Nintendo Fuels Zelda: Wind Waker HD Hopes Amid Switch 2 GameCube Rumors

The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library via Nintendo Switch Online has sparked excitement among fans. However, this does not mean that a full port of the fan-favorite adventure won't happen. According to Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of it being remastered or remade for the Nintendo Switch 2.

In an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, Bihldorff emphasized that all options remain open for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, both of which have yet to be ported to either the original Nintendo Switch or the Switch 2. Despite The Wind Waker being previously ported to the Wii U in 2013, fans have expressed concern that its inclusion in the Nintendo Switch Online library might mean no further remastering efforts. Bihldorff's response was clear: the availability on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out a future port or remake.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 set to release on June 5, the addition of GameCube titles to the Nintendo Switch Online premium library is a significant update. This library will include classics like 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, including teased titles such as Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness.

The Best Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games

The Best Nintendo Switch Online GameCube Games

Recent news also highlighted delays in the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in the United States due to import tariffs, which have also affected Nintendo Canada, causing further delays in pre-orders there.

For more information on upcoming releases and announcements, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.