Not a single mention of Twilight Princess. What was the point?
No no, The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct that went down in the early hours of this morning gave us plenty to be excited for; I’m just nostalgic and sour.
Kicking off as yesterday moved into today (12am AEST), the half-hour Direct focused primarily on one remake that we’ll get to shortly, but it did pack in a few other surprises as well. So, let’s get to all the announcements and reveals.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake
Let’s not beat around the bush here; this was the main event. We got our first proper look at the Ocarina of Time remake today, with series producer Eiji Aonuma walking viewers through a 15-minute gameplay demonstration of the reimagined classic.
We’ve already covered the ins and outs, but this remake is looking like an absolute stunner, with some handy quality-of-life updates thrown in for good measure. Best of all, we got a confirmed release date of November 5.
Ok, this is the best part. The first wave of physical copies of the game will feature a textured, gold foil case. Long live physical media.
Nintendo Switch – The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition
Ok, here we go: a limited-edition Nintendo console. These are either awesome or ugly. Let’s take a look here….
Yep, that’s gorgeous.
Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is a super clean limited-edition variant, complete with green Joy-Cons that feature golden highlights (including a Triforce on the left Joy-Con). And the dock doesn’t miss out, either. That bad boy has a brown band at the base and a sweet golden Triforce design throughout.
If you don’t want to commit to a $799 console, you might be keener on the 40th Anniversary Switch 2 Pro Controller that will only run you $134 instead. Both the console and the controller are available for pre-order at JB Hi-Fi and EB Games (if you want to sign up to be a member for the privilege of ordering an item at full price).
The Legend of Zelda (film)
The biggest, most groundbreaking announcement of the entire Direct was the title reveal for the upcoming live-action Zelda feature film. Strap in, the movie is titled…The Legend of Zelda. I made the chest-opening tune while writing that, just so you know. Sure, it’s not exactly a surprise, but Miyamoto-san did say that the lack of subtitle would become clear when watching the film, so that’s something.
We did get a release date of April 30, 2027, though, so that’s a win.
The Legend of Zelda Concert
The Direct opened with an orchestral medley, which is sure to make any Zelda fan feel something. If you’re keen to witness a performance like that in person, then you’re in luck. A 40th anniversary concert tour was announced, kicking off in Japan in January 2027, before moving through North America in February, and then through to Europe in April.
Oh, but that’s not where the good news ends, Zelda fans. Yes, the 40th Anniversary concert is making its way to Australian shores, beginning with four shows in Melbourne from May 13, 2027, before moving to Sydney for three shows beginning July 9, 2027. Tickets will go live this month, depending on specific venues, so keep an eye on the official website.
Ocarina of time amiibo
The last of the ‘major’ announcements from this Direct comes in the form of two new Amiibo. In line with the Ocarina remake, we’re getting a Young Link and Young Zelda Amiibo, both of which will unlock a horrifying in-game mask. The two will be sold separately later this year, with pre-orders live at JB Hi-Fi now.
Rapidfire recap
The Ocarina of Time remake really did take up the majority of the show (for real, over half of the runtime was dedicated to that one game), but we got a few other bits and pieces to sink our teeth into. Outside of the above, there were a small handful of other announcements you should know about:
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Link and Epona LEGO set was revealed. It will feature 1,750 pieces, 15 articulation points, and will be available later this year.
- An update to the Zelda Notes app will include hints and tips for Ocarina of Time, as well as a playable digital ocarina.
- Two official ocarinas will be available for purchase later this year. One is fully playable, while the other is an electronic replica that plays full songs at the press of a button.
- A Tears of the Kingdom Mineru’s Construct amiibo was revealed, and it’s available for pre-order now.
And there we have it, Zelda fans.
We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts coming out of the 40th Anniversary Direct? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
