2026 is the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, and it's highly likely that fans will find out exactly how Nintendo plans to celebrate the occasion thanks to some big reveals lined up for June. The Legend of Zelda has been one of Nintendo's biggest franchises since the days of the NES, and so it's unlikely that the 40th anniversary will come and go without a big release.
At the time of this writing, Nintendo has kept a lot of its future games secret. We know that Star Fox is coming to the Switch 2 at the end of June and Splatoon Raiders will be released at the end of July, but much of Nintendo's 2026 lineup remains a mystery. The assumption is that Nintendo will pull the curtain back on its second-half 2026 Switch 2 plans in the very near future, with a Nintendo Direct almost guaranteed to be taking place at some point in June.
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A Nintendo Direct is All But Confirmed for June
E3 may be dead, but June is still when many companies choose to host their big showcases that give fans updates on already-announced games and reveal future projects to the world. Nintendo was a regular E3 participant, but when that went away, it continued to host big Nintendo Direct events in June. Nintendo has yet to reveal its plans this year, but reliable insider Jeff Grubb believes that a Nintendo Direct is indeed happening in June 2026, potentially in the middle of the month. If so, this means that the June 2026 Nintendo Direct will happen a little later than the other showcases lined up for next month, but for Zelda fans, it will likely be worth the wait.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Before the Star Fox Switch 2 game was officially announced by Nintendo, it was leaked online. Before the Splatoon Raiders summer 2026 release window was confirmed, it was leaked online. That same leak also claimed that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting a Switch 2 remake that will be released as the console's big holiday 2026 game. Other leakers and insiders backed up the Ocarina of Time remake claims, and that, combined with the other claims from the leak proving to be true, means that it's virtually guaranteed that the project is real. Therefore, it stands to reason that the Ocarina of Time remake will be one of the big games shown at the Nintendo Direct event in June.
But since 2026 is the 40th anniversary of the Zelda franchise, it's entirely possible that more than just the Ocarina of Time remake will be shown off. A new open world Zelda game has also leaked online, and while that project is likely years away from release, perhaps fans will get a tease at the show. A separate leak has also claimed that a smaller-scale Zelda game in the style of Echoes of Wisdom is also in development, and may even feature longtime villain Ganondorf as the main character instead of Link, which would be a shocking twist, to say the least. There are also older Zelda games to consider. Fans have been asking for Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD to escape Wii U prison for years, and the 40th anniversary seems like the perfect opportunity to do just that. Alternatively, perhaps Twilight Princess will be added to Switch 2's Nintendo Classics lineup.
- Released
- November 21, 1998
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Zelda 64 Engine
WHERE TO PLAY
A New Zelda-Like is Releasing in June
The Nintendo Direct in June 2026 is the main reason why next month is going to be an exciting time for Zelda fans, but it's not the only reason. On June 18, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is releasing for PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. While not an actual Zelda game, Adventures of Elliot is clearly inspired by Nintendo's franchise, with exploration and puzzle-solving elements highly reminiscent of Link's quests. The game has drawn comparisons to Link's Awakening, features a fairy companion, and incorporates time travel as a major plot device, so it should definitely scratch the Zelda itch. It may not be true Zelda, but it should help tide fans over while they wait for future games from the franchise.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- June 18, 2026
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Team Asano, Square Enix, Clay Tech Works
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
