Predictions · Published September 6, 2026

My Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct Predictions

Ocarina of Time is already confirmed. Now I expect real gameplay, a movie trailer, returning 3D games, and one more 2D remake.

Young Link standing in blue light in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D — Nintendo · official Ocarina of Time 3D trailer footage

The short version

Nintendo has officially scheduled a 30-minute Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct for September 8 at 7 a.m. Pacific.
Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 is already confirmed, so the real prediction is its first substantial gameplay demonstration and exact release date.
My bigger bets are the first Zelda movie footage, two older 3D Zelda returns, and another 2D remake for late 2027.

These are predictions, not leaks

Nintendo has officially scheduled a 30-minute Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct for Tuesday, September 8 at 7 a.m. Pacific. Nintendo has not said what will be in it. Everything below is my prediction, not a leak and not inside information.

That matters because one of the biggest items is no longer a rumor. Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 during its June 9 Direct. The official store page calls it a reborn version of the Nintendo 64 classic, says it is exclusive to Switch 2, and still lists only a broad 2026 release window.

So my first prediction is not that Nintendo announces an Ocarina of Time remake. That already happened. My prediction is that this is where Nintendo finally shows us what the game actually is.

Ocarina of Time gets the main event

This one feels obvious. Ocarina of Time should take the largest part of the presentation. I expect a real gameplay demonstration, a firm release date, and a clear explanation of what Nintendo rebuilt and what it left alone.

Nintendo has already shown the new visual direction. I think the finished game will look very close to those official images: recognizable locations and characters rebuilt with modern lighting, cleaner detail, and the original game still clearly underneath. I do not expect Nintendo to replace Ocarina with an open-world game or redesign it until it barely resembles the original.

I want to see Hyrule Field, combat, one dungeon room, and the difference between child and adult Link. I also want Nintendo to answer the practical questions: Is the world still structured the same way? Have the menus and item controls been updated? Are there new areas or expanded scenes? Those details will tell us much more than another short cinematic trailer.

The first Zelda movie footage

My next bet is the first real video from the live-action Zelda movie.

The movie is not speculation. Nintendo announced the project in 2023, and Nintendo now lists its theatrical release for May 7, 2027. The company has also said filming began. A 40th anniversary presentation is the cleanest place Nintendo has had to show a first teaser, a first look at Hyrule, or even a short clip that establishes the movie’s tone.

It does not need to be a full three-minute trailer. A minute of footage would be enough. Show Link. Show Zelda. Let us hear the music. Give people one real thing to discuss instead of another pile of casting guesses and set-photo analysis.

Two older 3D Zelda games return

I think at least two older 3D Zelda games are coming to Switch 2. The question is how Nintendo delivers them.

One route is Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics. The service already gives Nintendo a simple home for GameCube games on Switch 2. Another route is a proper Switch 2 remaster with higher resolution, improved performance, and a normal standalone purchase.

Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are the obvious names, but I am not treating either one as guaranteed. Nintendo could also improve an existing version of another 3D Zelda or add a GameCube release without turning it into a major retail product. My prediction is deliberately broader: two meaningful ways to play older 3D Zelda games on Switch 2, whether they arrive through Classics, remasters, or one of each.

I would prefer actual remasters, but I care more about the games being available than winning another argument over the exact package.

One more 2D remake for late 2027

I also expect Nintendo to announce one additional 2D Zelda remake for late 2027. My first guess is A Link to the Past. My second is The Minish Cap.

Both games can already be played through Nintendo Switch Online, so a remake would need to earn its place. I would want rebuilt art, smoother controls, smart quality-of-life changes, and enough care that the new version feels like a real production instead of an upscaled rerelease.

A Link to the Past is the safer choice because of its importance to the series. The Minish Cap may be the more interesting one because Nintendo could do much more with its scale-changing world and art. I am not predicting a surprise release this week. I think Nintendo announces it now as part of the anniversary and saves the game for late next year.

My final Zelda prediction card

Here is the short version: Ocarina of Time gets real gameplay and a 2026 date. The Zelda movie gets its first footage. Two older 3D Zelda games get a path to Switch 2. A Link to the Past or The Minish Cap gets a new remake for late 2027.

The Ocarina prediction is the safest because Nintendo has already announced the game. The movie footage is a reasonable bet. The 3D returns could happen in several different forms. The 2D remake is my real swing.

I will come back after the Direct and score every prediction honestly. What do you think Nintendo will actually show?