The upcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library has sparked discussions about potential remasters. Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, clarified to Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out the possibility of a remaster or remake.
Despite their popularity, both The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to any version of the Nintendo Switch. This has led to some concern among fans, especially since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, previously ported to the Wii U in 2013, will soon be accessible through Nintendo's premium subscription service when the Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5.
Bihldorff emphasized that having The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a full port to the Nintendo Switch 2. He stated, "All options are on the table," and highlighted that there are precedents for games being available on Nintendo Switch Online and still receiving separate releases, whether as remakes or the same port version. This suggests that fans should not lose hope, as Nintendo remains open to various possibilities.
During last week's Nintendo Direct presentation, it was announced that GameCube titles would be added to the Nintendo Switch Online premium library. This update will bring a host of classic 2000s-era titles to subscribers, including F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur 2, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, all launching this summer. The library is set to expand further with titles such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness in the future.
Additionally, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced delays in the United States due to import tariffs, a situation that also affected Nintendo Canada, causing further delays in pre-orders there.
For more details, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
