Zelda: Wind Waker HD Still Alive on Switch Despite GameCube Push

The excitement surrounding the addition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker 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, assured Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out future remasters or remakes. Despite the popularity of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, these beloved titles from the Zelda franchise have yet to see a full port to the Nintendo Switch or its successor.

Some fans have expressed concern that they might never experience a remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, especially since it was already ported to the Wii U in 2013 and will soon be accessible through Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5. However, Bihldorff's comments during a recent Q&A session clarified that the inclusion of The Wind Waker in the Nintendo Switch Online library does not preclude a potential port to the Nintendo Switch 2. He emphasized that all options remain open, citing examples of other games available on NSO that have also been released in different formats, be it remakes or the same port version.

The anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 was heightened following last week's Nintendo Direct, which revealed that GameCube titles would be integrated into Nintendo Switch Online as part of its premium offerings. This update will provide subscribers with access to a variety of classic games from the 2000s, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, all set to launch this summer. Alongside these, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will also be available, with plans to expand the library further with titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness in the future.

The Best Nintendo Switch Online Gamecube Games

Amidst the excitement, there have been some setbacks. The Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in the United States faced delays due to import tariffs introduced by President Trump, which caused financial market turbulence. This issue quickly spread to Canada, with Nintendo Canada confirming similar delays in pre-orders.

For those eager to stay updated, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct to get a comprehensive overview of what's on the horizon for the Nintendo Switch 2.