Of all the questionable decisions Nintendo has made in the last console generation, the ongoing neglect of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker is perhaps the most bizarre and egregious. Considering how popular the Nintendo Switch wound up becoming, and the Zelda franchise's newfound relevance in the wake of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, one would think that Twilight Princess and Wind Waker remasters would be easy money. At the very least, Nintendo could re-release these titles on Switch with little to no enhancements, like the company did with the Super Mario 3D All-Stars bundle.
Nintendo's puzzling behavior around these two iconic Zelda titles has spurred rumors that remasters of the games are in development. Naturally, any and all leaks and rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, but a remastered Twilight Princess or Wind Waker seems like a fair bet for the aforementioned reasons. Not only would the games sell like hotcakes, but they could also allow newer Zelda fans to experience less contemporary entries, possibly priming them for whatever the future of the franchise has in store. But if these remasters do ever come to fruition, there's a strong chance they'll be unheralded.
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Why a Twilight Princess or Wind Waker Remaster Will Probably Be Unceremonious
Nintendo Switch Online Will Dampen Twilight Princess and Wind Waker's Proper Switch Arrival
The most obvious reason why Nintendo would downplay a remaster or re-release of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess on Switch consoles is the controversial Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. For a recurring fee, Nintendo Switch Online allows players to access a wide library of classic Nintendo games, including beloved Zelda entries like Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. During the Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, it was announced that Wind Waker would be coming to the subscription platform on June 5, suggesting that the arrival of more GameCube games, perhaps even Twilight Princess, is imminent.
While these games' inclusion in Nintendo Switch Online is significant, it wouldn't necessarily preclude stand-alone releases. There's a precedent for classic games being re-released or remastered on the Switch while also being available through NSO, with Super Mario 64 being a notable example. Still, their mere existence on the subscription service is sure to take some of the wind out of their sails, and Nintendo may opt for a leaner marketing budget, or forgo one entirely. What's more is that this would be far from a first for the company; it has a history of low-key remaster releases.
Nintendo Has Shadow-Dropped Big Remasters Before
It wasn't long ago that Nintendo surprise-dropped a remaster of another highly regarded GameCube classic: Metroid Prime. Just a few short months after that, the company repeated its shadow-dropping tactic with Pikmin 1 + 2, a remastered bundle of the first two entries in the Pikmin franchise. It would appear that this trend isn't unique to Nintendo, either, as Microsoft pulled the same move with Oblivion Remastered only recently. Before that, Koei Tecmo shadow-dropped Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. What's notable about all these examples is that none of the aforementioned titles are niche or underground games—they are remastered versions of beloved classics.
Perhaps this is no coincidence. High-profile remasters and remakes are excessively common in this day and age, after all, and it might be easier for them to make a splash if they come out of the blue, as it were. Shadow-dropping a remaster also reduces the amount of time that critics can scrutinize the product before customers buy it, and creates a general buzz of excitement and urgency around a new release. Maybe, for these reasons as well as the influence of Nintendo Switch Online, it will be in Nintendo's best interest to bring Twilight Princess and Wind Waker remasters to players when they least expect it.
- Released
- November 19, 2006
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- The Legend of Zelda
WHERE TO PLAY
A dark force, shrouded in twilight, has invaded the vast land of Hyrule. To restore light to the world, team up with the mysterious creature Midna and embrace the darkness to transform into a divine wolf. Fight through labyrinthine dungeons, survive puzzling traps, and meet a cast of characters you’ll never forget in this Legend of Zelda adventure.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD game is set in a massive world bursting with life—but also shadow. A dark figure from the Twilight Realm has invaded the world of light. As Link, a farmhand turned cursed beast, you’ll join forces with the impish Midna, the Hyrule Resistance, and trusted (albeit unusual) allies to survive a quest that will take you to the farthest corners of Hyrule and beyond… to the Twilight Realm.
