Nintendo Fuels Hope for Zelda: Wind Waker HD on Switch 2

The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameCube library has sparked discussions about potential ports. However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Nintendo of America's senior vice president of product development, Nate Bihldorff, has clarified that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out the possibility of a remaster or remake. This statement was made during an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys.

Despite their popularity, iconic Zelda titles such as 2003's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be officially ported to the Nintendo Switch or its successor, the Switch 2. The Wind Waker, which was previously ported to the Wii U in 2013, will soon be accessible through Nintendo's premium subscription service when the Nintendo Switch 2 releases on June 5. This has led to some concern among fans about the prospects of a full remaster.

However, Bihldorff reassured fans by stating that having The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a port to the Nintendo Switch 2. He emphasized that all options remain open, hinting that the game could still see a remaster or a direct port from the Wii U version. "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."

This news comes on the heels of 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 provide subscribers with access to a range of classic 2000s-era games, 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 plans to expand the library further in the coming years, potentially including Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, among others.

The Best Nintendo Switch Online Gamecube Games

In other news, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date faced delays in the United States due to import tariffs enacted by President Trump, which affected financial markets. The delay soon extended to Canada, with Nintendo Canada confirming pre-orders would also be postponed there.

For those eager to stay updated, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.