Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct Predictions
An Ocarina overview
Image: Nintendo Jim: Okay, this is without a doubt the most obvious pick of the bunch. Shocker: I think we’ll see quite a bit of Ocarina of Time in the Zelda Direct. I’m expecting a pretty beefy overview trailer followed by a release date in… November? That’s my guess.
I don’t think we see too much of what the game has to offer (maybe we only see the child era, even), but I hope to leave with some idea of whether this is a straight remake or something bolder.
Ollie: Yeah this is an obvious one, I think. The big question is whether the remake will be 1:1 or something a bit more drastic. I’m leaning more toward the former, but I’m also open to being surprised. That’s what Nintendo does best.
As for the release date, let’s go for 20th November. Yes, it’s super close to GTA 6 , but the original Japanese release date for Ocarina of Time on N64 was 21st November. That’s a Saturday this year, so that ain’t happening. 20th seems likely, if not a week later on the 27th.
Movie news
Image: Nintendo Jim: The live-action Zelda movie is actually not too far away, so I’m going to go out on a limb and say that we get a teaser trailer here. Nothing more than a 30-second jobby — a mysterious voiceover, some shots of the characters looking moodily into the middle distance — but a first look, all the same.
Ollie: Another easy win here. I’ll go in the opposite direction, however, and say that we’re due a proper 2-minute long teaser trailer. We’ll see the lot: Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, the King of Hyrule, Dampé… Yeah, as Jim says, it’s actually not that far off now, so something reasonably substantial would be welcome.
Something else Zelda-y?
Image: Alex Olney / Nintendo Life Ollie: The console / pro controller will definitely be there, for sure. I reckon there will also be some sort of Nintendo Museum exhibition announced too. Limited time, perhaps, but a massive look at some rare documentation from the franchise’s history.
Might be time to beg the higher-ups for an expensed trip to Japan…
Jim: That leaked Ocarina of Time Special Edition Switch 2 console better be on the cards. I already have my heart set on it.
Wild Zelda Predictions
Image: Nintendo Jim: Go on then, I’ll bite. “Before the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, you can play ‘The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker + The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD Double-Pack – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’ today !”
Ollie: It might be time to give up on the Wind Waker / Twilight Princess double-pack, unfortunately – sorry, Jim. The addition of Twilight Princess to the GameCube NSO app, however..? Yeah, I could see that.
Nintendo will also announce a Collector’s Edition for Ocarina of Time containing a statue of Link and Zelda in the Hyrule Castle Courtyard. £199.99.
Nintendo Direct September 2026 Predictions
First-party showings
Image: q / Nintendo Jim: Gosh, there’s no way Nintendo will make it through the whole thing without a cursory nod to Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave and Switch Sports Resort , is there? A little Xenoblade Genesis feels like a no-brainer, too.
If I had to be a little spicier (bar the biggie, which I’ll get to in a minute), then I think Animal Crossing could be on the cards. Ooo, and Pikmin 5 !
Ollie: If you’d asked me this a year ago, Pikmin wouldn’t have even entered my mind. But yeah, let’s see Pikmin 5, why not.
I will continue my predictions tradition, however, and also say Luigi’s Mansion 4 . C’mon Nintendo, for goodness’ sake. Put me out of my misery.
Ports, glorious ports
Image: SEGA Ollie: I love a good port, yes indeed. I’d like to see another Resident Evil make its way to Switch 2 before Veronica lands next year. Heck, just give us 2 , 3 , and 4 .
I do want some new games too, though. Perhaps this is the moment that Sega pokes its head through the door to say “Ha, jokes, Persona 4 Revival is coming to Switch 2 after all” . I won’t get my hopes up.
Jim: There are a few titles out there that we know are coming to Switch 2 at some point — Marvel Rivals , Crimson Desert , Monster Hunter Wilds — so I’d like to think we’ll hear from some of them. Otherwise, my fingers are still crossed for a Star Wars Zero Company or Galactic Racer announcement.
One more thing…
Image: Nintendo Jim: Switch 2 has been around for long enough now, I think it’s time for 3D Mario. All of that Zelda chatter the day before means we’ll have to hear from the man in red at some point, and a teaser with a brief ‘2027’ window at the end of it feels just about right.
Ollie: I still don’t think it’s quite time for 3D Mario… I know, I know… But if there’s one game big enough to steal Ocarina of Time’s thunder, it’s 3D Mario, so I don’t think it will happen just yet.
Metroid Ravenous , though..? Ooooh yeah baby, let’s do it.
Wildcard
Image: Damien McFerran / Nintendo Life Ollie: ‘Billy Hatcher 2: Another One, Hatchually’.
Jim: ‘Nintendogs Switch’. You heard it here first.
Those are our thoughts on the dual Directs, but what do you think? Let us know what you think is most likely in the following polls, then take to the comments to share your predictions.
What do you hope to see in the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct?
You may select up to 3 answers:
Ocarina of Time trailer Movie trailer Switch 2 special edition console + accessories Another remake Museum tie-ins Something else (comment below)
What do you hope to see in the September 2026 Nintendo Direct?
You may select up to 5 answers:
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Nintendo Switch Sports Resort Xenoblade Genesis New Animal Crossing ‘Pikmin 5’ ‘Luigi’s Mansion 4’ More Resident Evils Persona 4 Revival Marvel Rivals Crimson Desert Monster Hunter Wilds Star Wars Zero Company Star Wars Galactic Racer 3D Mario New 2D Metroid ‘Nintendogs Switch’ ‘Billy Hatcher 2: Another One, Hatchually’ Something else (comment below)
