Nintendo has achieved a major commercial milestone with the launch of its remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The company announced on Wednesday that the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive sold 5.2 million copies worldwide within its first four days of release, making it the biggest opening for any game published by Nintendo on the new console.
Released on November 5, 2026, the remake’s sales figure includes both physical and digital copies. Japan contributed approximately 810,000 units, accounting for around 16% of total worldwide sales. The strong performance highlights continued demand for the popular Zelda franchise and its classic titles.
The new version is a complete reworking of the original 1998 Nintendo 64 game. It features redesigned visuals, improved graphics and several quality-of-life enhancements while retaining the core gameplay experience. The release also supports Zelda Notes through the Nintendo Switch App, providing additional game-specific features.
The remake’s opening performance is particularly significant when compared with the original game’s lifetime sales. According to Guinness World Records, the Nintendo 64 version sold approximately 7.6 million copies throughout its lifetime. The new edition has already achieved nearly 68% of that figure in just four days.
Nintendo’s other successful Zelda releases have also recorded impressive sales. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild reached 34.28 million copies, while Tears of the Kingdom recorded 22.90 million copies as of September 30, 2026.
The remake’s strong launch was also reflected in the United Kingdom, where physical sales were reportedly 35% higher than those of Breath of the Wild at launch. Its opening also represented approximately half of Tears of the Kingdom’s first-week physical sales.
However, Nintendo is facing some challenges in maintaining hardware momentum. The company shipped 6.49 million Switch 2 consoles during the six months ending September 2026, representing a decline of approximately 37% compared with the previous year. Net sales also declined 12.1% to 966 billion yen, although operating profit increased 49.1% to 216.5 billion yen.
The Zelda franchise, which debuted in Japan in 1986, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. The remake’s impressive opening demonstrates the continued popularity of the legendary gaming series nearly three decades after Ocarina of Time first appeared.
