Monolith soft's zelda role expands as remake rumors swirl
Nintendo’s long-time development partner, Monolith Soft, is poised to take on an even greater role in the creation of The Legend of Zelda games, according to newly released details and statements from both companies. This comes at a particularly charged moment, with persistent rumors of an Ocarina of Time remake potentially arriving as early as this Christmas, a prospect sure to ignite fan anticipation.
A collaborative evolution
The shift in responsibilities isn't sudden, but rather the culmination of a partnership that began with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Initially brought in to bolster Nintendo’s development resources, Monolith Soft – now fully integrated within the Nintendo Group – has progressively assumed more ownership of the design and planning processes, a move that Nintendo producer Daiki Iwamoto acknowledged was a mix of “excited and anxious” during its early stages. The newly launched Monolith Soft website, celebrating its contributions to the series, details this evolution, highlighting a shared vision where both teams are “building the game together, and also building the team together.”
The collaboration deepened significantly during the development of Breath of the Wild, with Monolith Soft joining the project prior to its initial public reveal. While the core design and art direction were already established, the studio’s involvement has since expanded to include work on the game’s DLC and the ambitious sequel, Tears of the Kingdom.
What’s particularly noteworthy is Monolith Soft’s ambition to proactively contribute to future Zelda titles. “We want to increase the opportunities for us to proactively suggest things like, ‘This is what I want to do,’ or ‘I think this would be good,’” explained Monolith Soft producer Yasuhiro Fujita. Iwamoto echoed this sentiment, stating that Nintendo’s goal is for Monolith Soft to assume “more and more core roles” in the creation of Zelda from the ground up.
The weight of legacy and the promise of the future
The timing of this announcement is significant. 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise, and speculation is rife that Nintendo will mark the occasion with a major reveal. The potential Ocarina of Time remake, should it materialize, would not only satisfy long-standing fan requests but also offer a compelling way to celebrate the series' enduring legacy. While the next entirely new Zelda installment is likely further out, the enhanced partnership with Monolith Soft positions the studio as a key player in shaping the franchise’s future.
Whether Monolith Soft will spearhead the Ocarina of Time remake remains an open question, but the studio’s increasing prominence within Nintendo’s development ecosystem strongly suggests it has cemented its place as a vital force in the world of Zelda. The shared commitment to collaborative development and proactive contributions signals a period of enhanced creativity and potentially groundbreaking innovations for the beloved series.