It's Time To Let Go Of Zelda: Wind Waker & Twilight Princess On Nintendo Switch

14.04.2024 - 23:05 / screenrant.com / Ben Brosofsky / Nintendo

Being able to play and on the Nintendo Switch has been the dream of many console owners since its launch, but the smart thing to do at this point is to accept that it's not going to happen. Both of these classic titles made triumphant returns on the Wii U, but they've been stuck there ever since. Considering how many Wii U titles have received Switch ports, it's been odd that two remastered entries in one of Nintendo's biggest franchises never made the jump.

The Wii U versions of and aren't radically different from their original presentations, but there's a strong case to be made that the remasters are the best way to play the games today. This is especially true for, which translates exceptionally well to HD thanks to its timeless cel-shaded style. Both games also benefit from a few quality-of-life changes, like streamlining a slow treasure hunt in and making it possible to switch into Link's wolf form with the press of a button in

The Nintendo Switch has been out for seven years already, and although it's still going strong, it's just about at the end of its life cycle as the central Nintendo console. Rumors have been flying about a Switch 2 release in the near future for some time now, which was originally looking like a 2024 release but seems more likely to arrive in 2025 now. Even with that delay, the Switch's days are numbered, and Nintendo will obviously want to put the spotlight on the Switch 2 in the near future.

At this point, it makes more sense that and would release as early Switch 2 catalog entries rather than late Switch ones, even if the current system is more than capable of handling them. The Switch seems to be making its final salvo with remasters like and , presumably lead-ins to the transition period that don't require Nintendo to invest in the development of major new franchise games. Since the Wii U remasters haven't been revealed among these, that ship has probably already sailed.

Considering the recent release of, a major new game probably isn't in the cards for the Switch 2's launch year, which would make and perfect ways to fill the gap. The Switch had both and to cover and in its first year, with the souped-up performing an assist. A new 3D Mario game is likely for the Switch 2's launch, and letting classic remasters support it would flesh out the library's immediate appeal.

It's not impossible that and could end up being a cross-generation release on both the Switch and Switch 2, since anything short of actual remakes would presumably work on both systems. Unlike the cross-generation releases of the original and, however, the company has no promise of a current-generation release to uphold, and making them exclusive to the Switch successor would help incentivize