No Exclusive Gift Yet

For the moment, the United States has received the least elaborate treatment.

Physical pre-orders are available through Nintendo, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and other major retailers, but we could not verify a US retailer offering an additional physical collectible as of September 12.

That means the main incentive for ordering early is the textured foil packaging from the first print run.

There is at least a price incentive. Walmart dropped its physical preorder to $59.88, effectively matching the $59.99 digital edition despite the physical version carrying a $69.99 MSRP. Amazon has also been offering discounted physical copies.

GameStop and Target currently list the game without an additional retailer-specific bonus.

Considering what Canada and Europe are getting, we wouldn’t be surprised if American Zelda fans keep asking Nintendo where their treasure chest went.

Canada: EB Games Gets an Excellent N64 Throwback

Canada may have one of the best exclusives of the bunch.

EB Games Canada is offering a holographic slipcover inspired by the original Nintendo 64 packaging for Ocarina of Time. The design recreates the look of the classic N64 box, right down to the nostalgic branding and holographic presentation.

The slipcover is being offered at no additional charge with qualifying pre-orders while supplies last.

It should also be separate from the textured foil packaging inside, meaning Canadian collectors who order from EB Games potentially get both treatments.

For anyone who owned the original 1998 release, this is probably the bonus most likely to trigger some dangerous nostalgia-driven spending.

United Kingdom: The Three Spiritual Stones

The Nintendo Store UK has something considerably more substantial than a keychain or sheet of stickers: physical replicas of the three Spiritual Stones.

The set includes the Kokiri’s Emerald, Goron’s Ruby, and Zora’s Sapphire inside a black display box. Nintendo describes them as three-dimensional replicas made from PVC and acrylic plastic.

The approximate dimensions are 3 cm apiece, so these aren’t huge collectibles, but the presentation makes them particularly appealing for a Zelda shelf.

Nintendo Store UK has offered the Spiritual Stones alongside both the physical and digital editions while stock lasts.

There is also an Ocarina of Time pin badge available as an upgraded option. Nintendo Life reported the pin adds £2.99, bringing the physical bundle from £58.99 to £61.98.

One clarification worth making: the Spiritual Stones themselves are replicas, not pins. The Ocarina is the separate pin badge.

Europe: Nintendo’s Spiritual Stone Promotion Extends Beyond the UK

The Spiritual Stone set isn’t limited to Britain.

Nintendo’s European storefronts have been offering the same display set in other countries. Germany’s Nintendo Store, for example, lists both physical and digital versions with the Heilige Steine, or Spiritual Stones, along with another physical option containing the Ocarina pin.

The promotion has also appeared through Nintendo’s Dutch storefront, indicating this is a broader European campaign rather than a UK-only item.

Individual retailers are where things get much more interesting.

France: Wallets, Stones, Keychains and Coasters

French Zelda fans have quite a few choices.

Micromania has offered the physical game with a Zelda-themed wallet and the three Spiritual Stones, along with €10 in store credit during its promotional period. Reports indicate supplies of the Spiritual Stones at Micromania began disappearing quickly.

FNAC went in a different direction, offering an Ocarina of Time keychain and Zelda-themed coasters. Eligible FNAC members have also been offered €10 in promotional credit.

Nintendo’s French store has carried the Spiritual Stone promotion as well, with an Ocarina pin available through its own bundle.

Several other French retailers have concentrated on price rather than collectibles. Auchan and Carrefour have both offered €10 promotional vouchers alongside discounted copies at various points during the preorder campaign.

France might currently have the strongest selection if you’re willing to shop around.

Spain: Stickers, Spiritual Stones and an Ocarina Keychain

Spain has another unusually good assortment.

The official Nintendo Store offers the three Spiritual Stone replicas, while FNAC and MediaMarkt are offering an official Ocarina of Time-themed sticker set featuring Link and other imagery from the game.

GAME Spain has what may be the more practical collectible: an Ocarina of Time keychain modeled after Link’s instrument.

XtraLife also has a more unusual option. Its normal copy does not include a retailer preorder gift, but the retailer is selling a more expensive package bundling the game with a King of Red Lions collectible from The Wind Waker. That one is better viewed as a paid bundle rather than a true preorder bonus.

Germany: Spiritual Stones and Another Ocarina Keychain

German buyers can get the Spiritual Stones through Nintendo’s own store, with an additional bundle that includes the Ocarina pin.

Retailer Otto is also throwing in an Ocarina-shaped keychain while supplies last.

Other major German retailers including Amazon, MediaMarkt, and Saturn are taking preorders, but we haven’t verified an additional exclusive physical gift from those stores beyond the first-print foil packaging.

Israel: Choose Your Own Pre-Order Bonus

Nintendo Israel may have the most unusual setup because customers aren’t locked into a single collectible.

The regional promotion lets buyers choose from four different Ocarina of Time bonuses: an Ocarina keychain, the three Spiritual Stones, a double-sided poster, or a metallic sticker set.

It’s almost a Zelda item-selection screen in real life.

If Nintendo offered that approach everywhere, collectors might have a much easier decision to make — or a much harder one, depending on how badly they want all four.

Japan: Completely Different Early-Purchase Bonuses

Nintendo is taking a very different approach in Japan.

Rather than the European Spiritual Stones or Canadian N64 slipcover, Japanese physical copies purchased during the early-purchase promotion include a collection built around artwork from the remake and Zelda’s 40th anniversary.

Nintendo says the package contains five A5 art cards, a paper display stand, and an original Zelda 40th Anniversary sticker. Quantities are limited.

Japanese retailers including Amazon Japan and Rakuten Books are also advertising their own retailer-exclusive bonuses, but as of September 12, the actual items remain listed as “to be determined.”

That makes Japan one of the regions worth keeping an eye on over the next several weeks.

Japan Also Gets a Digital Bonus

Japan is also one of the few markets with a clearly advertised incentive for buying digitally.

Anyone who purchases or redeems the download version by November 23 at 11:59 p.m. Japan time is eligible for an original Zelda 40th Anniversary digital wallpaper designed for smartphones and computer.

The wallpaper is expected to begin reaching Nintendo Accounts in November.

Australia: Foil Packaging, But No Exclusive Collectible Yet

Australian retailers have preorders underway, but so far we’re not seeing the same avalanche of retailer-exclusive collectibles available elsewhere.

EB Games Australia specifically advertises the textured foil cover artwork included with the first physical print run, but its current game listing does not mention an additional preorder gift.

Nintendo Australia’s official page similarly has preorders live without advertising a separate bonus item.

That could still change before November.

New Zealand: Mighty Ape Has a Ceramic Ocarina Bundle

New Zealand is getting an interesting option from Mighty Ape, although this one technically isn’t free.

The retailer is selling an Ocarina of Time Mighty Ape Bundle containing the physical game and a ceramic ocarina. The package is currently listed at NZ$138 for members compared with NZ$114 for the standalone game, so the ocarina is part of a paid bundle rather than a complimentary preorder bonus.

Still, considering what game we’re talking about, bundling Ocarina of Time with an actual ocarina is difficult to argue with.

What About Taiwan, South Korea and Other Asian Markets?

Preorders have appeared across Taiwan and other Asian markets, but we haven’t yet been able to verify a unique official regional bonus comparable to Japan’s art cards or Europe’s Spiritual Stones.

Taiwanese retailers currently list the local physical edition for November 5, but the major listings we checked do not advertise an Ocarina of Time-specific preorder collectible.

We’ll update this guide if Nintendo or regional retailers announce additional bonuses.

Which Ocarina of Time Bonus Is the Best?

There’s no shortage of good options, but Canada and Europe clearly have an early advantage.

The EB Games N64 slipcover is probably the most nostalgic of the bunch, especially for anyone who remembers seeing the original gold-logo box in stores in 1998. The Spiritual Stones, on the other hand, feel like the most substantial collectibles Nintendo is currently giving away with a standard preorder.

Japan’s art card package is another strong contender, particularly because its artwork appears to be tied directly to the new remake and Zelda’s 40th anniversary.

Then there’s the United States, where our grand regional treasure so far is… the box being shiny.

We’re still nearly two months away from launch, though. Retailer-exclusive bonuses often appear after the initial wave of preorders, so there is plenty of time for Nintendo or another US retailer to offer something more.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. We’ll keep this page updated as additional preorder bonuses, retailer exclusives, and regional promotions are announced.

Nintendo has finally pulled back the curtain, at least a little, on what fans should expect from tomorrow’s The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct.

In a new post from Nintendo’s Japanese X account, the company confirmed that the presentation will focus on two areas: new details about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 and anniversary initiatives that extend beyond video games.

Tomorrow, September 8th (Tuesday) at 11 PM, we will be broadcasting “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 2026.9.8”. We will be sharing non-game related initiatives for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, as well as details about the Nintendo Switch 2 software “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”.

That clarification gives us a much better idea of where those roughly 30 minutes are going.

Ocarina of Time Is Officially Part of the Direct

The biggest confirmation is also the least surprising. Nintendo specifically named The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in its post, confirming that the upcoming Switch 2 remake will receive more information during the presentation.

Nintendo revealed the new version of Ocarina of Time during its June Nintendo Direct, describing the Nintendo 64 classic as being “reborn” for a new generation. The remake is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 and is still officially scheduled for 2026.

The initial reveal was deliberately brief, leaving quite a few unanswered questions. We still do not have an exact release date, and Nintendo has not gone particularly deep into how extensive the remake will be beyond what was visible in its first trailer.

With Nintendo now calling out Ocarina of Time by name ahead of the anniversary Direct, that should change tomorrow.

A release date seems like one of the most obvious pieces of information Nintendo could provide, especially with only a few months left in 2026. A longer gameplay demonstration, closer comparisons with the original Nintendo 64 game, and details about any gameplay or quality-of-life changes would also make sense.

Those specifics have not been confirmed, however, so we will have to wait for the presentation itself.

Nintendo Is Also Talking About Zelda Beyond Video Games

Perhaps the more interesting part of Nintendo’s announcement is the wording surrounding the rest of the show.

Nintendo says it will share information about “initiatives related to the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda beyond games.”

That is a pretty significant distinction.

Ever since the 30-minute Zelda Direct was announced, speculation has ranged from additional remakes and remasters to merchandise, anniversary events and, of course, Nintendo’s upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.

Nintendo’s latest statement appears designed to set expectations somewhat. Ocarina of Time is explicitly named on the gaming side, while the company is also making a point of telling fans that a portion of the Direct will cover things outside traditional video games.

That does not necessarily mean Nintendo has ruled out another game announcement, but it would probably be wise not to go into tomorrow expecting three or four surprise Zelda games. Based strictly on Nintendo’s wording, Ocarina of Time is the game it wants fans thinking about right now.

Is the First Zelda Movie Trailer Coming Tomorrow?

Nintendo has not said the movie will appear during the Direct.

Still, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility.

The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is currently scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 30, 2027. Nintendo is producing the film alongside Arad Productions, with Sony Pictures Entertainment co-financing the project and handling worldwide theatrical distribution. Wes Ball is directing, while Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad are among the producers.

The timing is certainly interesting. Just ahead of the anniversary presentation, a report also surfaced that Sony had registered a domain associated with the Zelda movie.

That does not confirm a trailer is coming tomorrow, but combined with Nintendo now specifically promising anniversary announcements “beyond games,” it is enough to make the movie one of the strongest possibilities for the show.

If Nintendo has been waiting for the right moment to properly begin marketing the film, a worldwide Direct celebrating 40 years of The Legend of Zelda would certainly qualify.

Still, until Nintendo says otherwise, consider a trailer a very plausible prediction rather than a confirmed part of the broadcast.

Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Is Finally Taking Shape

For much of 2026, Nintendo had been surprisingly quiet about Zelda’s anniversary.

The original The Legend of Zelda debuted in Japan on February 21, 1986, meaning the franchise officially reached its 40-year milestone earlier this year. Back in February, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked about anniversary plans and said the company had nothing to announce at the time.

Things look very different seven months later.

We now have an Ocarina of Time remake on the way, a live-action Zelda movie arriving next spring, and an entire Nintendo Direct dedicated specifically to celebrating the franchise’s history and future.

Whatever Nintendo has planned outside of gaming could wind up being just as interesting as the Ocarina of Time news.

When to Watch the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct airs Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET and will run for approximately 30 minutes. Nintendo will stream the presentation through its official channels and the Nintendo Today! app.

Nintendo is not finished after that. A separate, approximately 45-minute Nintendo Direct is scheduled for September 9 at the same time, followed by Nintendo Treehouse: Live featuring gameplay from select titles shown during that presentation.

For Zelda fans, though, September 8 is the one circled on the calendar.

At minimum, we are finally getting a proper look at what Nintendo has planned for Ocarina of Time on Switch 2. The bigger question is what Nintendo means by those anniversary initiatives “beyond games,” and whether tomorrow is the day we finally see Hyrule make the jump to the big screen.

What are you hoping to see during the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct? Are you more interested in Ocarina of Time, the movie, or is there still a surprise announcement you are holding out hope for?

Nintendo still hasn’t told us exactly when The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is returning on Nintendo Switch 2, but a Swiss retailer may have given fans an early clue.

Earlier this week, Swiss game retailer World of Games (WOG) briefly listed the upcoming Ocarina of Time release with a December 1, 2026 launch date. The listing was spotted by Reddit user u/MaybeSwiss and quickly began making the rounds before the specific date disappeared from WOG’s website.

The product page itself hasn’t gone anywhere. At the time of writing, WOG is still taking preorders for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 for CHF 79.90, but its release information has been changed back to the much less exciting “2026.”

So, did somebody at WOG hit publish a little too early, or was December 1 simply a placeholder?

For now, we definitely wouldn’t start requesting the day off work.

Nintendo Still Only Says 2026

What we know for certain is that Ocarina of Time is coming back this year.

Nintendo officially revealed the new version during its June 9 Nintendo Direct, describing it as the Nintendo 64 classic “reborn” for a new generation and confirming that it will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo gave the game a broad 2026 release window but stopped short of announcing a month or date.

That hasn’t changed.

Nintendo’s current U.S. store page still lists the release date simply as 2026, while the company’s official Zelda website says the same thing. The store listing has also received its ESRB descriptors for Animated Blood and Fantasy Violence, another small sign that work toward release is moving along, but there’s still no official date attached.

That makes WOG’s December 1 listing interesting, but not confirmation.

Why People Are Paying Attention to WOG

Normally, an unannounced date appearing on a retailer website wouldn’t be enough to get too excited about. Stores routinely use placeholder dates when setting up preorder pages months before publishers provide final launch details.

WOG does have one recent example working in its favor, though.

Back in May, the retailer listed Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 with an August 28 release date before Capcom had officially announced the Switch 2 version. That game subsequently appeared in Nintendo’s June Direct lineup with the same August 28 date, and WOG’s current listing still shows that release date today.

That’s why the Ocarina of Time listing attracted more attention than the average retailer slip-up. It doesn’t prove WOG has advance information this time around, but there’s at least some recent history behind the speculation.

There is also the curious fact that WOG didn’t replace December 1 with another exact date. Its listing now simply says 2026, matching Nintendo’s official window.

Make of that what you will.

December 1 Is a Little Odd

There’s one obvious reason to be skeptical: December 1, 2026 falls on a Tuesday.

That’s hardly an impossible day to release a video game, but it doesn’t particularly resemble the release pattern Nintendo has used for many of its major first-party launches in recent years. Several reports covering the WOG listing have pointed to the unusual weekday as evidence that December 1 could simply have been an internal or placeholder date.

December itself makes plenty of sense.

We’re already heading toward September, Nintendo continues to insist Ocarina of Time is coming in 2026, and the company still hasn’t announced a firm launch date. Unless something changes with that release window, Nintendo is quickly running out of calendar.

An early December launch would also put one of Nintendo’s biggest remaining Switch 2 games directly into the holiday shopping season.

It’s the specific December 1 part we’re less willing to put rupees on.

We’re Still Waiting to See Much More of the Remake

Perhaps the bigger mystery is just how much Nintendo still hasn’t shown.

The June reveal confirmed that the Nintendo 64 classic is being rebuilt for Switch 2 and gave us our first look at the new presentation, but Nintendo hasn’t yet given fans a substantial gameplay breakdown or explained exactly how far the new version will depart from the original. Game Informer’s coverage of the Direct noted that Nintendo only showed brief footage and provided the same basic 2026 window.

There are plenty of questions left unanswered.

Will the dungeon layouts remain essentially untouched? Are controls and combat being modernized? How closely will the new art direction follow the 1998 original? Will any elements introduced in Ocarina of Time 3D make the jump? Nintendo isn’t saying yet.

Considering we’re potentially only a few months from release, it seems unlikely that silence will last much longer.

Treat December 1 as a Rumor for Now

The important distinction here is that the Ocarina of Time release itself is not rumored. Nintendo has officially announced the game for Switch 2 and continues to list it for 2026.

December 1 is the unconfirmed part.

WOG displayed the date, the date was noticed, and the retailer has since removed it while leaving the preorder page intact. That’s enough to make it worth watching, particularly given WOG’s recent Devil May Cry 5 listing, but not enough to mark December 1 on the calendar in permanent ink.

If Nintendo really does intend to have Ocarina of Time out before the end of 2026, an official announcement can’t be too far away.

Until then, we’ll keep the Ocarina handy — but maybe hold off on playing the Song of Time to December just yet.

A new retailer listing has given Zelda fans their first real pricing clue for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2, and the number is already sparking discussion.

PlayAsia is currently listing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Multi-Language) for Nintendo Switch 2 at US$59.99, with the product marked as a preorder and the expected shipping date still listed as “tba.” The listing identifies it as a Japan version, but notes that it includes subtitle support for Japanese, English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. It also says the game works on systems sold worldwide, though a regional account may be required for online features.

That price is notable because Nintendo has already shown that Switch 2 pricing can vary widely depending on the release. The Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were previously priced at $69.99 and $79.99 respectively for new physical buyers, while upgrade packs were offered separately for players who already owned the original Switch versions.

For Ocarina of Time, the $59.99 PlayAsia listing could mean several things. It may simply reflect regional import pricing, a placeholder price, or PlayAsia’s own early estimate before Nintendo confirms final pricing across all markets. But it also raises the obvious fan question: is this a massive ground-up remake, or a more conservative modernization of the Nintendo 64 classic?

Nintendo has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is returning for a new generation on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. In its Nintendo Direct recap, Nintendo described the game as the return of the “critically acclaimed Nintendo 64 classic,” saying it has been “reborn” for Switch 2. The official wording confirms the platform and release year, but it does not yet spell out every detail about how extensive the remake will be.

That leaves plenty of room for speculation. A $59.99 price point sounds more restrained than the highest Switch 2 software prices, but price alone does not tell the full story. Nintendo could still deliver a visually rebuilt version with modern controls, quality-of-life updates, improved performance, and expanded presentation while keeping the core adventure close to the original. On the other hand, fans hoping for a full-scale reimagining in the style of Final Fantasy VII Remake may want to keep expectations grounded until Nintendo shows more gameplay.

PlayAsia’s own preorder blog frames the release as a physical Nintendo Switch 2 edition and highlights the familiar core of the original adventure: Link’s journey across Hyrule, the Master Sword, the Ocarina of Time, time travel between childhood and adulthood, and iconic locations like Kokiri Forest, Hyrule Field, Death Mountain, the Temple of Time, and Hyrule Castle.

For collectors, the listing is worth watching because it specifically points to a multi-language physical version. Import-friendly Zelda releases tend to attract attention quickly, especially when English support is included. Still, fans should remember that this is a retailer listing, not a final Nintendo pricing announcement for every region.

The safest takeaway right now is simple: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 is officially coming in 2026, PlayAsia has opened preorders for a multi-language physical version, and the current $59.99 listing is the first major hint at where the game may land in price. Whether that price reflects the remake’s true scope remains to be seen.

Until Nintendo reveals more, the mystery around this remake is almost fitting. Ocarina of Time has always been a game about stepping through a doorway into a changed world. Now Zelda fans are waiting to see just how much Hyrule has changed this time.