Just because The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 via the GameCube library doesn't mean the fan-favorite adventure won't be ported.
That's according to Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, who told Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online's library does not preclude the developer from considering a remaster or remake.
Despite their popularity within the Zelda franchise, both 2003's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to any Nintendo Switch console, including the original and the upcoming Switch 2.
Consequently, some fans have expressed concerns that they might never see a full remaster, especially since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—which was previously ported to the Wii U in 2013—will soon be accessible through Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5.
During a Q&A session, Bihldorff addressed these concerns, stating, "We got to ask a whole bunch of questions and, in typical Nintendo fashion, we didn't get too many answers to things, but I did ask if having the Wind Waker on [Nintendo Switch Online] precludes [Nintendo Switch 2] from getting the actual Wii U port at some point, and he was very quick to say no. All options are on the table.
"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, it's 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, which revealed that GameCube titles would be added to the Nintendo Switch Online premium library. This update will allow subscribers to enjoy a variety of classic 2000s-era titles, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, all available at launch this summer, alongside The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The library is set to expand in the coming years, with teased titles such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more.
Additionally, last week saw delays in the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in the United States due to import tariffs enacted by President Trump, which affected financial markets. This issue also impacted Nintendo Canada, leading to pre-order delays there as well.
For more information, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
