Zelda: Wind Waker HD Hopes Persist 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. According to Nate Bihldorff, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of product development, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online's library doesn't preclude the developer from considering a remaster or remake. This was shared during an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys.

Despite their popularity, 2003's The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have yet to be ported to either the original Nintendo Switch or the Switch 2. Some fans have expressed concern that they might never see a full remaster, especially since The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—which was 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 clarified that having The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out the possibility of a port to the Switch 2. He emphasized that all options remain open, stating, "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."

The announcement of GameCube titles coming to Nintendo Switch Online was made at last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This update will add a range of classic 2000s-era titles to the premium library, including F-Zero GX, Soulcalibur 2, and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, all available at launch this summer. The library will continue to expand with titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness, and more in the coming years.

Additionally, the pre-order date for the Nintendo Switch 2 was delayed in the United States due to import tariffs, and Nintendo Canada also confirmed delays in pre-orders. For more information, you can check out everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.