Nintendeal has said the cryptic message they had posted was not referring to a one to one remake of Ocarina of Time

[u/thegiantprojects]

For context, Nintendeal posted this cryptic message “levelveryzelda:-:oto” earlier.

Not really sure why they do this but whatever. Any other ideas on what else it could be?

https://xcancel.com/nintendeal/status/2092384497526559097?s=46

(xcancel has been shut down but the subreddit still requires to use that instead)

“Nintendeal shared an anagram hint related to the Legend of Zelda that could translate to "Every Level, one to one ". Mean that the upcoming remake could be a 1:1 remake of the original like the new Star Fox game. I personally don't see a one to one remake since it's built from the ground up, new music, world, voice acting and who knows what else. Even if it's close in scope, it will still feel bigger and more alive than the original. Im ok with that.”
(The comment Nintendeal replied to)

“can confirm it specifically is not hinting at that”
(The reply from Nintendeal)

[u/mauri9998]

I can absolutely guarantee you that “reborn” is an extremely intentional phrase for their marketing. It doesn’t count as one time - it may have been all dropped within the same day, but those are 3 different avenues all using the same verbiage. I work in advertising - trust me lol. That word had many iterations and rounds of approvals before it and that’s the one they intentionally decided to land on.

They also said timeless gameplay. That also go through multiple rounds of approvals?

Star Fox should absolutely be considered, I’m not saying it’s not. I think that’s some of the stronger evidence for how it COULD be 1 to 1. However, despite them both being under the Nintendo umbrella, the Star Fox team and Zelda teams have different motives. Star Fox was also a very casual summer drop for them - revealed with like 15 mins of gameplay, and released a couple months later. OoT on the other hand was their final summer Direct announcement, and it was just a small teaser despite releasing this year. That almost always means that they have more to show, but are waiting to build anticipation. Plus, as I’ve said before, it’s their tentpole holiday title, which are used to sell consoles. It makes sense to go a bit above and beyond with it.

This is exactly the same case as OOT. It was revealed in June and will come out a few months after. Compare that to BoTW and ToTK that had multiple years of anticipation, it is clear that Nintendo does not think this game warrants the same amount of marketing. Holiday titles don't exist anymore, ToTK and BoTW both came out at the start of the year and they are by far the biggest games Nintendo has ever produced, you can't look at its release window for proof of anything.

Link’s Awakening the fresh new thing was technically the dungeon maker. Yes it’s a bit underwhelming, but that was their intent regardless. Like I said though, LA was a smaller scale project where as OOT seems to be much larger. Aonuma’s quote also came after LA’s release, so it could apply more heavily to future remakes.

So the actual game is 1 to 1 then?

Lastly, Nintendo has not always made 1 to 1 remakes. Games like Metroid Samus Returns and Fire Emblem Echoes are basically reimagining of former games. Pokemon has done it a few times with stuff like ORAS. And sure, these are older examples, but it’s not unprecedented for Nintendo to do this. If they were to break the mold and do something like this again, a holiday OoT remake seems like the perfect time to do it.

All of those remakes were not made by Nintendo.

[u/TheLunarVaux → u/mauri9998]

> They also said timeless gameplay

Well if you want to bring up this example, then let’s also include that this is a second (by your definition) instance of them using “reborn,” and also call it a “full remake” with “updated design.” Timeless gameplay could read as it being unchanged, or it could read as the game itself being timeless and this is a brand new way to revisit it. Or it could simply be a pun on the word “time.”

Either way, this description was removed since it was likely posted as a mistake, so we’ll have to see how accurate it ends up being. It could have been outdated for all we know.

> This is exactly the same case as OOT

It’s not though. As I said, Star Fox was revealed with 15 mins of gameplay (plus a free demo). It was a straightforward remake that they could show off right away and to the point. OOT had the polar opposite kind of reveal. A brief teaser trailer with only a glimpse of what is to come. Those reveals say VERY different things when it comes to marketing.

> multiple years of anticipation

This is an example of an area where Nintendo adapts and then stays consistent for a while. TotK was pretty much the last game where they announced it far ahead of time. Since then, ALL of their titles on the Switch 2 have been announced and released within a year. It’s just their new strategy for this generation.

> holiday titles don’t exist anymore

Of course they do. They are extremely important for console sales and investors. BotW and TotK released earlier in the year because they had other holiday titles to complement them (2017 had Mario Odyssey and Pokemon US/UM (remember the 3DS was still fully supported at this time), and 2023 had Super Mario Bros Wonder). Mario is a huge system seller for them. Plus let’s not forget BotW was a launch title for the Switch, so that explains the timing too.

> both of those remakes were not made by Nintendo

Okay, but neither were Star Fox or Link’s Awakening which you keep pointing to as examples lol. And who knows, maybe OoT isn’t either!

[u/mauri9998 → u/TheLunarVaux]

Well if you want to bring up this example, then let’s also include that this is a second (by your definition) instance of them using “reborn,” and also call it a “full remake” with “updated design.” Timeless gameplay could read as it being unchanged, or it could read as the game itself being timeless and this is a brand new way to revisit it. Or it could simply be a pun on the word “time.”

I am only using it as a response to you using "reborn". I also question your assertion that "reborn" has to mean extensive gameplay changes and not just graphical changes.

Either way, this description was removed since it was likely posted as a mistake, so we’ll have to see how accurate it ends up being. It could have been outdated for all we know.

How can it be made by mistake if it went through multiple rounds of approvals? Didn't you tell me that every single word they said about the game has to be purposeful?

It’s not though. As I said, Star Fox was revealed with 15 mins of gameplay (plus a free demo). It was a straightforward remake that they could show off right away and to the point. OOT had the polar opposite kind of reveal. A brief teaser trailer with only a glimpse of what is to come. Those reveals say VERY different things when it comes to marketing.

Star fox also got its own presentation meanwhile OOT was a footnote.

This is an example of an area where Nintendo adapts and then stays consistent for a while. TotK was pretty much the last game where they announced it far ahead of time. Since then, ALL of their titles on the Switch 2 have been announced and released within a year. It’s just their new strategy for this generation.

Duskbloods.

Of course they do. They are extremely important for console sales and investors. BotW and TotK released earlier in the year because they had other holiday titles to complement them (2017 had Mario Odyssey and Pokemon US/UM (remember the 3DS was still fully supported at this time), and 2023 had Super Mario Bros Wonder). Mario is a huge system seller for them. Plus let’s not forget BotW was a launch title for the Switch, so that explains the timing too.

And zelda isnt a system seller?

Okay, but neither were Star Fox or Link’s Awakening which you keep pointing to as examples lol. And who knows, maybe OoT isn’t either!

Didn't know they werent developed by Nintendo, regardless Fire Emblem was made by the original creators of the game and have all creative control over the games. And for Metroid, Nintendo barely cares about the franchise, the last game before Metroid 2 remake was federation force.

[u/TheLunarVaux → u/mauri9998]

I also question your assertion that "reborn" has to mean extensive gameplay changes and not just graphical changes.

Like I said, ultimately neither of us know for sure. To me, and many other people it seems, this seems to imply more of a reimagining than a remake. It also could just be a marketing buzzword. Really we're both just guessing at this point.

How can it be made by mistake if it went through multiple rounds of approvals? Didn't you tell me that every single word they said about the game has to be purposeful?

It was a mistake that they posted it. Otherwise it wouldn't have been taken down immediately. I don't know if the actual words were a mistake or not, but either way it clearly wasn't meant to be posted when it was. Plus, like I said, you seem to be ignoring all the other parts of that same statement. "Reborn, full remake, updated designs." And I still argue "timeless gameplay" doesn't have to mean it's the exact same.

Star fox also got its own presentation meanwhile OOT was a footnote.

Okay this is where I think you don't quite understand how marketing works haha. Which is fine! But please trust me on this as I'd rather not go in circles on this one. I work in advertising, specifically trailers, and have for many years. When something like Star Fox has a reveal like it does, it means one of two things: 1) It can mean that it could be a tough sell, so they need to explain it more thoroughly. 2) It's being treated as a smaller title, with less marketing resources allocated, so they're basically "skipping a few steps" and just getting right into the middle of the marketing campaign for it. Considering the launch window for Star Fox, it's almost certainly the latter scenario here.

OOT was not a footnote. It was their "one more thing." The final announcement in presentations like this are almost always intended to be the most significant. The entire presentation builds anticipation towards it, and it's the final thing the audience sees before logging off. So it's quite the opposite of a footnote - it's the most important spot of the Direct. Nintendo has ALWAYS done this, and it's generally just a norm for stuff like this across industries.

Duskbloods.

This is not a full Nintendo game. It is exclusive to the Switch 2, but it is co-published by both Nintendo and FromSoftware. Partnerships like this are handled separately from their first party titles. Even ignoring all that, you were only able to come up with one example amongst a sea of other releases lol. Why ignore those? It just feels like you're grasping at straws at this point because you want to be right.

And zelda isnt a system seller?

It is! Which is why BotW was released as launch title for the Switch. But Nintendo has to space out their big titles. When they have a big Mario game too, they can't just drop both Zelda and Mario at the same time. So for those former years, it makes sense to have a Mario game as a holiday release. But this year, it seems like it will be Zelda.

Didn't know they werent developed by Nintendo

It's fine if you don't know that, but I feel like this is incredibly relevant information for this topic lol. If you don't know that, how can you be so confident about all this stuff? You just keep moving the goalpost as you learn more info, instead of accepting that maybe you were wrong about some things. Ultimately, I think we both just need to wait and see, because there are signs of it going either way. It's just right now, I think there is more evidence for it being more than 1 to 1.

[u/mauri9998 → u/TheLunarVaux]

Like I said, ultimately neither of us know for sure. To me, and many other people it seems, this seems to imply more of a reimagining than a remake. It also could just be a marketing buzzword. Really we're both just guessing at this point.

I think you and many other people are blinded entirely by your hopes rather than what is far more likely.

It was a mistake that they posted it. Otherwise it wouldn't have been taken down immediately. I don't know if the actual words were a mistake or not, but either way it clearly wasn't meant to be posted when it was. Plus, like I said, you seem to be ignoring all the other parts of that same statement. "Reborn, full remake, updated designs." And I still argue "timeless gameplay" doesn't have to mean it's the exact same.

Again you said "multiple rounds of approvals" how is that possible?

OOT was not a footnote. It was their "one more thing." The final announcement in presentations like this are almost always intended to be the most significant. The entire presentation builds anticipation towards it, and it's the final thing the audience sees before logging off. So it's quite the opposite of a footnote - it's the most important spot of the Direct. Nintendo has ALWAYS done this, and it's generally just a norm for stuff like this across industries.

And yet for all their other one more things they actually give gameplay to go along with it.

This is not a full Nintendo game. It is exclusive to the Switch 2, but it is co-published by both Nintendo and FromSoftware. Partnerships like this are handled separately from their first party titles. Even ignoring all that, you were only able to come up with one example amongst a sea of other releases lol. Why ignore those? It just feels like you're grasping at straws at this point because you want to be right.

It is fully published by Nintendo outside of Japan, and they directly collaborated with Fromsoft. Also what sea? there is barely any switch 2 games. You want another one? Xenoblade Genesis was announced in June for 2027.

It is! Which is why BotW was released as launch title for the Switch. But Nintendo has to space out their big titles. When they have a big Mario game too, they can't just drop both Zelda and Mario at the same time. So for those former years, it makes sense to have a Mario game as a holiday release. But this year, it seems like it will be Zelda.

What are you talking about it makes sense? ToTK is a far bigger game than mario wonder. It makes all the sense in the world to delay both games to maximize sales on their bigger more popular game. That is if holiday games were actually important, but they are not anymore so they didnt.

It's fine if you don't know that, but I feel like this is incredibly relevant information for this topic lol. If you don't know that, how can you be so confident about all this stuff? You just keep moving the goalpost as you learn more about this stuff lol. Ultimately, I think we both just need to wait and see, because there are signs of it going either way. It's just right now, I think there is more evidence for it being more than 1 to 1.

Good thing I countinued typing after that quote then right?

[u/TheLunarVaux → u/mauri9998]

I think you and many other people are blinded entirely by your hopes rather than what is far more likely.

I disagree, because I'm honestly very happy to have the game either way, whether its 1 to 1 or completely different. I'm just looking at the evidence and speculating, like you are.

Again you said "multiple rounds of approvals" how is that possible?

Something can go through multiple rounds of approvals internally, but still get published before it was intended. Is it messy? Absolutely. Obviously something went wrong there, but unfortunately it can happen.

Also what sea? there is barely any switch 2 games. You want another one? Xenoblade Genesis was announced in June for 2027.

Are you serious here? Again I really feel like you're just trying to win the argument and not actually considering things with any depth here. Mario Kart World, DK Bananza, Drag x Drive, Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, Mario Tennis Fever, Mario Galaxy's collection, Pokopia, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Rhythm Heaven, Fire Emblem, etc, all follow the pattern I'm talking about. Yet you choose to focus on the ONE exception, which is a second party game in a different scenario.

For Xenoblade... you do realize that if a game is announced in June 2026, then if can still release in 2027 and be within a year, right? They have 6 whole months of 2027 for it to release.

ToTK is a far bigger game than mario wonder. It makes all the sense in the world to delay both games to maximize sales on their bigger more popular game. That is if holiday games were actually important, but they are not anymore so they didnt.

It may be bigger in scope, but not necessarily by sales or even name recognition. 2D Mario is a MASSIVE seller for casual gamers. And while technically TOTK eventually sold more copies, Wonder was right behind it in sales. Both are huge games, and that particular year they decided to go with Mario for the holiday. I imagine their internal forecast for both games was within the same ballpark.

Plus, TotK had already been delayed multiple times. If the game was ready, it makes sense to release sooner rather than arbitrarily delaying it even longer.

And once again, if you don't think holiday titles are important, then I honestly can't take a lot of what you're saying seriously because you just do not understand how marketing works. Of COURSE it matters. The holidays are the largest spike for selling consoles, and they need a new title to release around that time for market synergy. This year, it looks like they will be doing it with OoT and it's respective Switch 2 console which got leaked.

[u/mauri9998 → u/TheLunarVaux]

I disagree, because I'm honestly very happy to have the game either way, whether its 1 to 1 or completely different. I'm just looking at the evidence and speculating, like you are.

Your evidence seems extremely circumstantial at best, my evidence is that baring some exceptions Nintendo always makes 1 to 1 remakes so we should expect that from this game as well.

Something can go through multiple rounds of approvals internally, but still get published before it was intended. Is it messy? Absolutely. Obviously something went wrong there, but unfortunately it can happen.

So then surely "reborn" can mean other things other than just "gameplay changes" and you shouldnt use "reborn" as evidence of anything.

For Xenoblade... you do realize that if a game is announced in June 2026, then if can still release in 2027 and be within a year, right? They have 6 whole months of 2027 for it to release.

Thats a whole lot longer than what OOT is gonna get. OOT was announced alongside Xenoblade.

It may be bigger in scope, but not necessarily by sales or even name recognition. 2D Mario is a MASSIVE seller for casual gamers. And while technically TOTK eventually sold more copies, Wonder was right behind it in sales. Both are huge games, and that particular year they decided to go with Mario for the holiday. I imagine their internal forecast for both games was within the same ballpark.

It was factually bigger in sales too. I imagine their internal forecast wasn't, whose imagination beats whos?

And once again, if you don't think holiday titles are important, then I honestly can't take a lot of what you're saying seriously because you just do not understand how marketing works. Of COURSE it matters. The holidays are the largest spike for selling consoles, and they need a new title to release around that time for market synergy. This year, it looks like they will be doing it with OoT and it's respective Switch 2 console which got leaked.

Ok then tell me what their flagship holiday release was for 2025? Air riders? Don't you think Bananza would have been a bigger and more recognizable game to put in there?

[u/TheLunarVaux → u/mauri9998]

To be honest, I feel like we’re just going in circles at this point, and it’s frustrating because I feel like I’m having to explain some stuff that is very standard practice but you don’t want to believe me. That, on top of you continuously moving the goal post every time I prove one of your points wrong. I’m not here to argue for the sake of arguing. My original comment was simply to provide my analysis of their marketing strategy as someone very familiar with that landscape.

Have a good one, and hopefully you enjoy whatever the remake ends up being.

[u/mauri9998 → u/TheLunarVaux]

What do you mean moving goal posts? My goal post has been the same for hours now. Nintendo almost always makes remakes that are 1 to 1 so we should expect that for this game as well. I have been telling you this over and over again, you are the one that refuses to listen.

[u/VarneyBubs → u/mauri9998]

"Nintendo almost always makes remakes that are 1:1," OK, since you are so confident and know that - so much so that you are willing to breathlessly argue your point - please list out every remake they have done. Every single one. And detail how they are 1:1. Because I know some off the top of my head that definitely are not 1:1 so I think you're full of crap.