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

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. This sentiment was shared by Nate Bihldorff, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of product development, during an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys. Bihldorff emphasized that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online's library does not preclude the possibility of the developer remastering or remaking it.

Despite their popularity within the Zelda franchise, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to any Nintendo Switch console, including the upcoming Switch 2. This has led to some concern among fans, especially since 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.

Bihldorff addressed these concerns directly, 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, interesting that they didn't say it's not happening, but essentially it was never say never."

This news came on the heels of last week's Nintendo Direct presentation, which announced that GameCube titles would be added to the Nintendo Switch Online premium library. This update will allow subscribers to enjoy a range of classic 2000s-era titles, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, available at launch this summer alongside The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The library is set to expand further 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.

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 fluctuations. This issue soon extended to Canada, with Nintendo Canada also confirming delays in pre-orders.

For more information, be sure to check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.