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A special The Legend of Zelda Direct was held on the 8th to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary. Although the remake of 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' was effectively the sole game content announced alongside movie and concert reveals, the Direct filled its runtime with footage and presentation that thrilled fans. This was capped off by the reveal of a special 40th anniversary-themed Nintendo Switch 2 edition.

The event kicked off with a special retrospective video offering a look back at the history of the series. Accompanied by a classical orchestra medley that instantly brought the games to mind, it walked through every single title in sequence starting from the very first Legend of Zelda. The ensemble, which initially began with just five musicians, expanded as time progressed and was joined by a full choir, delivering an overwhelming sense of grandeur.

In particular, the showcase centering around the Triforce that captured the history of Zelda, Ganon, and Link deeply moved fans. The music and game footage alone perfectly conveyed the unique emotions and gameplay experiences of the series.

Afterwards, the 40th Anniversary Direct officially began with a greeting from Representative Director Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto and the unveiling of the 40th anniversary logo. Miyamoto reflected on how, since the first title was released in 1986 on the Famicom Disk System, the series has consistently embraced new endeavors in each era—such as 3D graphics, touch controls, and motion controls—and evolved into a vast open world in Breath of the Wild by returning to its roots.

Multiple projects commemorating the 40th anniversary were also unveiled. First was the live-action movie The Legend of Zelda. Originally slated for release on April 30 next year, the film's title was confirmed to be simply 'The Legend of Zelda' without a subtitle. It will be an original film based on the story and lore built by the series over 40 years, with Nintendo developers including Miyamoto himself participating in its production.

Changes are also coming to the Nintendo Museum. Starting September 9, admission tickets will switch to a special 40th anniversary design, and a special Legend of Zelda history board will be installed inside the museum. Beginning November 5, a new Master Sword-themed photo spot will be set up, and this autumn, the Super Family Restaurant will open, offering a space where visitors can dine alongside Link and other Nintendo characters.

Additionally, a wide array of merchandise will be released, including a The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom amiibo, musical instruments and electronic devices styled after the Ocarina of Time, a LEGO Link & amiibo set, a Hasbro figure collection and Master Sword, and a Huzzle Master Sword and Hylian Shield puzzle set.

Next, composer Koji Kondo, who defined the identity of the series, appeared to talk about its music. While the sound of The Legend of Zelda began with just three electronic tones on the early Famicom, it has since evolved into grand and delicate orchestral background tracks.

Along with this, plans for a The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert were announced. The concert will cover a wide range of tracks from classic masterpieces to music from the latest titles. In Japan, a nationwide tour will begin next January with a Tokyo performance. Following that, performances are scheduled for North America in Chicago (February), Europe in London (April), and Oceania in Melbourne (May), with additional cities around the world to follow sequentially.

Series producer Eiji Aonuma then took the stage to demonstrate actual gameplay footage and showcase how the game looks in motion. The original title was released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64 and introduced 3D graphics to the series for the first time. It was characterized by an adventure that shifted between Young Link and Adult Link. Serving as a major turning point for the franchise, it introduced systems that persist today, such as locking on to enemies during combat and the presence of diverse races. Producer Aonuma stated that this new title has been reborn with modern interpretations and technology to coincide with the original game's 40th anniversary milestone.

Aonuma introduced the game through a live gameplay demonstration. He explained that the graphics were completely remade from scratch, and Link's visual design was finalized after numerous discussions to evoke nostalgia for the original while offering a fresh feel. In fact, Young Link shown in the live gameplay footage features a doll-like design, capturing a fairytale atmosphere that sets him apart from Link in recent Nintendo Switch titles. Aonuma added that while they freshly rendered the textures of clothing and equipment, the team prioritized preserving the distinct mood of Ocarina of Time over realistic depiction.

On the other hand, the environments feature highly natural and realistic presentations. On clear days, players can see fine details down to distant roof bricks, whereas in the misty Kokiri Forest, the surrounding environment appears hazy amidst dense fog.

The camera now allows full 360-degree rotation, resolving a limitation from the original game caused by having only a single analog stick. Furthermore, Saria of the Kokiri appears early in the gameplay demo and in the trailer shown at the end of the Direct. Rather than the sharp NPC designs typical of previous entries, the key character designs are crafted to emphasize a more fairytale, doll-like presentation.

For new action mechanics, a manual jump button has been added. While jumping triggered automatically near cliffs in the original, players can now jump manually in this game, significantly expanding the scope of action. Other movements, such as falling into water or diving, have also been naturally implemented.

In dungeons, player companion Fairy Navi provides combat hints about enemies, and combat and movement revolve around enemies using the lock-on targeting system. A counterattack mechanic was also shown, where landing a hit timed to an enemy's attack briefly stuns them. The Fairy Slingshot acquired during this demonstration can be easily aimed using gyro controls or the lock-on targeting feature.

Aonuma emphasized that the core appeal of Ocarina of Time lies in its structure, where obtaining new items unlocks new areas and available actions. He also noted that loading transitions between regions were intentionally retained in this game to preserve the feel of the original.

Next, overworld areas such as Hyrule Field and Hyrule Castle Town were revealed. The fields and town feature realistic graphics, boasting higher visual quality than previous Zelda titles. In addition, a newly added Journey Log feature allows players to check their progress and next objective at any time, complete with an element where a tapestry illustration is filled in as the adventure progresses. Aonuma explained that when traversing the vast plains, holding down a button enables dashing, making long-distance travel much easier.

Hyrule Castle Town, which previously had a fixed camera angle, has been rebuilt in this title so players can freely roam and explore detailed spaces like back alleys. Furthermore, while time stood still inside the town in the original game, time now flows everywhere in this remake.

Regarding ocarina playing, features taking advantage of the Switch 2 hardware were added. Link plays the ocarina in sync when the player hums into the microphone. Additionally, playing using an ocarina scheduled to be sold at the Nintendo Store is also supported.

A demonstration was also held playing the "Sun's Song" to turn night into day, and it was revealed that certain events occur only at specific times. Cutscenes feature full voice acting for characters, and the overall sound design has been newly produced. The track used on the title screen during the event will be added to Nintendo Music after the broadcast ends.

The release date was finally revealed as well. 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' will launch on November 5. Players will be able to get their hands on the game in about two months.

Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi appeared in the video to introduce new features for Zelda Notes, the smartphone companion service. Ocarina of Time will be added as a newly supported title in Zelda Notes. Key features introduced included a chronological log to review the day's gameplay, an automatic photo capture feature during play, and play data tracking such as the number of defeated enemies.

A quest feature was also introduced. Players use photos shown on their smartphone as clues to locate places in-game, earning points upon completion that can be exchanged for ocarina sheet music. The sheet music can be used in the smartphone app's ocarina playback feature via touch screen, allowing players to play along with guides or listen to automatic performances. Custom sheet music can also be converted into QR codes to share on social media.

A new mode called the Ocarina of Time Test was also introduced, where players answer consecutive franchise quizzes, featuring over 2,000 questions including knowledge and photo questions. Players get one free attempt per day, with additional attempts available using in-game Rupees. Two new amiibo figures—Link and Young Zelda—were revealed, granting special masks when scanned.

In particular, a Nintendo Switch 2 console, Pro Controller, and carrying case featuring a special 40th anniversary Legend of Zelda design with Triforce motifs were unveiled. The Joy-Con controllers come in deep green, featuring Link holding the Triforce on the front and Zelda on the back. The back of the console features a special gold finish, and the dock is adorned with a striking Triforce illustration.

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Special Edition Nintendo Switch 2 console and accessories will launch on October 29.

Director Fujibayashi added that on Nintendo Switch 2, players can play every title in The Legend of Zelda series starting from the very first entry via Nintendo Classics and Switch backward compatibility.

Appearing together, Producer Aonuma and Director Fujibayashi thanked viewers and concluded the Direct by showcasing a new Ocarina of Time trailer. The trailer featured scenes not seen in Producer Aonuma's demonstration, including Link riding Epona, Adult Link, dynamic combat action, and appearances by various characters such as Sheik, Zelda, Gorons, and Ganondorf.