Ocarina of Time Remake Changes: Original vs Remake
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What we know (as of Oct 20, 2026)
- Officially announced: Nintendo revealed the remake in its June 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct.
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
- Release date: November 5, 2026 (Nintendo, Sept 8, 2026). Details on our release date page.
- Not out yet: nothing below comes from the final game. Rows marked "hands-on preview" come from press previews of a pre-release build, published October 14, 2026.
15 of 28 rows are stated directly in Nintendo's own text. We do not list rumors or leaks.
Showing 28 of 28 rows
Visuals
| Topic | Original (N64 / 3DS) | Switch 2 remake | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphics | 1998 N64 low-polygon models (3DS version: updated 2011 handheld visuals). | Built from the ground up for Switch 2 with completely overhauled visuals, down to the textures of each material. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Music | Sequenced soundtrack. | Symphonic orchestral music. Press previews describe the tracks as faithful to the originals. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Voice acting & dialogue | Text-only dialogue. | Fully voiced cutscenes and expanded dialogue; characters have "a great deal more to say". | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Performance & loading | N64-era frame rate and loading. | Nintendo says load times are faster and the game runs much smoother. Exact frame rate and resolution not announced. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Castle Town Market | Fixed camera over pre-rendered backgrounds. | A fully 3D space; previewers report buildings can be entered without loading screens. | Reported in hands-on preview |
| HUD options | Fixed HUD. | Options to hide on-screen prompts and dialogue (e.g. for screenshots). | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Display features | No HDR. | HDR and VRR output on compatible TVs; surround sound (linear PCM). | Confirmed by Nintendo |
Controls
| Topic | Original (N64 / 3DS) | Switch 2 remake | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jumping | Automatic jump when running off a ledge. | Jump at the press of a button (X by default; previewers report it can be swapped with B). | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Dash / sprint | Rolling to move faster. | Dash by holding the A button. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Camera | Camera re-centred with Z-targeting; no free camera on N64. | Free camera control with the Right Stick. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Item switching | Three C-button slots (N64) or touch-screen slots (3DS); others via pause menu. | Improved quick item selection without pausing (previewers: hold R and use the stick). | Shown in Direct (press report) |
| Aiming | Stick aiming (3DS version added gyro aiming). | Motion-controlled aiming. | Shown in Direct (press report) |
| Playing the ocarina | Notes played with buttons only. | Hum a learned song, or play a real instrument, into the Switch 2 microphone and Link plays it. Buttons still work. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Swimming | Slower swimming; diving limited by scale. | Link can swim faster and dive when you spot something below, as shown in Nintendo's gameplay demonstration. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Jump attack | Strong jump attack on the A button while Z-targeting. | Previewer reports it now needs a manual jump followed by a mid-air sword swing. | Reported in hands-on preview |
New content
| Topic | Original (N64 / 3DS) | Switch 2 remake | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threads of Time | No quest log. | A menu that shows your story progress and next objective; a large tapestry fills in as you advance. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Hall of Fallen Heroes | No bestiary (3DS had a separate Boss Challenge mode). | A place with statues of defeated monsters where you can learn about them or rematch them. (Nintendo's US news post calls it the "Hall of Fallen Heroes"; some coverage reports the trailer's name as "Hall of Fallen Foes".) | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Day/night cycle | Time stopped in towns and many areas. | The day/night cycle continues no matter where you are, even in towns. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| ZELDA NOTES (Nintendo Switch App) | None. | Companion features in the Nintendo Switch App: daily accomplishments, find-the-location image challenges, and an ocarina you can play on your phone. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| amiibo | None (N64 era). | Existing Zelda-series amiibo give in-game extras; new Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo (2027) unlock retro-style masks. | Confirmed by Nintendo |
| Business Scrub Seed | Shops only at fixed locations. | A consumable seed that summons a Business Scrub so you can restock anywhere (seed kept if you buy nothing). | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Navi commentary | "Hey! Listen!" voice prompts and C-Up hints. | New floating text comments from Navi while exploring; guidance largely moved to Threads of Time. | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Forest Temple tweaks | Block-pushing room without a lift; Poe painting puzzle on a timer. | Previewer reports a new lift in the block room and no time limit on the Poe painting puzzle. | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Layout changes (e.g. Kokiri Sword area) | Kokiri Sword chest at ground level past the boulder. | Previewer found the first chest moved onto the central platform, reached by ladder and the new jump. | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Fairy hint marks | Hints from Gossip Stones and Navi. | Glowing marks left by fairies hide hints around the world. | Reported in hands-on preview |
Removed content
| Topic | Original (N64 / 3DS) | Switch 2 remake | Status & source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auto-jump | Link jumped automatically at ledges. | Replaced by the jump button; previewers note you must now press jump at gaps. | Reported in hands-on preview |
| Master Quest | Included in Ocarina of Time 3D (2011) and on a GameCube bonus disc. | Not mentioned in any Nintendo announcement or product page we found. Neither confirmed nor ruled out. | Not announced |
| 3DS Boss Challenge mode | 3DS version had a dedicated Boss Challenge mode. | Not announced as such. The new Hall of Fallen Heroes offers rematches; whether it works like Boss Challenge is unknown. | Not announced |
What this means for 100% completion
Nintendo has not announced whether collectible counts (36 Pieces of Heart, 100 Gold Skulltulas and so on) change in the remake. Previews already report moved chests and tweaked puzzles, so treat original-game locations as a starting point. Our 100% checklist has a remake-change field on every entry that we will fill in after launch.
FAQ
Is the Ocarina of Time remake officially confirmed?
Yes. Nintendo announced it in the June 9, 2026 Nintendo Direct and revealed a November 5, 2026 release date for Nintendo Switch 2 in the September 8, 2026 Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct.
What is new in the Ocarina of Time remake?
Nintendo has confirmed overhauled visuals, fully voiced cutscenes with expanded dialogue, orchestral music, a jump button, dashing, right-stick camera control, a continuous day/night cycle, the Threads of Time progress log, the Hall of Fallen Heroes, and playing ocarina songs by humming into the Switch 2 microphone.
Does the Ocarina of Time remake include Master Quest?
Not as far as anything Nintendo has published says. As of October 20, 2026, Master Quest is not mentioned on Nintendo's product pages or in its announcements; it is neither confirmed nor ruled out.