Nintendo dropped a surprise Nintendo Direct this week, and the biggest headline was the return of Star Fox. A full remake of Star Fox 64 is coming to Switch 2 on June 25. But here's the thing: the more interesting story might not be about Fox McCloud at all.
For fans who have been following the rumor circuit, the Star Fox announcement is a flashing green light for something even bigger: a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, reportedly also targeting Switch 2 in the second half of 2026.
Why a space shooter announcement is Zelda news
The logic here traces back to 2011. When Nintendo launched the 3DS, two of its most important early releases were Star Fox 64 3D and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, both N64 remakes released just months apart. They were the platform's heavy hitters during a rough launch window, and they worked.
Fast forward to 2026, and Nintendo appears to be running a very similar play. The Switch 2 already has Pokémon Pokopia as a breakout hit, but the release calendar is thin on AAA originals. No new 3D Mario on the immediate horizon, no follow-up to Tears of the Kingdom, no new Animal Crossing. A pair of polished N64 remakes would fill that gap in a way Nintendo knows from experience actually works.
The Ocarina of Time remake has not been officially confirmed by Nintendo. The current evidence is circumstantial and based on leaker reports and historical patterns.
NateTheHate called this months ago
Leaker NateTheHate said back in March that Nintendo was working on both a new Star Fox and an Ocarina of Time remake for the second half of 2026. At the time, it was just a rumor. Since then, he has correctly predicted summer release dates for Splatoon Raiders and Rhythm Heaven Groove before Nintendo made either official. His track record on Switch 2 content has been solid, and the Star Fox confirmation is now the third data point lining up in his favor.
The key here is that leakers live and die by their hit rate. NateTheHate getting Star Fox right, along with two other Switch 2 releases, makes his Ocarina of Time call harder to dismiss.
The bigger picture Nintendo is building
There is also a media strategy angle worth noting. The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled for 2027, and reports from My Nintendo News this week claim a standalone Star Fox animated film is in active development at Nintendo and Illumination. Reintroducing both franchises to modern audiences through polished remakes, right before major media releases, is not a coincidence. It is a content pipeline.
For the players, the appeal of an Ocarina of Time remake goes beyond nostalgia. As one Polygon commenter put it this week, the game serves as an accessible entry point to the Zelda franchise without requiring familiarity with other entries, while still pulling in long-time fans. That dual audience appeal is exactly what Nintendo wants on a platform still building its library.
What players are actually waiting to hear
Right now, the Switch 2 calendar has Star Fox locked in for June 25. The rumored Ocarina of Time remake has no confirmed date, but the second half of 2026 is the window being discussed. If Nintendo follows the 3DS template closely, an announcement before or during summer would make sense.
You'll want to keep an eye on any Nintendo Directs between now and the end of summer. If the pattern holds, the gap between the Star Fox release and an Ocarina of Time reveal could be very short. Nintendo has done this before, and the pieces are aligning the same way they did 15 years ago.
For more strategy games and gaming coverage across genres, check out our full guides collection, including resources like the Star Atlas: Holosim game page for players looking for their next deep-dive title while waiting on Nintendo's next move.
