Nintendo Keeps The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD Hopes Alive Despite Switch 2 GameCube Push

Just because The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameCube library doesn’t mean the fan-favorite adventure won’t be ported.

That’s according to Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of product development, Nate Bihldorff, who told Kinda Funny‘s Tim Gettys that just because a game is available to play via Nintendo Switch Online’s library doesn’t mean the developer won’t consider remastering or remaking it.

Despite being hugely popular games in the Zelda franchise, 2003’s The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are yet to be ported to Nintendo Switch, be that the OG or the Switch 2.

Consequently, some fans have been a little worried that they’d never see a full remaster given The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker — which was ported to the Wii U in 2013 — will shortly be available as part of Nintendo’s premium subscription service when Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5.

“[We] got to ask a whole bunch of questions and, in typical Nintendo fashion, we didn’t get too many answers to things, but I did ask if having the Wind Waker on [Nintendo Switch Online] precludes [Nintendo Switch 2] from getting the actual Wii U port at some point, and he was very quick to say no. All options are on the table.

“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, whether it’s a remake or just the same port version. So, interesting that they didn’t say it’s not happening, but essentially it was never say never.”

We found out at last week’s Nintendo Direct presentation that GameCube titles were on the way to Nintendo Switch Online as part of its premium library.

It’s a major update to the Nintendo Switch Online library that will grant subscribers access to a load of classic 2000s-era titles, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, which will all be available at launch this summer, along with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, of course. This library will be expanded upon in the years to come, with some teased titles including Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi’s Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.

Last week, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date was delayed in the United States after import tariffs enacted by President Trump sent financial markets spiraling. Just a few days later, the issue spread across the border, with Nintendo Canada also confirming pre-orders would now be delayed there.

For more, check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.

Vikki Blake is a reporter, critic, columnist, and consultant. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.