The much-loved classic, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, is set to sail onto the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library, but fans shouldn't lose hope for a dedicated port. Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, spoke with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys and clarified that the inclusion of a game in the Nintendo Switch Online library does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake.
Despite their popularity, 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. This has sparked concern among fans, especially since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—which saw a port on the Wii U in 2013—will soon be accessible via Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5.
In a recent interview, Bihldorff addressed these concerns, stating, "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."
Bihldorff emphasized that while nothing is confirmed, there are precedents of games available on Nintendo Switch Online also receiving separate ports or remakes. He concluded with an optimistic note: "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."
The announcement came during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation, where it was revealed that GameCube titles would be added to the Nintendo Switch Online premium library. This exciting update will allow subscribers to enjoy a variety of classic 2000s-era games, such as F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur 2, and, of course, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, all available at launch this summer. The library is expected to grow over time, with additional titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness teased for future inclusion.
The Best Nintendo Switch Online Gamecube Games
The Best Nintendo Switch Online Gamecube Games
Last week also saw delays in the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in the United States due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused financial market instability. The ripple effect reached Canada, where Nintendo Canada confirmed pre-orders would also be delayed.
For more updates and announcements, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
