Nintendo is preparing a special showcase dedicated to The Legend of Zelda as the franchise approaches its 40th anniversary. The presentation will air ahead of another Nintendo Direct focused on games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, giving fans two major streams to follow in the same week.
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct is scheduled to begin at 10 am ET on 8 September and is expected to run for around 30 minutes. Nintendo will stream the presentation on YouTube and through the Nintendo Today! app, allowing viewers to watch the event online as announcements are made.
When and where to watch the Zelda Direct
The special Nintendo Direct will focus specifically on The Legend of Zelda and its upcoming projects. The presentation is expected to provide new information about several games and other projects connected to the long-running franchise. However, Nintendo has not revealed the full list of announcements planned for the show.
The stream is scheduled for 10 am ET on 8 September, which is 10 pm in the Philippines. The presentation is expected to last approximately 30 minutes, giving Nintendo enough time to provide updates beyond a single project. Viewers can watch through Nintendo’s official YouTube channels or use the Nintendo Today! app to follow the presentation.
The timing also gives Nintendo a chance to build momentum around Zelda before its next general Direct. That presentation is expected to focus on a wider selection of games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 and is scheduled for Wednesday.
Nintendo has already confirmed that the 40th Anniversary Direct will include more information about its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game is expected to launch sometime this year, making a release-date announcement one of the most anticipated possibilities for the presentation.
Ocarina of Time remake could be a major announcement
The Ocarina of Time remake is likely to be one of the biggest topics during the showcase. Nintendo has confirmed that the game will appear during the presentation, but it has yet to provide a specific launch date. With the end of the year approaching, Nintendo could reveal more details about its release during the event.
A launch before the end of November would give Nintendo a chance to put the game on store shelves ahead of the Black Friday shopping period. The timing could also position the remake as one of Nintendo’s major releases during the busy holiday season.
Nintendo already has Nintendo Switch Sports Resort planned for October, meaning the company has another major release scheduled before the end of the year. A November launch for the Ocarina of Time remake could give Nintendo a significant title during a period when the games industry is expected to receive considerable attention from Grand Theft Auto 6.
The two games are also expected to target different platforms, which could help the Zelda remake stand apart from Rockstar’s blockbuster. Ocarina of Time’s popularity means a modern version could attract both long-time fans and players discovering the classic adventure for the first time.
However, Nintendo has not confirmed a November launch. The company is expected to reveal its plans during the anniversary presentation, and the release date could become one of the event’s headline announcements.
Zelda film and other projects could also feature
The Zelda franchise extends beyond games, with a live-action film adaptation also in development. The Legend of Zelda movie is scheduled to reach cinemas on 30 April next year, and the anniversary showcase could provide the first substantial update on the project.
Nintendo could use the presentation to reveal more about the film, including production details or footage. A brief teaser would give audiences an early look at the project, while a full trailer could follow closer to its cinema release.
The film is part of Nintendo’s broader expansion of The Legend of Zelda beyond its traditional video game format. The announcement has generated significant interest because the franchise is one of Nintendo’s most recognisable properties, with a fan base spanning several generations.
With approximately 30 minutes available, Nintendo could also have more announcements planned for the anniversary Direct. One possibility is another remake or remaster of a classic Zelda title, with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker among the games that fans have long hoped to see return on modern hardware.
Nintendo could also offer an early glimpse at the next mainline Zelda game. The company announced what would eventually become The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in 2019, two years after the release of Breath of the Wild. With three years having passed since Link’s most recent major adventure, an initial announcement would fit the series’ recent development timeline.
Another possibility is that Nintendo could once again place Zelda at the centre of the next mainline adventure. The company has not confirmed whether the next game will follow Link, Zelda or another character, leaving plenty of room for speculation ahead of the showcase.
The 40th Anniversary Direct could therefore cover much more than the Ocarina of Time remake. While Nintendo has confirmed some of what viewers can expect, the remaining time could be used for film updates, classic game revivals or the first signs of the franchise’s next major chapter.
