SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY

Search headlines

Find the stories shaping the conversation.

Search mode
Refine results
Active filters Keyword All time

Results for " zelda " 182 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle

Shigeru Miyamoto explains why AI won’t make human creativity obsolete

Mario and Zelda creator argues that rise of AI could make creators even more important…

videogameschronicle.com logo
Oct 23 • 5:45 AM EDT • Technology • videogameschronicle.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake File Size Officially Confirmed

You'll never believe how much bigger the Switch 2 game is than the Nintendo 64 original

polygon.com logo
Oct 20 • 1:54 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Nintendo Pays Homage to Original 1998 Commercial for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in New Remake Trailer

Nintendo has released a new The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake trailer that pays homage to the 1998 commercial for the N64 masterpiece — and we’ve got a comparison video showing just how close it is to the original.

ign.com logo
Oct 20 • 10:37 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Griffin Gaming Partners and Entertainment 360 launch new company to support video game adaptations for film and TV

HITpoint Entertainment will "combine Griffin's relationships with devs and publishers with Entertainment 360's producing track record on IP-driven franchises"

gamesindustry.biz logo
Oct 20 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • gamesindustry.biz
New Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Trailer Is A Throwback To The '90s N64 Ads

Art thou hyped?

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 20 • 6:45 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
How Did You First Encounter Zelda: Ocarina Of Time?

Fairy Tales

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 19 • 2:00 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo "Underestimated" Zelda Switch 2 Console Sales, But Promises Restocks Are On The Way

"Please be patient"

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 19 • 8:00 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake reveals new display modes, other settings, controls

The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will feature new display modes on Nintendo Switch 2, preview footage has revealed. This comes from Zeltik. There’ll be “Standard,” “Pro,” and “Master” options. With “Standard,” this is what the game will look like for most players. If you choose “Pro,” other minimal information will be shown. Finally, with “Master,”...

nintendoeverything.com logo
Oct 17 • 6:00 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 "Replica N64 Box" Revealed

A bonus available in France

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:55 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
"No Offense To Zelda" - Activision Exec Says Call Of Duty: MW4 And GTA 6 Are The Two Biggest Games Of The Year

How to p*** off Nintendo fans in four words

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 15 • 11:45 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
‘No offense to Zelda’ but GTA 6 and COD Modern Warfare 4 are ‘the two biggest games of the year’, Activision exec says

Modern Warfare 4 is out next week…

videogameschronicle.com logo
Oct 15 • 9:44 AM EDT • Technology • videogameschronicle.com
New batch of Zelda 40th Switch 2 console and Pro Controller contain replaceable battery

UK video game and toy retailer Smyths have just received a new batch of stock of the Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 console and the Zelda 40th anniversary Pro Controller and these new…

mynintendonews.com logo
Oct 14 • 5:42 PM EDT • Technology • mynintendonews.com
How the Zelda Ocarina of Time remake changes the classic game’s script

At the start of the iconic 1998 Nintendo 64 game The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, our playable hero Link wakes up in his tree cabin, heads outside and is greeted by his friend Saria. “Yahoo! Hi, Stotil!" she says. In other people’s copies of the games, she might say “Hi, Link!” or “Hi, Brick!” or use whatever other name the player was allowed to input when first launching the game. The more important point is that she starts with a “Yahoo!” In Nintendo’s 2011 remake of Ocarina of Time for the 3DS handheld, Saria greets Link with that same word. But for the 2026 Switch 2 re-remake of Ocarina of Time, out November 5, Saria’s salutation has changed: “Hello, Link!” she exclaims. There’s no “Yahoo” to be heard. Last month, in an official Nintendo video preview, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma described the remake as a “faithful interpretation using modern technologies.” Faithful means the gameplay hasn’t changed much. Dungeons, quests, and just generally what you do in the game doesn’t seem to have changed, not based on what Nintendo has shown nor the hour of the game I played in New York City a couple of weeks ago. The graphics have been overhauled. The controls have been tweaked. Players can now manually control the camera and make Link jump with the press of a button, both notable differences from the original 1998 design. But Link’s journey appears to take the same path, with the same obstacles in its way. The remake’s biggest alteration to Ocarina of Time that I’ve spotted so far just might be the script. About the game’s story, Aonuma said in September, “We’ve added quite a lot of new dialogue for the characters, so that their personalities shine even more.” Earlier this month, I played a chunk of the Ocarina of Time remake at a Nintendo showcase. In the game’s earliest moments, I made a point of talking to characters and recording what they said. I found the script to be more colorful, more natural in its phrasing, more careful to establish its characters, and certainly more wordy even with the removal of that one “Yahoo!”. I’ve got some very early-game examples, so you can judge the new writing for yourself.

gamefile.news logo
Oct 14 • 11:32 AM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake's Latest Trailer Shows A Lot Of Old, But Some Surprising New

The Switch 2 remake is mostly a faithful reimagining of the N64 classic, but it is making it easier to face old foes once more

kotaku.com logo
Oct 14 • 9:30 AM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
'Zelda: Ocarina of Time' Switch 2 hands-on preview: Strange, beautiful, and surprisingly thoughtful

Yes, the art style looks good once you play it.

mashable.com logo
Oct 14 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • mashable.com
29 New Changes in the Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake — Redesigned Puzzles, Updated Miniboss Fights, and Deeper Dialogue

I played more than an hour of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, and as someone who’s finished the original several times, I noticed a lot of small changes that shine some light on the thought process behind recreating this adventure. It seems everything was on the table when considering what to tweak: altered puzzles more closely fit the modern controls, redesigned miniboss fights spice things up across each round, and new shortcuts and context clues make navigation more intuitive.

ign.com logo
Oct 14 • 9:00 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
"That was not received well at Nintendo" - as GTA 6 and Zelda are lampooned by Saturday Night Live, former employees recall Elon Musk Wario skit controversy

As American comedy series Saturday Night Live airs a sketch lampooning the November showdown between Grand Theft Auto 6…

eurogamer.net logo
Oct 13 • 11:33 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
Best The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time deal: Save $10 on Nintendo Switch preorders

Save on the physical edition of this hotly-anticipated remake.

mashable.com logo
Oct 10 • 8:19 AM EDT • Technology • mashable.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 pre-orders set Amazon record, dominating GTA 6

The Ocarina of Time remake and GTA 6 should overshadow all November competition. Yet physical Amazon sales of the Zelda title are moving at an unprecedented pace. Nintendo’s Switch 2 exclusive game has sold more than 100,000 copies in the last month alone.

notebookcheck.net logo
Oct 9 • 11:20 PM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net
You'll Have One Last Shot At The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 That Keeps Selling Out Everywhere During A Midnight Launch

A midnight release for Ocarina of Time? What year is it?

kotaku.com logo
Oct 8 • 11:30 AM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Best Buy Announces Midnight Opening for Ocarina of Time Launch, Zelda Switch 2 Consoles Also Up for Grabs

Best Buy is opening select stores at midnight on Nov. 5 for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launch day, featuring surprise restocks of the limited-edition Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2.

ign.com logo
Oct 8 • 10:52 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
"Nintendo Didn't Swerve" - Product Growth Expert Comments On Zelda Vs. GTA 6

Let battle commence

nintendolife.com logo
Oct 6 • 9:45 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Best The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time deal: Save $10 on Nintendo Switch preorders

Save on the physical edition of this hotly-anticipated remake.

mashable.com logo
Oct 6 • 3:33 AM EDT • Technology • mashable.com
Zelda and Banjo Recompiled Devs Go To War With AI Vibe-Coded 'Slopcomps'

AI-assisted projects provoking stark criticism

kotaku.com logo
Oct 5 • 10:22 AM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
The Legend of Zelda: Master Collection Officially Announced

A partnership between Nintendo and Panini offers a new opportunity for collectors and fans.

polygon.com logo
Oct 5 • 10:09 AM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
SNL Weighs in on GTA 6 vs. The Legend of Zelda With Skit Featuring Jason and Link

SNL weighed in on GTA 6 vs. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake with a new Weekend Update skit featuring video game protagonists Jason Duval and Link.

ign.com logo
Oct 4 • 11:55 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
ICYMI: Ocarina of Time remake website has tons of footage showing areas, dungeons, items, and more

An abundance of gameplay footage for the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake is available on the game’s official Japanese website, showing many elements that were

nintendowire.com logo
Sep 30 • 1:53 PM EDT • Technology • nintendowire.com
15 Things The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Is Changing From The Original On N64

Song of time

kotaku.com logo
Sep 29 • 3:30 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Nintendo shares Zora’s Domain footage from Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake

It’s not too long now until we can all get our hands on the eagerly-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Nintendo Switch 2 as it launches on 5th November. Today…

mynintendonews.com logo
Sep 29 • 12:27 PM EDT • Technology • mynintendonews.com
Castlevania Is Also Getting A 40th Anniversary Concert Tour Next Year

Budge over, Zelda

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 29 • 9:45 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Zelda 40th Anniversary Concert Tickets Go Live Tomorrow, 30th September (Europe)

Additional dates teased

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 29 • 7:50 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
"And, Now... An Evil Has Appeared" - Nintendo Releases Extended Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 Clip

Here's another look at Ganondorf

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 25 • 9:55 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo Reportedly Rejected A Ubisoft Zelda Spin-Off Starring Ganondorf

What if?

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 24 • 8:55 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Ubisoft Was Reportedly Working On A Legend Of Zelda Spin-Off Starring Ganondorf

Nintendo liked the concept, but reportedly passed on the project after it saw the prototype

kotaku.com logo
Sep 24 • 4:31 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Nintendo Reportedly Canceled A Ubisoft-Developed Zelda Game Starring Ganondorf

The project apparently began life with a different protagonist.

gamespot.com logo
Sep 24 • 4:18 PM EDT • Technology • gamespot.com
The Division's New Release is Going Up Against Zelda

The Division 2: Echoes of Central Park launches in November with a new story set in Central Park and the Upper West Side.

polygon.com logo
Sep 24 • 3:59 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Rumor: Mario + Rabbids dev pitched Zelda spin-off to Nintendo featuring Ganondorf

According to a report from Insider Gaming, the team behind the Mario + Rabbids games once made a pitch to Nintendo for a Zelda spin-off featuring Ganondorf. Nintendo and Ubisoft Milan were apparently discussing their next collaboration in 2022. Previously, this team made Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. The initial pitch was an...

nintendoeverything.com logo
Sep 24 • 3:23 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
EXCLUSIVE: How Ubisoft and Nintendo's Partnership Ended With a Canceled Zelda Title

Ubisoft and Nintendo were once going to develop a Zelda title together, but the game was cancelled following its prototype in late 2023.

insider-gaming.com logo
Sep 24 • 3:06 PM EDT • Technology • insider-gaming.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order bonus guide

New guide covers every pre-order bonus available for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Switch 2 worldwide.

nintendoeverything.com logo
Sep 22 • 8:09 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake’s world map revealed

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake will launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5th, 2026. You can pre-order your copy on Amazon today.

nintendowire.com logo
Sep 22 • 12:37 PM EDT • Technology • nintendowire.com
Nintendo Shares First Look At Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 World Map

See how it compares to the original game

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 21 • 8:55 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
All currently known pre-order bonuses for Zelda Ocarina of Time remake

X user estarland has put together a handy infographic showing the various regional pre-order bonuses for the long-awaited The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the Nintendo Switch 2.

mynintendonews.com logo
Sep 18 • 8:36 AM EDT • Technology • mynintendonews.com
Nintendo Store Adds Some New Exclusives For Switch Online Members (North America)

A Zelda metal desktop display and Virtual Boy glasses case

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 16 • 10:00 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Finally Fixes the 3DS Remake's Only Failure

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's upcoming Switch 2 remake is improving on the one part of the 3DS remake that has been universally criticized.

cbr.com logo
Sep 16 • 7:20 PM EDT • Technology • cbr.com
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time - Electric Ocarina Nintendo Store Pre-Orders Now Live (US)

Get it while you can

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 14 • 8:35 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo Opens the Zelda: Ocarina of Time Pre-orders Fans Were Waiting For

The Switch 2 accessory was conspicuously missing from Nintendo's official Zelda gameplay reveal, but now it's back with a date, price, and more

polygon.com logo
Sep 14 • 3:59 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Zelda Art Director Receives Backlash For AI Prototype Test

Takaya Imamura was surprised that he was 'getting slammed this hard' for sharing a prototype made with the help of AI

kotaku.com logo
Sep 13 • 4:57 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Map Officially Revealed

Nintendo is giving fans a first look at the revamped map of Hyrule within the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

gamerant.com logo
Sep 13 • 8:40 AM EDT • Technology • gamerant.com
Digital Foundry: Zelda Ocarina of Time remake is 1080p and 60fps, but no DLSS

The big title this holiday season for Nintendo Switch 2 owners is the gorgeous The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake. Naturally the tech sleuths at Digital Foundry have taken a look at the game…

mynintendonews.com logo
Sep 13 • 6:19 AM EDT • Technology • mynintendonews.com
Scalpers are already reselling the sold-out Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 for £700+

Nintendo's new Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2 sold out in hours, and scalpers are already reselling it on eBay for hundreds of pounds over the retail price.

eurogamer.net logo
Sep 12 • 11:14 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
Nintendo Confirms Zelda 40th Anniversary Collection Restocks

Expect an announcement via the Nintendo Store app

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 12 • 1:30 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
26 Details You Might Have Missed From The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 Reveal

Under the lens of truth

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 11 • 1:00 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo's Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Gets More Pre-order Bonuses

There's a version of the Switch 2 game that looks like the original Nintendo 64 Zelda box cover, and it's a region exclusive pre-order

polygon.com logo
Sep 11 • 12:01 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Walmart Shoppers Are Supposedly Using a Hidden Promo Code to Knock $20 off The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Preorders, but It Might Not Work for Everyone

Walmart shoppers are supposedly using a hidden promo code to knock $20 off The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time preorders, bringing it down from $70 to $50, but it might not work for everyone.

ign.com logo
Sep 11 • 11:32 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Nintendo Officially Reveals The Legend of Zelda: Master Collection

To celebrate The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary, Nintendo officially unveils the upcoming Master Collection.

gamerant.com logo
Sep 11 • 8:00 AM EDT • Technology • gamerant.com
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GTA 6: The video game industry’s Barbenheimer moment
thegamebusiness.com logo
Sep 10 • 8:57 AM EDT • Technology • thegamebusiness.com
Kirby and the World Beyond, which seemingly includes a Legend of Zelda crossover, coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2027

A new reveal trailer Kirby and the World Beyond ended today's Nintendo Direct, showing off a large open world and lots of Zelda tie-ins.

eurogamer.net logo
Sep 9 • 11:20 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
Nintendo Direct September 2026 Live Report: All the Announcements as They Happen

Hot on the heels of yesterday’s The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, we have a brand new Nintendo Direct — and IGN will be reporting all the news live right here.

ign.com logo
Sep 9 • 8:14 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Multiple amiibo Listings Have Apparently Been Spotted On GameStop's Internal Database

New Zelda amiibo were announced yesterday

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 9 • 12:55 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Zelda: Master Collection Trading Cards Are On The Way

Celebrating 40 years of Link

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 8 • 8:45 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo isn’t scared of GTA VI

It’s going to be an interesting November.

theverge.com logo
Sep 8 • 1:13 PM EDT • Technology • theverge.com
The Legend of Zelda Is the Only Big Name Willing to Go Up Against GTA 6 in November

Clash of the titans

pushsquare.com logo
Sep 8 • 12:30 PM EDT • Technology • pushsquare.com
Lego announces its third Legend of Zelda set, this time featuring Link on Epona

The set will be released next year and is once again based on Ocarina of Time…

videogameschronicle.com logo
Sep 8 • 11:55 AM EDT • Technology • videogameschronicle.com
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake gameplay finally revealed during 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct, and it looks… interesting

Gameplay has been released for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake during today's 40th anniversary series Nintendo Direct.

eurogamer.net logo
Sep 8 • 10:31 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Launches On Switch 2 On 5th November 2026

The GOAT, modernised

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 8 • 10:28 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo’s Ocarina of Time remake launches in November

Hey, listen!

theverge.com logo
Sep 8 • 10:26 AM EDT • Technology • theverge.com
The Legend of Zelda getting Link and Epona LEGO set, playable Ocarina, more

A number of new products have been announced for The Legend of Zelda, including a Link and Epona LEGO set and a playable Ocarina, and more. We have a look at the LEGO set above. Here’s a look at the new ocarinas, which includes an electric version: Also on the way are Hasbro’s figures as well as an electronic Master...

nintendoeverything.com logo
Sep 8 • 10:09 AM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: all the news and trailers

Stay up to date.

theverge.com logo
Sep 8 • 9:50 AM EDT • Technology • theverge.com
Nintendo Store Leak Reveals The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 Remake Pricing

It looks like Nintendo has inadvertently revealed how much its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will cost on Switch 2.

ign.com logo
Sep 8 • 4:52 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 9.8.2026 and Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026

Tune in on Sept 8 at 7am PT for The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct (Approx 30 mins) and on Sept 9 at 7am PT for Nintendo Direct 9.9.2026 (Approx 45 mins).

nintendo.com logo
Sep 8 • 3:00 AM EDT • Technology • nintendo.com
😐 Neutral (10%)
Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Gets Early Australia Nintendo Store Listing Pointing To A Possible $60 Digital Price

More info is expected at this week's Nintendo Directs

kotaku.com logo
Sep 7 • 9:53 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Nintendo reveals Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake price on Switch 2

Nintendo has now confirmed how much The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time's Nintendo Switch 2 remake will be with the official price.

nintendoeverything.com logo
Sep 7 • 8:48 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
Nintendo Reveals What To Expect From The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

You probably already know

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 7 • 8:30 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
How To Watch The Legend Of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Direct

Nintendo is expected to reveal details about the 'Ocarina of Time' and other Zelda projects during the 30-minute stream.

engadget.com logo
Sep 7 • 5:00 PM EDT • Technology • engadget.com
Zelda Direct will feature Ocarina of Time remake and “initiatives beyond games”

Nintendo has clarified a little more about the special The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary Nintendo Direct presentation. One game which will naturally be present is the long-awaited The Legend of…

mynintendonews.com logo
Sep 7 • 6:41 AM EDT • Technology • mynintendonews.com
How to Watch Nintendo's Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

Nintendo's celebration of Zelda's 40th sounds big

polygon.com logo
Sep 6 • 11:16 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Rumor: New Smash Bros. game on the way, Nintendogs returning, more

A number of Nintendo rumors have come to light from malo932, who is building up some credibility when it comes to leaks. Most recently, malo932 indicated that we’d be getting presentations next week for The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo in general days before they were announced. That ultimately turned out to be true, as two Directs were confirmed yesterday....

nintendoeverything.com logo
Sep 5 • 9:01 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
How to Watch the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

Nintendo is going big this September with two Nintendo Direct showcases airing on back-to-back days. Here's everything you need to know.

ign.com logo
Sep 5 • 8:04 PM EDT • Technology • ign.com
5 Huge Reveals To Expect From Nintendo’s Zelda Anniversary Direct

It could be a legendary event

polygon.com logo
Sep 5 • 5:00 PM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
Is it Finally Time for 3D Mario? 14 Predictions for the September 2026 Nintendo Direct and Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

IGN's Logan Plant shares 14 predictions for the pair of Nintendo Directs airing in the coming days.

ign.com logo
Sep 4 • 8:10 PM EDT • Technology • ign.com
15 discouraging hours with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and 10 brilliant ones with He Who Watches

In the last few weeks, while playing some video games that I might review, I emailed two cries for help. I sent the first to a rep for Capcom, confessing that the company’s samurai game Onimusha Way of the Sword (out today for PC and console) was crushing me. “Feels like I’m playing ‘hard’ mode, not ‘normal,’” I wrote. “And I don’t want to have to knock it down to “story”. I’m exploring, trying to level my gear, but these two-phase boss fights with no mid-fight checkpoints are brutal.” I wagered I was only about halfway through the game, if that. I wasn’t sure I could keep up with the steepening difficulty curve. Was I missing something? Then, on Monday, I took some photos of some puzzles that were baffling me in the mind-bending He Who Watches (out now on PC), wrote out lengthy descriptions of how I’d been trying to solve them and asked Bobby Vanden, the game’s solo developer, for a nudge in the right direction. I told Vanden I’d spent hours on these puzzles. “I’m stuck in triplicate,” I told him. Could he tell me if the solutions I was attempting were even on the right track? I didn’t mention that the puzzles—coupled with major time pressures from other work—were stressing me out so much that playing the game was giving me headaches. This double dose of panic was unusual. I’m used to managing a workload full of reporting and reviewing, used to a crowded schedule and the need to stay calm amid the bustle. But I was stressed about these games. No one was forcing me to review them, nor even play them. I’d simply found them interesting enough to start, hoped they’d be interesting enough to write about and I’d sunk hours into them assuming I’d made the right call. Suddenly, however, I felt trapped. I was emailing for a way out. Above: This guy took me about an hour to beat. The feedback I got from Capcom confirmed my fears. They didn’t say it, but I will: Onimusha Way of the Sword is not for me. It’s a brutally hard game in need of a normal difficulty level. It’s a game that spikes so severely during its abundant boss fights—yet offers such flawed ways to improve when outside of them—that it feels like a bait-and-switch. In the new Onimusha, you play as famed samurai Musashi Miyamoto, aided by a magical soul-absorbing gauntlet that is possessed by a lady who offers advice. (Way of the Sword is a continuation of Capcom’s long-dormant Onimusha series, but that set-up had me wondering if the company was cribbing from their ill-fated Bionic Commando reboot; read about “wife-arm” when you get a chance). Way of the Sword is partially set in 17th century Kyoto, an explorable city where Miyamoto can fight demons, help civilians and eventually rescue ghostly dogs. The city evolves over time, with new mini adventures and obtainable loot on offer, all feeding into systems that promise to upgrade your gear and sword-fighting skills. Upgrades, however, are so incremental as to be imperceptible, causing the exploration of Kyoto to feel like inconsequential busywork. From that hub, players can go on linear missions into forests and old temples, where they will encounter many of the game’s tough bosses. Combat in Way of the Sword is akin to many modern melee games. Players are asked to mix attacks with dodges and parries. They’re encouraged to deplete an enemy’s stamina bar in order to do greater damage to its health bar. The old Onimusha games’ signature move was the issen, a counter-attack so sudden it’s all but pre-emptive. You strike just as they begin to strike toward you, beating them to the cut. By definition, the issen is a high risk move, leaving you wide open to pain. It feels risky in the game, especially against bosses, who can maul you in just a few blows. A game might train you to perform an issen well by offering a variety of lesser enemies who are not as tough as the boss but get close. Or it might offer a toehold against bosses by saving or checkpointing the player’s progress when a boss’ first health bar has been destroyed and before the second health bar appears. It might offer the less skilled player a chance to over-level their character, should the player simply commit to playing through its optional sidequests. Way of the Sword does none of this. Fighting its trivially easy grunt enemies and then its ferociously adept bosses is like playing a game of chess where I’ve got a rook, while the opposing side is all pawns and five queens. Bosses simply don’t checkpoint. You may be able to clear a boss’ first phase without taking much damage. Good for you. Do it again, every time you fail the second phase. As for the the central Kyoto hub, I kept pace with all of its added side activities and never felt like I was overpowered. Bosses could still easily buckle me. The new Onimusha, I concluded, is just too discouraging to keep playing. The advice I got from Capcom had been well-intentioned. They reminded me of the game’s various systems. They alerted me to an optional assist that flashes recommended button inputs (basically: counter this move; dodge that move). It was a little helpful. So was dropping down to “story mode,” which I tried last night. Story mode turns on those button prompts by default. It makes countering and dodging way too easy, nearly automatic. I don’t consider myself a master of action games like these, but I’ve cleared the likes of God of War, Stellar Blade, Star Wars Jedi and others of sub-Sekiro difficulty and had a fun time doing so. Not here. Not yet. Unless they patch Onimusha: Way of the Sword and add a middle difficulty or just checkpoint the damn bosses when they’re between health bars, my streak of loving Capcom games released in 2026 will likely end at two. It’s a shame, because I was having a good time finding those ghostly dogs. And then there’s He Who Watches, a phenomenal first person puzzle game with Portal vibes, except instead of a portal gun you’ve got a magical bow that shoots one arrow that can activate switches or be used to drag blocks. The twist is an actual twist: you can also walk on walls and the ceiling, reorienting gravity as you do, thereby placing blocks onto those other surfaces. Walking on walls and ceilings to solve problems is really the best thing. Would that I could in reality. He Who Watches consists of locked-room challenges, each brief enough to only require about a minute to actually solving, though it will take five, 10, eventually 30 minutes to figure out said solutions. They are not obvious! It’s a game of layered mechanics and shocking solutions. For example, see if you can follow this: You can drag a block to a wall. Then you can walk on the wall, which now feels like the floor, and drag that block across the wall. Later, back on the floor, you might realize you can look up. The block is still on the wall, stuck to it. You can shoot your magic arrow to its underside. Doing so creates a tether, so that you can yank the block off the wall and carry it, as if it were a balloon, into the spot where you need it to be to solve the puzzle. Here, watch Vanden explain some of the game’s basics in this launch trailer: As with any great puzzle game, the solutions to He Who Watches’ puzzles elicit relief and amazement. Oh my god, that worked! I didn’t even think that could be possible! Learning to solve the game’s puzzles feels like learning magic. But, oh, does the game get hard. Its Steam reviews, mostly glowing, are full of players remarking how quickly He Who Watches made them sweat. Wrote one: “loving this one already although my brain is hurting!” Wrote another: “As you get further in the game it feels like you need an IQ level of at least 120+.” Vanden has shown some mercy. Each locked room puzzle includes an optional junior version of the puzzle, meant to teach you. Difficulty nevertheless ramps severely. By the time I was emailing Vanden for help, I was struggling to even clear one of the hint puzzles. When I messaged him, my stress was exacerbated by strange things I’d found in the game’s various hubs: suspicious passageways, odd blocks and some intriguing locked doors. These were hints of secrets, I realized, yet I sensed I needed to play further into the game to understand them. I was stuck, but I wanted to see the rest. Vanden offered to give me the exact solutions, to solve those three puzzles for me, but first he gave four nudges. Three were for the specific puzzles, but his best hint was for all and ultimately proved to be a terrific life lesson: go back a bit, he suggested. Do the puzzles right before those. They were teaching you something. Focus on what their lesson was. Don’t rush, in other words. Recognize what you’ve accomplished. Build off of that. I did so. I absorbed the lessons. I saw those three tough puzzles in a new light. I solved one the night after he wrote back, another the morning after. I left a third for another time. I didn’t need it and I wanted to plunge deeper into the game, closer to the moment when I was sure I could start unlocking those secret doors. My head stopped hurting, too. He Who Watches feels special. It’s got more challenges, and I’m undeterred. It’s also nice that its puzzles don’t have a surprise second health bar. Game File is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Item 2: In brief… 🎮 Ilari Kuittinen, co-founder of Helsinki-based Housemarque (Super Stardust HD, Resogun, Returnal) has stepped down from his studio, after a 31-year run, saying he’s “ taking a rare and well-deserved breather.” Sony purchased Housemarque in 2021, and the studio released its newest game, Saros, earlier this year. Trend-watch: Sony-owned Insomniac saw its founder Ted Price retire in early 2025, after a 30-year run. Sony-owned Sucker Punch saw its co-founder Brian Fleming step down in late 2025, after a 28-year run. 👀 Savvy Games Group chief Brian Ward is stepping down from the Saudi-government-backed games conglomerate, Bloomberg reports. No word on a long-term successor yet, nor if this augurs any closer integration between Savvy and Electronic Arts. EA was purchased by a consortium led by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, in early August. 💿 Square Enix has denied a Japanese media report that the company was planning to go private. In very different Square Enix news, the company revealed that the physical version of Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, the April 2027 finale of its radical remakes of FFVII, will include just one disc in its case, requiring a download for the rest. The first two FFVII remakes in the trilogy shipped on two discs apiece. While Square hasn’t commented on the reason why, a feature here in Game File last month broke down the processes and costs for physical games. The expense of a second disc comes out of the game publisher’s cut of each copy. Square could be saving in excess of a dollar a copy with this move. 🟥 Grand Theft Auto IV’s 26-minute ’‘extended look” gameplay showcase that premiered on Netflix last week—and was exclusive to the platform for six hours—drew 31.1 million views in its first four days, the streamer announced. (Netflix calculates views as total viewed hours divided by runtime; excludes replays). Compared to YouTube: The version that later premiered on Rockstar Games’ YouTube channel is sitting at 22.6 million views after seven days (YouTube’s more liberal counting system tallies anyone who viewed even just the first few second.) Compared to other Netflix mega-events: Last year, Stranger Things season 5’s first four episodes, which debuted together, drew a record 59.6 million views in their first few days on Netflix. For more of a live event type of comparison, in 2024, the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson boxing match drew 65 million concurrent streams as it happened; Netflix didn’t release live numbers for the GTA premiere. ☁️ Microsoft is changing the way it charges for cloud gaming, from an all-you-can-play offer for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, to caps for the subscription’s tiers (15 hours per month at the Ultimate tier), with the option to buy more hours in bulk beyond that. The company also said it will sell batches of cloud gaming time to non-Game Pass subscribers, details TBA. Microsoft does not release figures for cloud game usage, but said its changes would impact 4% of Game Pass subscribers. That implies a small portion of its subscribers exceed the 15-hour monthly mark. Cloud gaming offers the promise of playing games without the need for console or PC hardware, as the graphics, sound and controls are all transmitted via a streaming connection. Microsoft notes that its cloud gaming service can be used for a range of things, including Xbox One players using it to play newer-gen Xbox Series games via streaming; and people playing games via streaming, sans any console, “in markets where consoles are less available or affordable.” (That latter use case could even be relevant in Xbox’s home market soon, as console prices keep rising.) Take Two Interactive chairman Strauss Zelnick recently told investors he expects game-streaming tech, which has been only lightly adopted by gamers for over a decade, to be widely used within three years. 🇺🇸 The Trump administration has published multiple agenda-driven web video games to the White House’s website. One called Build The Wall partially clones Tetris as it asks players to build a wall to stop a “zombie border siege.” While actual Tetris involves clearing lines and basically not building a wall, the Trump-backed game omits the line-clearing aspect (and omits the fun as well). On Instagram, Tetris’ official license holders reacted by stating: “At Tetris we believe in the power of connection and bringing people together, not dividing them. To our fans everywhere: we love you, we see you, and we’re grateful to have you in our community. P.S. The Tetris Company was not involved in the creation of ‘Build the Wall.’ P.P.S.: We take copyright infringement very seriously.” Item 3: The week ahead: Tuesday, September 8 Game releases: Mewgenics (consoles; already out on PC) is an engrossing tactical combat game (with cats). It is getting its console port right after the release of a Star Wars tactics game and ahead of the late September launch of a Fire Emblem–a bumper crop for the genre. Wanderburg (PC) is an auto-shooting game like Vampire Survivors, but you’re a castle on wheels Event: Nintendo airs a 30-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary. A full unveiling of the upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time is expected. Will they also show footage from next year’s live action movie? Tease the next big 3D Zelda? Add Link to Mario Kart World? Shadow-drop a new Tingle game? Wednesday, September 9 Event: Nintendo again! On this day, they’re planning to air a 45-minute Nintendo Direct (10am ET) focused on games heading to Switch 2 this winter. Followed by about an hour of gameplay demoed by the company’s Treehouse team. The September Nintendo Directs are always some of the year’s biggest. The 2025 edition included announcements of several major 2026 Switch/Switch 2 games: Pokémon Pokopia, Mario Tennis Fever, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Fire Emblem Fortune’s Weave. Plus the return of the Virtual Boy. Friday, September 11 Game release: EA Sports NHL 27 (PlayStation, Xbox) is a hockey game. There are so few that an indie studio that had been making wacky sci-fi first-person shooters just announced that, hey, we’re going to fill a void and make a hockey game for PC.

gamefile.news logo
Sep 4 • 6:23 PM EDT • Technology • gamefile.news
Nintendo Announces Two Directs For Next Week, 8th & 9th September 2026

Zelda news, anyone?

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 4 • 10:03 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Nintendo Confirms 2 Nintendo Direct Broadcasts for Next Week, Including a Dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Broadcast

Nintendo has announced a pair of Nintendo Direct broadcasts for next week, including a dedicated Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary showcase.

ign.com logo
Sep 4 • 9:54 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Rumour: A Norwegian Retailer Seems To Think It Knows The Developer For The Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake

File under "Hmmm"

nintendolife.com logo
Sep 3 • 5:00 AM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Leak lists Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake developer as Xenoblade Chronicles studio

A retailer may have inadvertently leaked information about the Ocarina of Time remake. Elkjøp specifies Monolith Soft as the lead developer for the Switch 2 game. While the Xenoblade Chronicles studio has supported Nintendo EPD in recent Zelda projects, its leverage over the franchise has grown.

notebookcheck.net logo
Sep 2 • 6:26 PM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net
The Zelda-Influenced NES Classic 'Battle of Olympus' Is Being Remade By Its Original Husband-And-Wife Team

"A handcrafted Steam remake by its original creators"

timeextension.com logo
Aug 31 • 4:00 AM EDT • Technology • timeextension.com
Retro Recap: All The Classic Gaming News From The Past Week (August 23rd 2026)

Golden Axe! James Pond! Zelda! Panzer Dragoon!

timeextension.com logo
Aug 23 • 7:05 AM EDT • Technology • timeextension.com
Reagan’s PATCO Showdown ignited Colorado labor backlash

Forty-five years ago this week: “It’s the old Nixon reaction as far as I’m concerned. He thinks he’s the Great God Almighty and can do no wrong … in the eyes of the public,” said Zelda Bransted, spokesman of the Colorado AFL-CIO. “I sincerely hope it backfires.” Bransted made the comment in response to President […]

coloradopolitics.com logo
Aug 15 • 4:48 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 Console Images Reportedly Leak

Leaked images of a The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Nintendo Switch 2 console and Pro Controller appear to be circulating online.

ign.com logo
Aug 11 • 1:27 PM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console and Pro Controller leaked

Nintendo is reportedly planning to launch a new limited-edition Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2 console and a matching Pro Controller to celebrate the series' 40th anniversary. And a new leak has now given us our first look at the hardware.

notebookcheck.net logo
Aug 11 • 11:54 AM EDT • Technology • notebookcheck.net
Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 system and Pro Controller leaked, first images

Get a first look at the brand new Nintendo Switch 2 system and Pro Controller based on The Legend of Zelda with this new leak.

nintendoeverything.com logo
Aug 11 • 11:20 AM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com
He Died Before Beating Zelda. She’s Finishing What He Started.

How The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom allowed one young woman to process the death of a loved one

polygon.com logo
Aug 9 • 9:15 AM EDT • Technology • polygon.com
The Ocarina of Time and Star Fox Remakes Feel Like Overly Safe Bets From a Typically Bold Company – Has Nintendo Lost Its Creative Spark?

The Switch 2 is an iterative update console. The Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox remakes are safe bets with generic art styles. The Mario movies are by-the-numbers. Is Nintendo losing its soul?

ign.com logo
Aug 5 • 11:30 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Capcom dev says he threatened Nintendo in order to get Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons made

A story for the ages

gonintendo.com logo
Aug 2 • 8:00 AM EDT • Technology • gonintendo.com
Did You Know Gaming Disputes Metacritic’s Top Rated Entry

While researching for a retrospective, the historical YouTuber account came across inconsistencies with the record-breaking Zelda tally

kotaku.com logo
Aug 1 • 12:50 PM EDT • Technology • kotaku.com
Could Switch 2's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake be squaring up for a GTA 6 head-to-head? Newly sighted amiibo suggest a potential November release

Despite being announced back in June, Nintendo's Ocarina of Time remake still doesn't have an official launch date.

eurogamer.net logo
Jul 31 • 8:42 AM EDT • Technology • eurogamer.net
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Will Launch Head-to-Head With GTA 6 in November, Nintendo Fans Believe, After Amiibo Release Date Revealed

Nintendo will launch its The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Switch 2 remake head-to-head with GTA 6 in November, fans believe.

ign.com logo
Jul 31 • 5:08 AM EDT • Technology • ign.com
Nintendo May Send Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Remake Straight At GTA 6, As Rating Points To a Possible November Launch

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake was rated by ESRB ahead of a potential showdown with Grand Theft Auto VI.

wccftech.com logo
Jul 30 • 5:30 AM EDT • Technology • wccftech.com
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Switch 2 Rating Surfaces Online

Returning in 2026

nintendolife.com logo
Jul 29 • 11:30 PM EDT • Technology • nintendolife.com
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Nintendo Switch 2 remake now has its ESRB rating

ESRB ratings generally aren’t significant, but we’ll make an exception here with the Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Nintendo’s website for the game has now been updated. There isn’t much new as far as we can tell, but there is the inclusion of the ESRB rating – which is E10+. Back in the...

nintendoeverything.com logo
Jul 29 • 10:23 PM EDT • Technology • nintendoeverything.com