Zelda's 40th Anniversary Direct Could Be Nintendo's Biggest Zelda Moment in Years

For 40 years, The Legend of Zelda has been one of Nintendo's most important franchises.

Today, Nintendo is finally giving it a showcase of its own.

The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct takes place on September 8 and will run for roughly 30 minutes. Nintendo has confirmed that the presentation will include information about the anniversary and, importantly, details about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2.

But that's only part of the story.

Nintendo has also said it will discuss anniversary initiatives beyond games, opening the door to announcements surrounding the wider Zelda franchise.

That makes today's Direct much more interesting than a simple remake update.

Ocarina of Time Is the One Thing We Know Is Coming

The safest prediction is also the biggest one.

Ocarina of Time is confirmed.

Nintendo previously announced that the Nintendo 64 classic is being reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. The game has so far only received a relatively brief reveal, leaving plenty of questions unanswered.

Today's presentation gives Nintendo the perfect opportunity to finally show what this remake actually looks like in motion.

The biggest questions are obvious:

• When exactly will it launch?
• How extensive are the visual upgrades?
• Has the gameplay been modernized?
• Are there new quality-of-life improvements?
• Will Nintendo show a longer gameplay sequence?

Nintendo has not confirmed which of these will be answered.

But with the game explicitly named in Nintendo's latest announcement, Ocarina of Time is clearly going to be one of the centerpieces of the presentation.

The Movie Could Be the Surprise Everyone Is Waiting For

Here's where things get much more interesting.

Nintendo specifically says today's Direct will include anniversary initiatives that go beyond games.

That wording immediately makes the upcoming live-action Zelda movie one of the biggest things fans are watching for.

Nintendo and Sony are developing the movie, which is currently scheduled for theatrical release in 2027. Nintendo has not confirmed that a trailer or movie footage will appear during today's Direct, so it would be wrong to treat that as a certainty.

But the timing is hard to ignore.

A 40th anniversary presentation is arguably the perfect place to begin properly marketing Zelda's next major expansion beyond gaming.

If Nintendo does show the first major look at the movie, the Direct could suddenly become much bigger than a game showcase.

Nintendo Has 40 Years of Zelda to Work With

The anniversary itself is a big deal.

The original The Legend of Zelda launched in Japan in 1986, meaning the franchise officially reached its 40-year milestone this year.

That's four decades of games, characters, music and worlds that Nintendo can draw from.

And Nintendo has already shown that it isn't treating the anniversary as just another game release.

The company is promoting the anniversary across different parts of the franchise, while Ocarina of Time gives Nintendo a major gaming centerpiece for the celebration.

That creates an interesting possibility.

Instead of one huge announcement, today's Direct could be about setting up an entire year of Zelda content.

A remake.

Movie promotion.

Anniversary merchandise.

Potential collaborations.

And perhaps something Nintendo hasn't announced yet.

The key word, however, is perhaps. Nintendo has only confirmed the broad scope of the presentation, so everything beyond Ocarina of Time should remain speculation until the Direct airs.

What Could Nintendo Actually Reveal?

This is where expectations need to be separated from confirmed information.

Most likely: More Ocarina of Time

This is essentially guaranteed because Nintendo has already confirmed it will be discussed.

A release date and substantial gameplay footage would be the most logical next steps.

Possible: Zelda movie update

The "beyond games" wording makes this one particularly interesting.

A trailer isn't confirmed, but a movie-related announcement would fit the anniversary presentation perfectly.

Possible: Anniversary merchandise

Nintendo could also use the event to announce special hardware, collectibles or other anniversary products.

There have already been reports and leaks surrounding Zelda-themed Switch 2 hardware, but those remain unconfirmed and shouldn't be treated as official announcements.

Wild card: Another Zelda game

This is what fans will inevitably hope for.

A new mainline Zelda game would obviously be the biggest possible surprise, but there's currently no official confirmation that Nintendo plans to reveal one today.

And honestly, Nintendo doesn't need one.

Ocarina of Time plus a major movie reveal would already make this a substantial anniversary showcase.

What Happens Next?

The timing makes this week particularly interesting for Nintendo fans.

Today's Zelda Direct is approximately 30 minutes long, while a separate Nintendo Direct is scheduled for September 9, lasting approximately 45 minutes and focusing on Nintendo Switch 2 games arriving this winter.

That means Nintendo has effectively created two consecutive days of announcements.

Today's presentation can stay heavily focused on Zelda without competing for attention with the rest of Nintendo's upcoming lineup.

Then tomorrow's Direct can handle the broader Switch 2 roadmap.

For Zelda fans, however, September 8 is the day that matters.

Nintendo has already confirmed the biggest piece.

Now we get to see how much bigger the celebration becomes.