Key Takeaways
- Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma credits younger developers who never played the original Ocarina of Time with bringing fresh ideas that helped make the remake possible.
- The remake arrives November 5 on Nintendo Switch 2 with redesigned puzzles, updated miniboss encounters, and expanded dialogue.
- Aonuma says he’s “very interested to see what the younger staff will imagine” for future Zelda games and suggests Nintendo’s collaboration with Koei Tecmo could influence the franchise’s next chapter.
Some of the developers behind Nintendo's upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake have never played the original game. And according to longtime franchise producer Eiji Aonuma, that's exactly what helped make the new version possible.
Speaking to AFP (via Japan Times) ahead of the remake's November 5 release on Nintendo Switch 2, Aonuma revealed that several younger members of the development team approached the project without firsthand experience playing the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic. Rather than viewing that as a disadvantage, the 63-year-old gaming veteran credited their fresh perspective with helping modernize one of Nintendo's most celebrated titles.
"It's thanks to these young people, by thinking about how to adapt the game in the best possible way, how to make it fun once you have the controls in your hands, that this remake came into being," Aonuma explained.
The revelation comes as Nintendo prepares to reintroduce The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to an audience that includes players who weren't even born when Link first traveled through Hyrule in three dimensions.
Originally released 28 years ago, the game established several mechanics that became staples of modern action-adventure titles. The upcoming remake revisits that foundation with redesigned puzzles, updated miniboss encounters, and expanded dialogue.
Aonuma, who has helped guide the Zelda franchise for approximately 25 years, also made clear that he's interested in what the next generation of Nintendo developers brings to the table.
"I'm very interested to see what the younger staff will imagine," he said of future installments, adding that he's "extremely happy" to provide guidance as they "think together" about the franchise's direction.
That direction could extend beyond revisiting Nintendo's back catalog. In December 2025, Aonuma suggested that the company's collaboration with Koei Tecmo on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment could influence future Zelda projects.
"The inspiration we received from this collaboration with Koei Tecmo may be reflected in the (next) Zelda we create," he said at the time.
Meanwhile, Nintendo has also been expanding the franchise beyond video games. Earlier this year, LEGO unveiled The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle, a 1,003-piece set recreating Link and Princess Zelda's confrontation with Ganondorf.
Released March 1 for $130, the collectible followed the company's 2024 Great Deku Tree set and featured a poseable Ganon figure, character minifigures, and interactive castle ruins.
