Quick answer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time releases on Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The digital version should unlock at 9:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, November 4, which is 12:00 a.m. ET on November 5. In Europe, Japan and Australia it should unlock at midnight local time on November 5. Nintendo has not published an unlock hour for this game, so these times come from its standard eShop rules, backed up by its own store events.
Checked on November 2, 2026, three days before launch. Nintendo sets the date, but the hours below are expected times. We will replace them with confirmed times as each region unlocks.
What time does Ocarina of Time come out on Switch 2?
In the US and Canada, plan on 9:00 p.m. PT on November 4. Nintendo's support page says: "Digital software that is also sold physically will usually be available at 9:00 p.m. PT the night before the physical game's release date." Ocarina of Time has both a digital and a physical version, so that rule applies.
The same page adds a warning: "The exact release time of games on the Nintendo eShop is decided by the publisher and may vary depending on the title." Nintendo is the publisher here, and there is a stronger clue than the general rule. Its San Francisco store sells the game from 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, and its New York store sells it from 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 5. Those are the same moment, three time zones apart, and they match the eShop rule exactly.
In Europe, Nintendo's pre-order FAQ says: "Most software titles are released at 00:00 on their release date. However, some may become available later during the day." Nintendo's Australian listing and Japanese listing both give November 5 as the date. VICE and Insider Gaming both expect midnight local time there, based on Nintendo's usual pattern.
Ocarina of Time release time in every time zone
The US left daylight saving time on November 1, so every US time below is standard time. All the US rows are one worldwide moment, 05:00 UTC on November 5. Everywhere else unlocks earlier, at its own local midnight.
| Region | Local unlock (expected) | Same moment in UTC |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 11:00, Wed Nov 4 |
| Sydney and Melbourne (AEDT) | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 13:00, Wed Nov 4 |
| Japan and South Korea | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 15:00, Wed Nov 4 |
| Central Europe (CET) | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 23:00, Wed Nov 4 |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 00:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| US Eastern (ET) | 12:00 a.m., Thu Nov 5 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| US Central (CT) and Mexico City | 11:00 p.m., Wed Nov 4 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| US Mountain (MT) | 10:00 p.m., Wed Nov 4 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| US Pacific (PT) | 9:00 p.m., Wed Nov 4 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| Alaska (AKST) | 8:00 p.m., Wed Nov 4 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
| Hawaii (HST) | 7:00 p.m., Wed Nov 4 | 05:00, Thu Nov 5 |
VICE notes that your Nintendo eShop country, not your physical location, decides which release applies. A US account in London follows the US time.
Who gets to play Ocarina of Time first?
New Zealand should be first, about 18 hours before the US. Going by the table, Japan and South Korea get the game 14 hours before the US, Central Europe 6 hours before, and the UK 5 hours before.
That gap matters more than usual for spoilers. The remake has changed puzzles and dialogue, including what Nintendo Everything lists as changes to the Forest Temple. Players in New Zealand and Asia can start posting them from the morning of November 4, US time.
Is there a midnight launch for the physical version?
Yes, in the US. Nintendo runs reservation-only events at both of its stores, and Nintendo's event pages give these times:
- Nintendo New York: Thursday, November 5, from 12:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.
- Nintendo San Francisco: Wednesday, November 4, from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Entry: a Warp Pipe Pass reservation is required, with one pass per person
- Limits: one copy per customer, with a gift with purchase while supplies last
Reservations opened on October 26 and were limited. The stores also plan to sell the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 and its accessories at these events, one of each per customer. If you are chasing that console, our Zelda Switch 2 restock guide tracks where it comes back.
GoNintendo reports that Best Buy and GameStop are also hosting midnight launches. Call your local store before you drive there, because times can differ by location.
Can I pre-load Ocarina of Time before it unlocks?
Yes, if you buy digitally. Nintendo Support says payment is processed 7 days before release, and "at that time, the game will pre-load on your system." That window has been open since about October 28, when buyers began reporting the download.
Nintendo's FAQ says a pre-loaded game becomes playable "after downloading a small update that becomes available when the software is released." That means pre-load buyers wait for the unlock moment, not for a full download.
The download itself is about 24.5 GB, according to Nintendo Everything's eShop roundup from November 1. Nintendo's US store page still shows a 27 GB estimate, so keep 27 GB free. If you skip the pre-load and buy at unlock, this is the best-case math for 24.5 GB:
| Connection speed | Best-case download time |
|---|---|
| 300 Mbps | About 11 minutes |
| 100 Mbps | About 33 minutes |
| 50 Mbps | About 65 minutes |
| 25 Mbps | About 2 hours 10 minutes |
Real speeds will be slower, especially on launch night. Our Ocarina of Time preorder guide covers prices, editions and storage.
When do Ocarina of Time reviews come out?
Probably on Wednesday, November 4, but that date is not confirmed. Notebookcheck reports that Metacritic told fans to watch for activity midweek without naming a day or time. It points out that reviews for Tears of the Kingdom, Breath of the Wild and Echoes of Wisdom all surfaced a day before launch.
Metacritic's page showed no Metascore when we checked on November 2. Nintendo has not announced an embargo time.
What should I do before launch night?
Three checks now will save you an annoying night:
- Confirm your pre-load. A digital preorder should already be downloaded to your console. Nintendo's FAQ says a failed payment cancels a pre-order.
- Clear 27 GB. The Switch 2 only takes microSD Express cards, so an older microSD card will not help.
- Learn the songs early. Our Ocarina of Time songs guide has every note and Switch 2 button if you want them ready on day one.
Digital buyers also get a Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary wallpaper for purchases before 11:59 p.m. PT on November 23, according to Nintendo's US store page. That deadline is weeks after launch, so there is no rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does Ocarina of Time come out in EST? It should unlock at 12:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, November 5. This is the expected time from Nintendo's standard rule, and it matches the start of Nintendo New York's midnight launch.
What time does Ocarina of Time come out in PST? It should unlock at 9:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday, November 4. Nintendo San Francisco starts selling the game at the same hour.
Does Ocarina of Time come out on November 4 or November 5? The official date is November 5. Outside the Eastern time zone, the expected US unlock falls on the evening of November 4, because 9:00 p.m. Pacific is midnight Eastern.
Is there early access for Ocarina of Time? No paid early access has been announced. VICE reports that Nintendo has not announced a Deluxe Edition either. The only players who start earlier are those in regions that reach midnight first.
Is Ocarina of Time on the original Switch? No. Nintendo lists it as exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2.
Has Nintendo confirmed these times? Not for this game. Nintendo's support pages give general rules and say times can vary by title. We will mark each region as confirmed once it unlocks.
