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The Legend of Zelda Special Direct was held on the 8th to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary. Although the remake of 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' was essentially the only game title featured alongside announcements for a movie and concert, the Direct packed the stream with video reveals and content that thrilled fans. This was followed by the reveal of a specially designed 40th anniversary Legend of Zelda Nintendo Switch 2.

The event opened with a special video offering a retrospective of the series' history. Accompanied by a classical medley that brought back memories of each title, the presentation walked through every game starting from the very first entry in The Legend of Zelda. The ensemble, which initially began with just five musicians, expanded over time and was eventually joined by a choir, delivering an overwhelmingly grandiose experience.

In particular, the scene centering on the Triforce and capturing the history of Zelda, Ganon, and Link deeply moved fans, as the music and gameplay footage seamlessly conveyed the emotion and play experience unique to the franchise.

Following a greeting from Representative Director Fellow Shigeru Miyamoto and the unveiling of the 40th anniversary logo, the 40th Anniversary Legend of Zelda Direct kicked off in earnest. Fellow Miyamoto reflected that since its initial release on the Famicom Disk System in 1986, the franchise has consistently embraced new innovations with each era—such as 3D graphics, touch controls, and motion controls—before returning to its roots and evolving into a vast open world in Breath of the Wild.

Several projects celebrating the 40th anniversary were also announced. The first was the live-action movie The Legend of Zelda. Originally scheduled to premiere on April 30 of next year, the movie was confirmed under the title 'The Legend of Zelda' without a subtitle. Created as an original film based on the story and lore built by the franchise over 40 years, Nintendo developers—including Miyamoto himself—are actively participating in its production.

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

Additionally, a variety of merchandise will be released, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom amiibo, musical instruments and electronic devices modeled after the Ocarina of Time, LEGO Link & amiibo sets, Hasbro figure collections and Master Swords, and Huzzle Master Sword and shield cast puzzles.

Next, composer Koji Kondo, who defined the identity of the franchise, appeared to talk about the series' music. While the sound of The Legend of Zelda started with three simple chiptune notes on the early Famicom, it has since evolved through orchestral performances into majestic and nuanced background music.

Plans for The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert were also unveiled. The concert will cover a wide repertoire from classic tracks to pieces from the latest titles. In Japan, a nationwide tour will kick off in Tokyo next January, followed by performances in North America (Chicago in February), Europe (London in April), and Oceania (Melbourne in May), with successive shows planned worldwide.

Series producer Eiji Aonuma then took the stage to present actual gameplay footage and showcase the game in action. The original title was released on the Nintendo 64 in 1998, introducing 3D graphics to the series for the first time. It featured gameplay where players switch between Young Link and Adult Link during their adventure. Serving as a major turning point for the franchise, it introduced key elements that persist today, such as targeting enemies in combat and interactions with diverse races. Producer Aonuma stated that this new release reimagines the game with modern interpretations and technology timed for the 40th anniversary.

Aonuma introduced the game through a live gameplay demonstration. He explained that the graphics were rebuilt from scratch, and Link's visual design was finalized after extensive discussions to evoke nostalgia while offering a fresh feel. Indeed, Young Link in the gameplay footage features a doll-like design that emphasizes a fairytale atmosphere, setting him apart from Link's appearance in recent Nintendo Switch titles. Aonuma added that while the textures of the outfits and gear were newly expressed, the primary focus was placed on capturing the distinct emotional tone of Ocarina of Time rather than realistic depiction.

In contrast, the environments feature highly natural and realistic visual effects. On clear days, players can see fine details like the bricks on distant rooftops, whereas Kokiri Forest appears shrouded in a misty haze that blurs the surrounding environment.

The camera can now be rotated 360 degrees, resolving a limitation of the original game caused by having only a single analog stick. Saria of the Kokiri also appears early in gameplay and in the trailer shown at the end of the Direct. Unlike the sharper NPC designs typical of previous entries, major characters are designed to highlight a more fairytale, doll-like aesthetic.

As a new action mechanic, jumping via button press has been added. In the original game, jumping triggered automatically near edges, but players can now jump manually, significantly expanding combat and movement options. Actions such as falling into water or diving are also implemented seamlessly.

In dungeons, companion fairy Navi provides tips on overcoming enemies, while the target-lock Z-targeting feature lets players navigate and fight centered on the target. A counter-attack system was also showcased, briefly staggering enemies when hit during their attack windows. The Fairy Slingshot acquired during the demonstration can easily be aimed using either gyro controls or the Z-targeting system.

Aonuma emphasized that acquiring new items to expand accessible areas and available actions forms the core appeal unique to Ocarina of Time. He noted that load times when transitioning between areas were intentionally retained to preserve the feel of the original game.

Overworld areas such as Hyrule Field and Hyrule Castle Town were subsequently showcased. Featuring realistic visuals, the field and town boast higher graphical quality than previous Zelda titles. In addition, the newly added Journey Log feature allows players to check their progress and next objective at any time, with a tapestry illustration filling in as the adventure progresses. Aonuma explained that while moving across the vast plains, holding down a button enables a dash, making long-distance travel much easier.

While Hyrule Castle Town previously featured fixed camera angles, it has been recreated to allow free exploration of detailed spaces such as back alleys. Furthermore, while time stood still inside the town in the original game, time now flows regardless of location.

Features utilizing the capabilities of Switch 2 were also added for playing the Ocarina. Humming into the microphone allows Link to play along accordingly. Additionally, players can play using an actual Ocarina slated for release on the Nintendo Store.

A demonstration of playing 'Sun's Song' to change night into day was shown, and it was revealed that certain events occur only during specific times of day. Characters are fully voiced during event scenes, and the entire soundtrack has been remade. The track featured on the title screen during the broadcast will be added to Nintendo Music after the stream.

The release date was finally announced. 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' will launch on November 5—meaning players will be able to play it in about two months.

Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi appeared on screen to introduce new features for Zelda Notes, the smartphone companion service. Ocarina of Time is being added as a supported title in Zelda Notes. Key features presented include a timeline log reviewing the day's gameplay in chronological order, automatic in-game photo capture, and play statistics such as enemy defeat counts.

A quest feature was also introduced. Players use photos displayed on their smartphones as clues to find matching locations in-game, earning points upon completion to exchange for Ocarina sheet music. Sheet music can be used in the smartphone app's touch-screen Ocarina playing feature, enabling users to play along with guides or listen to auto-play. Custom sheet music can also be converted into QR codes to share via social media.

The new content 'Ocarina of Time Trial' is a quiz mode requiring consecutive answers to title-related questions, containing over 2,000 questions including lore trivia and visual picture puzzles. Players get one free attempt daily, with additional attempts unlocked 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 The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary design with Triforce motifs were revealed. The Joy-Cons feature a deep green finish displaying Link holding the Triforce on the front and Zelda on the back. The back of the main console adds a premium gold touch, while the dock prominently features the Triforce.

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 enjoy the entire Legend of Zelda series from the very first game via Nintendo Classics and Switch backward compatibility.

Producer Aonuma and Director Fujibayashi closed out the Direct by thanking viewers and presenting a new Ocarina of Time trailer. The trailer showcased scenes not featured in Producer Aonuma's demonstration, including Link riding Epona, Adult Link, dynamic combat action, and various characters such as Sheik, Zelda, Goron, and Ganondorf.