Wind Waker HD on Switch?! Mario Sunshine Hints at Zelda Comeback!

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In the shadow of the trailblazing “Super Mario 64”, Nintendo GameCube’s exclusive title “Super Mario Sunshine” faced significant expectations. Upon its launch in July 2002, critics generally praised it as a solid game, even though it didn’t quite reach the pinnacle set by its predecessors. Despite selling over 5 million copies globally, “Super Mario Sunshine” fell short of Nintendo’s financial goals. This was partly due to the GameCube’s lackluster market performance and the game’s inability to outperform its precursor in sales. Consequently, it gained a cult following within the Mario series.

For quite some time, playing Super Mario Sunshine was only possible on older systems such as the GameCube or the backward-compatible Wii. However, Nintendo recently brought the game to the Nintendo Switch in 2020 with the release of the Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Now, they plan to make it available again on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 through Nintendo Switch Online. Given that most Switch 1 games are already playable on the Switch 2, it’s a bit peculiar that the same game will be released on two different versions of the console. Nevertheless, this move suggests that there may be plans for a re-release of Wind Waker HD in the future.

Super Mario Sunshine’s Switch 2 Re-Release Shows that a Wind Waker HD Port is Still Possible

GameCube Games, Like TLOZ: The Wind Waker, Are Coming to Switch 2 via NSO

If you’re not already aware, Nintendo recently announced in their latest Switch 2 Direct that classic GameCube games will be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service later this year. However, it’s important to note that this collection of GameCube titles will only be accessible on the new Nintendo Switch 2 and not on previous-generation consoles. Among the first set of confirmed games for the Switch 2 at its launch are three popular titles: “F-Zero GX”, “Soulcalibur 2”, and “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker”.

To date, “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” has been one of the most frequently demanded “Zelda” games for the Nintendo Switch. Originally criticized by fans for its cel-shaded graphics in 2002 when it was first released on the GameCube, opinions about the game have shifted over time. Now, it’s widely appreciated and considered a fan favorite. Similarly to “Super Mario Sunshine,” “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” has been unavailable on contemporary platforms for quite some time. Although Nintendo brought out a 2013 remastered version of the game called “Wind Waker HD” for the Wii U, it hasn’t been ported to any other systems since then.

Nintendo is Willing to Let Games be Accessible in Several Different Ways on the Same Platform

through Nintendo Switch Online and as part of “Super Mario 3D All-Stars”. Just because a game is released in one way doesn’t mean it won’t also be released in another.

According to Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of product development, Nate Bihldorff, during an interview with Kinda Funny Games, he hinted that all possibilities are still open regarding the potential release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Switch or its re-release as Wind Waker HD. This suggests that fans may not have to abandon their hopes for a future release of this classic game.

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2025-04-30 17:53