The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library has sparked discussions about the possibility of a full port. According to Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not rule out the potential for a remaster or remake. This statement was made during an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, where Bihldorff emphasized that "all options are on the table" regarding The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, both of which have not yet been ported to the Nintendo Switch or the upcoming Switch 2.
Some fans expressed concern that the addition of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2 release on June 5 might mean a full remaster would never happen. However, Bihldorff's comments suggest otherwise, indicating that Nintendo has not closed the door on any possibilities, including bringing the Wii U port to the Switch 2. He noted that there are precedents of games being available on Nintendo Switch Online while also being released in other formats, such as remakes or different port versions.
The inclusion of GameCube titles in the Nintendo Switch Online library was revealed during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This significant update will allow subscribers to enjoy a variety of classic 2000s-era games, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, all launching this summer alongside The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The library is set to expand further, with titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Super Mario Strikers, and Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness teased for future inclusion.
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 postponed pre-orders there as well. For more information, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.