Nintendo is preparing for a massive week of announcements, with the company officially revealing plans to hold two Nintendo Direct presentations on back-to-back days, including a special presentation dedicated to the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda.
The company announced Friday that The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct will stream on Tuesday, September 8 at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
The special presentation will run for approximately 30 minutes and focus on Nintendo’s celebration of one of the most important franchises in the company’s history.
Then, less than 24 hours later, Nintendo will return with a traditional Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT.
That presentation will run for approximately 45 minutes and focus on upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 games.
Taken together, Nintendo is preparing approximately 75 minutes of presentations across two consecutive mornings.
Zelda Takes Center Stage
The timing of the Zelda presentation is significant.
The original The Legend of Zelda debuted for Nintendo’s Famicom Disk System in Japan on February 21, 1986, before eventually making its way to the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America.
Four decades later, Zelda has grown from one of Nintendo’s flagship video game properties into a major entertainment franchise.
Nintendo has remained deliberately vague about what fans should expect from Tuesday’s presentation, saying it will feature “a variety of The Legend of Zelda-related information” celebrating the series’ 40th anniversary.
Link and Epona in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo
READ: Lanterns Ratings Show First Sign of Trouble Despite Warner Bros. Claiming Viewership Growth
However, there is already at least one major Zelda game waiting in the wings.
Nintendo revealed a Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time during its June Nintendo Direct. The Nintendo 64 original remains one of the most celebrated games ever released, and Nintendo has promised that the classic adventure will be “reborn” on Nintendo Switch 2.
With an entire presentation dedicated to Zelda, the upcoming remake would appear to be an obvious candidate for additional footage, gameplay details, or potentially a release date.
Nintendo could also use the anniversary celebration to announce additional games, re-releases, merchandise, or other Zelda-related projects.
Could We See the Zelda Movie?
There is also a rather large Hylian elephant in the room.
Nintendo and Sony Pictures are currently developing a live-action Legend of Zelda movie, extending Nintendo’s rapidly expanding ambitions beyond the video game business.
The film is being directed by Wes Ball, with Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto producing alongside longtime Marvel producer Avi Arad.
Nintendo has also announced Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link.
Link and Zelda in the Legend of Zelda movie – Nintendo
The film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 7, 2027.
That doesn’t necessarily mean fans should expect a trailer Tuesday. Nintendo specifically announcing a Zelda anniversary presentation, however, creates an obvious opportunity to provide some kind of update on the movie as part of the broader celebration of the franchise.
Nintendo has increasingly blurred the lines between its video games and other entertainment ventures following the enormous success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie and its continued expansion into theme parks through Super Nintendo World.
Zelda is now positioned to become another major pillar of that strategy.
A Second Nintendo Direct Arrives Wednesday
Zelda won’t be the only Nintendo franchise getting attention next week.
The company will follow Tuesday’s anniversary presentation with a full 45-minute Nintendo Direct Wednesday morning, shifting the focus toward upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 software.
Nintendo has already established a sizable slate of games for its latest console, and the September presentation provides an opportunity to flesh out its plans for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.
Mario and Yoshi in Super Mario Galaxy 2 – Nintendo
The company could provide additional information about previously announced titles while potentially revealing some of the games that will define the Switch 2 lineup heading into 2027.
Nintendo hasn’t provided a complete list of games that will appear during the presentation, meaning there remains plenty of room for surprises.
A Huge Week for Nintendo
Dedicating approximately 75 minutes to two presentations on consecutive days certainly suggests Nintendo has plenty to discuss. But the decision to separate Zelda from the company’s general Direct might be the most interesting part of the announcement.
Link in The Legend of Zelda Breath of The Wild – YouTube, Nintendo of America
Nintendo isn’t simply squeezing a few anniversary announcements into its regular presentation. It is giving The Legend of Zelda an entire 30-minute showcase of its own. Between the 40th anniversary, the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake, and a live-action movie arriving next year, Nintendo appears to have big plans for Link, Zelda, and Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct airs Tuesday, September 8 at 10 a.m. ET, followed by the Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m. ET.
UP NEXT: FCC Moves to Throw Out Disney and ABC Lawsuit Over Early Broadcast License Reviews
