Summary
Fans think they might have spotted more evidence for aThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerSwitch port. Nintendo has brought many oldZeldatitles to the Switch either through remasters or its virtual console feature, but Toon Link’s debut has yet to see an updated version since its Wii U remaster. That hasn’t stoppedWind Wakerfans from hoping, though, as rumors and speculation about an upcoming re-release are as prominent as ever.
Earlier in 2024, usersspotted a listing for aWind WakerSwitch versionon a Russian retailer’s website, sparking hope that official news of the game may not be far off. Nintendo still has not said anything about bringing the GameCube classic to the current generation, but that has not discouragedZeldaplayers from digging for clues. One fan thinks they might have found something now.
The new theory comes from Redditor Dabeastmanz23, who posted a lengthy thread about clues from the game’s Korean release. As they point out,Wind Wakernever got an official Korean translation, even when the Wii U remaster came out, as the Wii U was not released in South Korea. However, Nintendo has translated Wii U-eraZeldagames into Korean as they’ve brought them to the Switch.Hyrule Warriors—seen by many fans as one ofthe best games on the Wii U— finally got a Korean translation in its Switch port, for example. Dabeastmanz23 noticed that the Nintendo of Korea website briefly listedWind Wakerin Korean, not English, suggesting it could be getting similar treatment.
New Theory Suggests Korean Wind Waker Listing Implies a Switch Release
The website now listsThe Wind Wakerin English again, as it does with all the otherZeldagames that never got an official Korean translation. Still, the fact that it appeared in Korean for a moment could have been an instance of Nintendo accidentally revealing its hand too early. If the company was not making a Switch version of the game, it seems odd that they’d go through the trouble of translating information about it. Some fans point out thatanotherZeldaremaster would align with Nintendo’s release schedule, which makes the theory sound less far-fetched.
Of course, the Korean listing forWind Wakercould be a mistake. Dabeastmanz23 admits that Nintendo may have begun a translation for the Wii U remaster but never finished it, and that’s where the translated title and description come from. Regardless, if Nintendo is working on an updated version of the game, it likely won’t come out before the end of the year. Withthe upcoming Switch 2in line for a 2025 release, it may make the most sense for Nintendo to wait until the new console is out.
The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD
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Released for the Wii U in late 2013, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD is a high-definition remake of the classic GameCube game. Its cartoon-like graphics were very different from the more realistic approach taken by previous Zelda titles but were widely praised by both players and critics alike.
