The excitement among fans of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker has been reignited with the announcement that it will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameCube library. However, this doesn't signal the end of hopes for a dedicated port. According to Nate Bihldorff, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of product development, speaking to Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online's library does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake. This is particularly relevant for fans of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, which, despite their popularity, have not yet been ported to either the original Nintendo Switch or the upcoming Switch 2.
There was some concern among the fanbase that the availability of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2 release on June 5 might mean a full remaster would never happen. However, Bihldorff clarified that having The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out the possibility of the Wii U version being ported to the Switch 2 in the future. He emphasized that all options remain open, and while nothing is confirmed, the door is not closed on a potential remaster or port.
The news about GameCube titles joining the Nintendo Switch Online library was shared during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This major 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 the library set to expand in the future to include other beloved games such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.
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, causing financial market instability. This issue soon affected Nintendo Canada as well, leading to similar delays in pre-orders there.
For a comprehensive overview of what was revealed, be sure to explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
