Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 — release time, price, history and which edition to buy

In brief: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 is a full remake of the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic. It is a Switch 2 exclusive and releases on 5 November 2026. In the US the digital version is $59.99 and the physical version $69.99 on Nintendo’s own store. Digital pre-orders are £49.99 in the UK and €59.99 in Germany. In North America it unlocks at 12:00 a.m. ET on 5 November (05:00 UTC). There is no official India eShop, so there is no INR price.

What the Switch 2 Ocarina of Time is

Nintendo describes the game as Ocarina of Time “completely reborn for the Nintendo Switch 2 system”. It is not an emulated port. The story is the one players know: young Link leaves the Kokiri Forest with the fairy Navi, collects the Spiritual Stones, draws the Master Sword and travels between childhood and adulthood to stop Ganondorf. What changes is almost everything around that story. Nintendo’s 14 October 2026 overview trailer post lists these additions:

• Overhauled visuals built for Switch 2, plus full symphonic orchestral music.

• Fully voiced cutscenes with expanded dialogue, a first for this story.

• Real-world ocarina input: hum a melody, or play one on a real instrument, and the Switch 2 microphone hears it and Link’s ocarina responds.

• Hall of Fallen Heroes: a new area with statues of defeated monsters, where you can read about them or fight them again.

• ZELDA NOTES support in the Nintendo Switch App on compatible smart devices. It needs a Nintendo Account, a persistent internet connection and a compatible phone.

• amiibo: existing Zelda amiibo give useful rewards, and new Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo ($24.99 each in the US) arrive in 2027 and unlock special in-game masks.

Nintendo’s US store lists it as single-player and playable in TV, tabletop and handheld modes. It is rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB for animated blood and fantasy violence, with an estimated 27 GB download. Nintendo is the publisher. The store page does not name a developer, so we do not either.

History: from Nintendo 64 to Switch 2

Ocarina of Time first launched on the Nintendo 64 in November 1998, in Japan on 21 November and North America on 23 November, with Europe following in December. It was the first 3D Zelda. It brought Z-targeting (lock-on combat) and context-sensitive actions to the series, and it is still regularly ranked among the most critically acclaimed games ever made.

It has been re-released several times since. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D on Nintendo 3DS (2011) refreshed the graphics and added the harder Master Quest. The original N64 version is playable today on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 through the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The Switch 2 version is the most ambitious remake yet. Nintendo revealed it during its September 2026 Zelda 40th-anniversary announcements and positions it as the centrepiece of the series’ 40th anniversary.

Which edition to buy: digital or physical

Nintendo has announced one edition of the game, the Standard Edition, sold digitally or as a physical copy. No deluxe edition or season pass has been announced.

Buy digital ($59.99) if you want the lowest official price, the early purchase bonus and the convenience of pre-loading. Nintendo’s US store says that buying the digital version before 23 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT gets you a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary digital wallpaper. The download link is emailed through My Nintendo after the promotion ends. The download is about 27 GB, so check your free space first. Our Switch 2 microSD Express guide explains the cards Switch 2 needs.

Buy physical ($69.99 at Nintendo’s US store) if you want to resell or lend the game, or you like a shelf copy. Retailers often price physical games differently from Nintendo’s list price, so compare at your local store. Physical prices in the UK and EU were not shown on Nintendo’s official stores during our check, so we mark them unconfirmed.

Already own the N64 version through Switch Online? It is a separate product. Owning it does not give you a discount or upgrade to the remake.

NextPlayIntel original infographic from official Nintendo prices checked 28 Oct 2026.

Release and unlock times

The release date is 5 November 2026 on every Nintendo store we checked. Nintendo of America’s support pages say pre-purchased games unlock from 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time on release day. Daylight saving time ends in the US on 1 November, so that is:

The exact unlock time for UK and European eShop accounts was not published on the pages we checked (unconfirmed). Expect it on 5 November, but follow the countdown on your own eShop. The step-by-step pre-order and pre-load guide covers when you are charged and how pre-loading works.

Do you need a new console?

You need a Nintendo Switch 2. The remake does not run on the original Switch, Switch OLED or Switch Lite. Nintendo is also releasing a Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition console on 29 October 2026. Nintendo’s Japanese news release lists it at ¥62,980 in Japan, and it does not include a game. Matching Pro Controller and carrying-case designs launch the same day. Prices and bundles outside Japan vary by region and were not confirmed for this article. See the Switch 2 hardware explainer, or compare with the Switch and Switch OLED. Moving from an older Switch? Read how to transfer Switch save data.

For players in India

Nintendo does not run an official eShop in India, so there is no official INR price for the digital version, and we have not found an official Indian retail price for the physical version (unconfirmed). Indian Switch 2 owners who use a US account pay $59.99. Those on a UK account pay £49.99 and follow that region’s terms. The North American unlock is 10:30 IST on Thursday 5 November. Buy physical copies from reputable retailers. Switch 2 games are generally region-free, but check the box language before buying.

Cheats

The game is not out yet, so no verified cheats exist and there is no /cheats/ page. Nintendo’s official helpers are ZELDA NOTES and amiibo rewards.