Nintendo’s two-day Direct could unleash a massive Zelda Ocarina surprise

Nintendo of America officially announced on September 4 that it will showcase a Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, followed by a back-to-back 45-minute general Nintendo Direct the next day. Nintendo has not yet revealed which games it will feature.

The 30-minute Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct will air on September 8 at 7 a.m. PT, followed by another 45-minute Nintendo Direct on September 9 at 7 a.m. PT, as well as a Nintendo Treehouse: Livestream.

A removed Switch 2 rating might be a tell

What’s interesting is that The Legend of Zelda Nintendo Direct follows an ESRB rating that appeared on the Switch 2’s Ocarina of Time Remake store listing in late July, a move many saw as a hint of an upcoming release-date announcement. However, Nintendo has since removed the Switch 2 ESRB rating.

However, Nintendo hasn’t named any games slated to appear in either Nintendo Direct broadcast. Another interesting point is that the tight-lipped announcement covers two back-to-back Nintendo Directs on consecutive mornings, an unusual format for the Japanese gaming giant.

This revelation comes just three months after Nintendo showed a teaser for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake during its June 9 Nintendo Direct, which ran a little over a minute and included no gameplay footage.

During the broadcast, Nintendo positioned the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake as a “return of the critically acclaimed Nintendo 64 classic for a new generation, reborn for the Nintendo Switch 2!,” with the slogan “Reborn Across Time.” However, instead of a firm launch date, Nintendo only presented a release window.

A rating appearing right before a release date announcement is a well-worn playbook, though not necessarily a direct nod to the Ocarina of Time remake.

A rare event, but not without precedent

The last time Nintendo combined two broadcasts in one sitting was an Indie World Showcase with a Partner Showcase in August 2024, totaling 40 minutes, but running two standalone Nintendo Directs across different dates would be an entirely new move for the company.

Still, none of this guarantees that Nintendo will announce a release date for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake. The rest comes down to speculation. Nintendo could showcase gameplay footage for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, reveal new merchandise, or announce new add-ons for its Nintendo Switch Online platform.

Despite no actual confirmation yet, fan expectations are at an all-time high, with many hoping the Ocarina of Time Remake will appear this Tuesday. For now, the only signs are an ESRB rating and a 40th anniversary Zelda Direct.

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