The announcement that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker will be available on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the GameCube library via Nintendo Switch Online has sparked discussions about the potential for further ports. However, fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Nate Bihldorff, senior vice president of product development at Nintendo of America, has clarified that the availability of a game on Nintendo Switch Online does not preclude the possibility of a remaster or remake on the Nintendo Switch 2.
During an interview with Kinda Funny's Tim Gettys, Bihldorff emphasized that all options remain open for beloved titles like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, both of which have yet to be ported to any Nintendo Switch console. This statement comes despite The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker—previously ported to the Wii U in 2013—being set to join Nintendo's premium subscription service upon the Nintendo Switch 2's release on June 5.
Bihldorff's comments were in response to a question about whether the availability of The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch Online would prevent a Wii U port from coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. He assured that this was not the case and that Nintendo considers various possibilities for how games might be made available, citing examples where games on Nintendo Switch Online have also been released in different formats.
The news about GameCube titles joining the Nintendo Switch Online library was revealed during last week's Nintendo Direct presentation. This exciting addition will provide subscribers with access to a range of classic 2000s-era titles, including F-Zero GX and Soulcalibur 2, all launching this summer alongside The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Nintendo plans to expand this library further, with titles such as 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. For those eager to stay updated, you can explore everything announced at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
