The highly anticipated arrival of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library has sparked excitement among fans, but it doesn't mean a full port is off the table. According to Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake. This statement was made during a conversation with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, addressing concerns about the future of fan-favorite titles like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, which have yet to be ported to either the original Switch or the Switch 2.
Despite The Wind Waker being available on the Wii U in 2013 and soon to be part of Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5, Bihldorff emphasized that "all options are on the table." He highlighted that games available on Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) can still be released in other formats, such as remakes or ports, offering reassurance that a full remaster of The Wind Waker could still happen.
The announcement of GameCube titles joining the Nintendo Switch Online library was made during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This expansion brings a host of classic 2000s-era games to subscribers, including F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur 2, and, of course, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. These titles will be available at launch this summer, with more games like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness planned for future release.
Recent news also touched on delays in Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order dates in the United States and Canada, attributed to financial market fluctuations due to import tariffs. For more details on upcoming releases, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
