The Legend of Zelda anniversary rumors heat up: Switch 2 and a new lore book

The Legend of Zelda hit its 40th anniversary on February 21, 2026. That marks 40 years since the original game launched in Japan on February 21, 1986, and the anniversary buzz is already full of rumored Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and crossover projects.

Recent leaks point to a black-and-gold Zelda-themed Nintendo Switch 2, along with a matching Pro Controller marked with the Triforce. It’s not hard to see why fans think Nintendo would pair that hardware with a bigger reveal. The rumor that comes up most is a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for Nintendo Switch 2, though none of that has been made official.

One thing that is confirmed is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Secrets of the Zonai. It’s a 424-page book due out in October, packed with behind-the-scenes art, expanded Hyrule history, and insights from series producer Eiji Aonuma. If you loved Tears of the Kingdom, this looks like a real companion piece worth picking up.

Outside the games, there’s already plenty on the list. Announced projects include commemorative merchandise, a 2027 live-action film, Hasbro toy lines based on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Deric Miller’s The Legend of Zelda: Z for 2 – Two Player Simultaneous Co-Op mod for the 1986 original. Even that last one says a lot: the series is still finding new ways to catch people off guard.

For official news, you’ll have to wait on Nintendo, with Secrets of the Zonai arriving in October.