Link redesign in Ocarina of Time remake splits fans

Nintendo has confirmed a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for a 2026 release exclusively on Switch 2. The 1:38 reveal trailer offered mostly atmosphere and callbacks to the original score, but it did give a brief look at a markedly redesigned Link.

Attachment to the original 3D Link runs deep for many fans, and reactions to the new look are sharply divided. Some viewers call the redesign “perfect” and say it gives them hope, while others have labeled it “the worst case scenario” or “the ugliest redesign I’ve ever seen.” Critiques vary: a common complaint is that Link appears to have an adult head on a child’s body, though others see him as a younger, big-headed Link with an unformed jaw.

Some critics accuse the image of looking AI-generated, and several people note a resemblance to Unreal Engine fan remakes that were once mistaken for official projects. Whatever the verdict, the reveal amounted to little more than a single frame and about 15 seconds of dimly lit footage showing Link lying with his eyes closed.

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