Nintendo Fuels Hopes for Zelda: Wind Waker HD on Switch Despite GameCube Focus

The arrival of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library does not rule out the possibility of a full port. This was clarified by Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, during a conversation with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys. Bihldorff emphasized that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake.

Despite their popularity, both The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to the Nintendo Switch, including the upcoming Switch 2. This has led to concerns among fans, especially since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which was previously ported to the Wii U in 2013, will soon be accessible via Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5.

Bihldorff's response to inquiries about the potential for a Wii U port on the Switch 2 was reassuring. He stated, "All options are on the table," and highlighted that games available on Nintendo Switch Online can still be released in different formats, such as remakes or ports. This leaves the door open for a remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Switch 2.

The inclusion of GameCube titles in the Nintendo Switch Online library was announced during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This update will provide subscribers with access to a variety of classic 2000s-era games, including F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur 2, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, all available at launch this summer. The library is set to expand further, with titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness on the horizon.

In other news, the Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order date in the United States faced delays due to import tariffs, a situation that also affected Nintendo Canada, leading to further delays in pre-orders there.

For more information, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.