Why Rumored Zelda: WW and Twilight Princess HD May Have Little Fanfare

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Among the questionable moves Nintendo made during the last console generation, perhaps none are as puzzling and regrettable as their continued disregard for “The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess” and “The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker”. Given the massive success of the Nintendo Switch and the resurgence in popularity of the Zelda franchise following “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom”, it seems surprising that remastered versions of these games haven’t been produced, especially given how profitable such releases could be. At a minimum, one would expect Nintendo to re-release these games on the Switch with minimal changes, similar to what they did with the “Super Mario 3D All-Stars” bundle.

Speculation about Nintendo’s actions regarding the two famous “Zelda” games has led some to believe that remastered versions of “Twilight Princess” and “Wind Waker” might be underway. Since all leaks and rumors should be viewed with skepticism, it’s still just speculation. However, given the reasons mentioned, a remastered version of either seems likely. These games would likely sell quickly, and they could introduce newer “Zelda” fans to less modern entries, potentially preparing them for what’s next in the series. If these remasters ever materialize, it’s possible they may not receive as much acclaim as they deserve.

Why a Twilight Princess or Wind Waker Remaster Will Probably Be Unceremonious

Nintendo Switch Online Will Dampen Twilight Princess and Wind Waker’s Proper Switch Arrival

The likely reason Nintendo hasn’t announced a remaster or rerelease of _Wind Waker_ and _Twilight Princess_ for Switch consoles is because they already offer these classic games through their subscription service, Nintendo Switch Online. For a regular fee, players can access a vast collection of Nintendo games, including fan favorites like _Ocarina of Time_ and _Majora’s Mask_. During the recent Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, it was revealed that _Wind Waker_ would be added to their subscription platform on June 5, hinting that more GameCube games, possibly even _Twilight Princess_, might be on the horizon.

Including these games in the Nintendo Switch Online service is significant, but it doesn’t rule out separate standalone releases. Previously, classic games have been re-released or remastered on the Switch while also being available through NSO, such as Super Mario 64. However, their presence on the subscription service might lessen their marketing impact slightly, and Nintendo may allocate a smaller budget for promotion, or none at all. Moreover, this wouldn’t be an unprecedented move for the company; they have a history of releasing remasters with low-key promotions.

Nintendo Has Shadow-Dropped Big Remasters Before

Not too long ago, Nintendo unexpectedly released an update to another critically acclaimed GameCube game: Metroid Prime. A few months later, they did it again with a bundle of the first two games in the Pikmin series, which they had also released without prior announcement—these are known as “shadow drops”. Similarly, Microsoft and Koei Tecmo have also employed this tactic with their releases like Oblivion Remastered and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. Interestingly, none of these games are obscure or underground—they are remasters of well-loved classics.

It’s possible that the timing of these high-profile remasters and remakes we see now isn’t just a coincidence. They might create more impact if they’re unexpected, like a “shadow drop.” This strategy also limits the time critics have to analyze the product before it reaches consumers, generating excitement and urgency around its release. Given these factors, along with the impact of Nintendo Switch Online, it could be advantageous for Nintendo to surprise players by releasing Twilight Princess and Wind Waker remasters at unexpected moments.

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2025-05-31 01:35