Nintendo recently dropped a bombshell at its Nintendo Direct presentation: classic Nintendo GameCube titles are coming to the Nintendo Switch Online (NSO) Expansion Pack. Among them is the original "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker." But this announcement sparked a major debate among fans: Does this mean the HD remake, previously released on Wii U, is now out of the running for a port to the current Switch or even the rumored Switch 2?
Addressing the buzz, Nate Bihldorff, Nintendo of America's Senior Vice President of Product Development, offered a hopeful response. In a recent interview, he clarified that a game being available via the NSO platform doesn't necessarily rule out a future remake or standalone port.
"We asked a lot of questions to the official channels at the time, but the answers were very 'Nintendo' – we didn't get many clear responses," Bihldorff recounted. "Of course, I also asked if 'The Wind Waker' being on Nintendo Switch Online meant it couldn't come to the Switch 2 as the Wii U version. And he quickly replied, 'No,' which means the possibility still exists."
Bihldorff continued, "Naturally, there's no official confirmation right now, but many games are playable through NSO and have also been re-released as remakes or standalone ports. So, while they didn't give a definitive 'yes,' they also didn't rule out the possibility. In short: never say never."
Since their debut in 2003, "The Wind Waker" and "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" have cemented their status as classics in "The Legend of Zelda" series. Yet, neither has officially landed on the Switch platform.
"The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD," in particular, has been a fan favorite for a Switch port ever since its Wii U release in 2013. While its GameCube original hitting NSO offers a nostalgic trip, it doesn't quite satisfy the craving for high-definition visuals and improved gameplay.
Bihldorff further emphasized that NSO already provides numerous examples of games coexisting as both original and remade versions. He pointed out that several titles have received full ports or remakes even after their NSO debut, so their presence on the service alone isn't a definitive indicator of future plans.
via： IGN