From WIRED · Kimberly Rooney · · 2m
Link's New Look Sparks Debate Over the Ocarina Remake
Nintendo's ground-up remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Switch 2 with a dramatically redesigned child Link, raising questions about AI, artistic intent and what makes Link Link.
In brief
Nintendo's ground-up remake of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives on Switch 2 with a dramatically redesigned child Link, raising questions about AI, artistic intent and what makes Link Link. Nintendo releases a complete remake of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 with a redesigned child Link that has sparked fan debate over its…
Quick answers
- What makes Link Link?
- Philosophy professor Luke Cuddy invokes the Ship of Theseus thought experiment. There are only a few minimal features continuous over time with Link, allowing for significant malleability in design.
- What is the key takeaway from Link's New Look Sparks Debate Over the Ocarina Remake?
- Nintendo releases a complete remake of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 with a redesigned child Link that has sparked fan debate over its aesthetic choices and possible AI involvement.
Ocarina of Time returns after 28 years
A fully redone version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time arrives Thursday exclusively on the Switch 2. Nintendo has released trailers and screenshots ahead of launch.
Child Link's new look divides fans
The remake redesigns child Link with curled eyelashes, laminated eyebrows and a yassified appearance. Fans compare the design to Renesmee from Twilight and the Gerber Baby.
“He looks so microwaveable.”
Technical limits shaped the original
The original Ocarina was limited to minimal polygonal shapes because of small storage capacity in N64 cartridges. These technical limitations produced a recognizable and beloved visual style.
Switch 2 enables new character detail
Thanks to the Switch 2's larger storage capacity and higher memory bus speed, designers added details to Link and main characters that were impossible in the original game.
Modern gaming standards shaped the remake
Contemporary AAA games now feature interconnecting level designs, intricate storylines and highly realistic character models. Video games are more mainstream, and anime and manga influence global taste.
Design choice was deliberate, not accidental
Clayton Lundgren, a former Naughty Dog quality assurance tester, says Link's new look reflects intentional decisions. This is twenty-plus years of merchandising that Nintendo is committing to.
“This is 20-plus years of merchandising that you're committing to.”
This is a complete ground-up remake
Unlike the 2011 Zelda remake for the 3DS, which uses the same underlying geometries as the original, the 2026 remake is a complete overhaul from superficial textures to the bones underneath.
What makes Link Link?
Philosophy professor Luke Cuddy invokes the Ship of Theseus thought experiment. There are only a few minimal features continuous over time with Link, allowing for significant malleability in design.
“There are only a few minimal features that are continuous over time with Link.”
AI involvement remains unconfirmed
Fans question whether generative AI tools were used in character design, comparing Link's appearance to AI filter output and DLSS 5 upscaling. Nintendo confirmed use of AMD FSR but declined to comment on generative AI.
Fans will likely embrace the new Link
Clayton Lundgren predicts that based on Zelda fans' history of embracing Link's many incarnations, in two years the new design will look great to players.
“in two years we'll think it looks great.”
In short
Nintendo releases a complete remake of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 with a redesigned child Link that has sparked fan debate over its aesthetic choices and possible AI involvement.
