Nintendo Rumors Point to Ocarina of Time HD and Super Metroid Remake for 2026

New rumors are going around about Nintendo. If even half of them are true, 2026 could be a huge year for two of the company's most famous brands. New sources say that Nintendo is planning an HD version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D to celebrate the game's 40th anniversary. 

A version of Super Metroid is also said to be in development at MercurySteam, the company that made Metroid Dread and Metroid: Samus Returns. Nintendo has already planned a Partner Showcase, a Pokémon Presents, and other events for the beginning of the year, which may have changed internal schedules. 

It's still possible that Nintendo will hold a general Direct in March.

This is especially true if they want to show off big projects for 2026, like a new 3D Mario and the next game from Monolith Soft. If that Direct includes the rumored statements, people would be much more likely to believe these new claims. If not, it's only natural that doubt will grow. The discussion is still going strong for now.

Perhaps the least surprising of the two reports is the one about making a new Super Metroid game. Many people think this 1994 SNES favorite is one of the best games ever made, and it's still an important part of the Metroid series. A new version of the game would not only reach a whole new group of gamers but also capitalize on the renewed interest in video games following Metroid Dread's commercial success.

MercurySteam has a strong track record of releasing 2D Metroid games.

Samus Returns reimagined Metroid II by adding more material and new boss fights, and Metroid Dread went on to become the franchise's best-selling game ever. From a business perspective, it makes sense to keep working on 2D Metroid. Most of the time, these games have smaller budgets than their 3D counterparts, which could mean better profit margins.

One question that keeps coming up, though, is about longtime director Yoshio Sakamoto. As the person who came up with the 2D Metroid plot, Sakamoto's retirement has people wondering where the story will go from here. If MercurySteam is really making a new Super Metroid, it might be both a tribute to the series' past and a learning experience for new people who will be in charge of making future original games.

Reports say that there may be news about this project later this year.

If it turns out to be true, it would be another big step forward for Metroid in the modern age. Ocarina of Time is the subject of the more controversial claim. As part of celebrating the series' 40th anniversary, the story says Nintendo may release an HD version of the remake for the 3DS, which would be like making Ocarina of Time 3D bigger for the Switch.

It's important to note that this project is not the same as a larger, more ambitious remake that has been discussed for years. If that bigger remake is real, it's said to work more like Resident Evil 4 or Final Fantasy VII Remake, which are full remakes instead of just cosmetic changes.

If that's true, an HD port this year might not rule out a bigger remake later. In fact, there is a pattern. Before their full remakes were announced, both the original Resident Evil 4 and Final Fantasy VII got remasters. Even though Nintendo's membership services include older games, that doesn't mean there won't be any more remasters in the future.

Still, the idea of just making a 3DS version of a Nintendo 64 game bigger might not appeal to everyone, especially if it costs $60 or $70.

Since Ocarina of Time is already in the Nintendo Switch Online's N64 library, fans may be hoping for something bigger to mark the big event. Naturally, rumors have grown beyond a single title. There might be a better way for Nintendo to honor Zelda's 40th anniversary: putting together a compilation package. It would be better to buy Ocarina of Time along with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D in HD. A triple pack that includes The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD would be even riskier.

There is a history of this kind of release. For the anniversary of the Mario series, Nintendo released Super Mario 3D All-Stars, which included three of the series' most popular games. A similar Zelda collection would both honor the series' history and get people excited about its future.

In the past, anniversary parties have been used to hint at what's to come.

Skyward Sword and a Wii U tech show were big parts of the 25th anniversary. Breath of the Wild was played a lot at the 30th anniversary. On the 35th anniversary, Tears of the Kingdom was given its official name. To keep things moving in the same direction, Nintendo might use a 40th-anniversary release, such as a remaster or a collection, to hint at the next core 3D Zelda.

All of this has not yet been proven. But if in March a Nintendo Direct is held with news about a new 3D Mario, a project from Monolith Soft, a remake of Super Metroid, and an Ocarina of Time HD, it would not only confirm the reports, it would also suggest that 2026 could be one of Nintendo's busiest years yet.