The excitement surrounding The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameCube library has sparked discussions about potential ports. However, fans can rest easy knowing that this doesn't rule out a full remaster or port of the beloved game.
According to Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, in an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake. This statement comes as a relief to fans, especially since iconic titles like 2003's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to either the original Nintendo Switch or the upcoming Switch 2.
Some fans expressed concern that the inclusion of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5 might mean they would never see a full remaster. However, Bihldorff was quick to clarify that all options remain open. He emphasized that the presence of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not prevent it from being released in another form, such as a remake or the same port version. This leaves the door open for future possibilities, with Bihldorff stating, "Obviously, nothing's confirmed one way or another, but there are many examples of games that are on NSO and [you can] still get them in a different way... So, interesting that they didn't say it's *not* happening, but essentially it was never say never."
The announcement of GameCube titles joining the Nintendo Switch Online library was made during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This significant update will provide subscribers with access to a variety of classic 2000s-era games, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, all available at launch this summer. Alongside these titles, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will also be part of the initial lineup. Nintendo has plans to expand this library further, with teased titles such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness slated for future inclusion.
In other news, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced delays in the United States due to import tariffs, which also affected Nintendo Canada, leading to similar delays in pre-orders there.
For more information, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
