A Major Milestone for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake
The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo Switch 2 has secured its place as the second most successful Zelda launch ever in the UK market. Released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, it also marks the strongest physical game debut in the UK for the year so far. The title topped the UK GfK sales charts, outperforming major competitors like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and EA Sports FC 27.
First-week sales surpassed those of the 2017 Breath of the Wild across both Switch and Wii U versions by 35%, though the remake reached about half of the initial sales volume of Tears of the Kingdom. At the time of this release, the Nintendo Switch 2 had sold over 26 million units worldwide, a notable figure compared to the original Nintendo Switch's approximately 125 million units before Tears of the Kingdom launched.
Game Announcement and Key Features
Nintendo revealed the remake during a Nintendo Direct presentation on June 9, 2026. This version introduces several new gameplay enhancements, including:
- a dedicated jump button,
- the Threads of Time hint system,
- and the ability to play the in-game ocarina by singing into the microphone.
It is important to note that GfK data reflects only physical sales within the UK and does not specify exact copy numbers. Nintendo has yet to release official global sales figures. Industry analyst Christopher Dring commented that
"many factors linked to the console’s install base contributed to these results."Sales data from Japan's Famitsu are expected to be published on Wednesday, which may provide further insights.
The strong performance of this remake highlights the enduring appeal of the Zelda franchise and signals robust demand for new releases on Nintendo Switch 2. Given the higher sales compared to previous entries, this success suggests growing enthusiasm for games on the platform, potentially encouraging developers to invest more in content creation for the system. The upcoming Japanese sales figures will offer additional perspective on the game's global impact and its role in shaping the video game market moving forward.
The recent success of the remake has reignited interest in the Zelda series, especially considering the upcoming release of the remastered Ocarina of Time, set to launch on November 5, 2026. This new version promises to enhance the classic experience with modern features, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers alike.