Nintendo has explained the reasoning behind remaking The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2. According to series producer Eiji Aonuma, the project is tied in part to the 40th anniversary of the first The Legend of Zelda game and to the experience of the team currently working on the series.
Aonuma said that many developers involved with recent Zelda titles have only worked on newer entries. That prompted him to question whether they fully understood Ocarina of Time’s significance to the franchise and how they might interpret it while developing future games.
By studying the original game’s structure and development approach, then rebuilding it as a full remake, Nintendo hopes the team will gain insights that can be applied to future Zelda projects. Aonuma described that potential benefit as a key reason for deciding that the time was right to revisit the game.
The remake also has a purpose for players. Aonuma noted that Ocarina of Time is built around a carefully paced adventure and story, with progression that gradually develops the player’s abilities and understanding of the narrative. Nintendo wanted players accustomed to the freer structure of games such as Breath of the Wild to experience that more traditional style of Zelda gameplay.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled to launch on November 5. Nintendo has also released a “What’s New” trailer highlighting the remake.
Sources: Nintendo Everything.