The rumors are swirling hard enough that fans aren't waiting for a Nintendo Direct to start the conversation. According to prominent Nintendo leaker Nate the Hate, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is reportedly heading to Nintendo Switch 2 as a full remake, targeting Holiday 2026 as its release window. Nintendo hasn't confirmed anything, and the company is reportedly furious about the leaks that have been spilling out. But that hasn't stopped the fanbase from doing what it does best: loudly debating exactly what this remake should and shouldn't be.
The spectrum from "just make it pretty" to "burn it all down and rebuild"
Here's the thing about remaking one of the most beloved games ever made: there is no safe answer. Ocarina of Time originally launched in 1998, already got a faithful 3DS remake in 2011, and the original is playable on Switch 2 through Nintendo's library. So the question of why do another remake immediately follows the question of what kind of remake.
On Reddit's Zelda community, the debate has been running hot. One user put it plainly: "I don't just want prettier graphics, I'd love it if they expand the game regions with more stuff to find." That sentiment captures the moderate camp, players who want meaningful additions without a structural overhaul.
But a louder faction is pushing for something bolder. "I'm of the opinion that if they're going to do this they should just swing for the fences with it," one user wrote. "People who want the original have plenty of ways to play it; I want to see something new." The logic tracks. A 1:1 visual upgrade at this point feels like a missed opportunity, especially given how much the series itself has evolved since Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
The "Ocarina of the Wild" fear is real
That evolution is precisely what worries another portion of the fanbase. The open-world format that Breath of the Wild introduced in 2017 reshaped what people expect from a Zelda game, but not everyone wants that DNA spliced into a classic. The phrase "Ocarina of the Wild" has already become shorthand in fan discussions for the thing nobody wants: a remake that loses the tight dungeon structure and linear pacing that made the original special in the first place.
"I just don't want it to be Ocarina of the Wild," one Reddit user said, and the comment landed with the kind of upvote energy that signals widespread agreement.
The key here is that Ocarina of Timeworks specifically because of its structure. The Water Temple is miserable and iconic in equal measure. The transition from child Link to adult Link is a narrative gut-punch that depends on a controlled, authored experience. Throwing that into an open world risks sanding off the very edges that gave the game its identity.
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The remake debate isn't just about graphics. Fans are drawing a clear line between modernization and transformation, and Nintendo will need to decide which side it lands on.
The Metal Gear Delta vs. Resident Evil 2 question
For some fans, the reference point isn't other Zelda games at all. The remake discourse has split into two recognizable camps: the Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater school of thought (preserve everything, just make it look current) versus the Resident Evil 2 approach (keep the spirit, rebuild the mechanics from scratch).
One user summed up the conservative position: "I want new graphics and modern gameplay features and some expanded areas, that's it." Clean, specific, reasonable. The Ocarina of Time 3D remake on 3DS already proved that a faithful update can work. The question is whether Nintendo sees value in doing that again or wants to make a statement.
There's also a corner of the fanbase that's focused on something more specific: the horror elements. Ocarina of Time has always had a darker undercurrent, from ReDeads to the Bottom of the Well to Dead Hand, and some players are hoping the remake leans into that. "Man, please go all-in within the bounds of the T-rating," one user wrote. "Like, just give us a room that looks like Dark Souls." Ambitious ask, but the enthusiasm behind it is genuine.
What the leak itself actually says
Beyond fan wishlist territory, the Ocarina of Time remake leaks that circulated earlier this year point to a full remake rather than a simple remaster. Nate the Hate, whose Nintendo track record carries real weight in the community, specified that this is a remake project, not an HD port. That distinction matters because it suggests Nintendo is building something new around the original's framework, not just upscaling assets.
Nintendo hasn't commented, and given how furious the company reportedly is about the leak situation, an official reveal probably comes on Nintendo's own timeline. For now, the fan conversation is doing the work of mapping out exactly how high the stakes are.
The original Ocarina of Time is already playable through Nintendo's existing library. When Nintendo does pull back the curtain on this one, the bar set by years of fan expectation will be waiting. Keep an eye on gaming news as the Switch 2 launch window approaches for any official movement. Make sure to check out more:
