Zelda: Ocarina of Time Fan Remake Canceled Following Official Reveal
A decade-long fan project has come to an end. Developer CryZENx has officially confirmed that their The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, built using Unreal Engine, is no longer moving forward. The decision follows Nintendo’s recent announcement that an official remake of the classic 1998 title is set to launch on the Switch 2 later this year.
CryZENx, who has been documenting the project’s progress on YouTube since 2016, announced the cancellation via a Patreon post. Despite the project appearing to make steady progress—including a playable demo released as recently as this May—the developer determined that the project no longer serves a purpose in light of Nintendo's upcoming official release.
A Shift in Development Plans
In a response to a community member on Patreon, CryZENx expressed confidence in the official version, noting, "I'm actually very confident that their remake looks 200% better than mine, I'm very impressed for their realistic artstyle I think we the community won!!!"
While the developer joked in a separate comment about Nintendo’s well-known litigious nature, stating it was better to stop the project to avoid "disappearing" because of "Nintendo ninjas," the primary driver for the cancellation remains the arrival of the official Nintendo title.
The original Ocarina of Time, which holds a 99 Metacritic score, has long been a target for fan-led preservation and modernization efforts. While fans received The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D for the Nintendo 3DS in 2011, the community has continued to seek a ground-up remake for home consoles for years.
What’s Next for CryZENx?
Although the Ocarina of Time project is finished, CryZENx is already looking toward the future. The developer has posted a poll for followers to decide which title should receive the fan-remake treatment next. Current candidates include:
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
A Majora's Mask project is currently considered unlikely, as the developer believes it is a strong candidate for an official Nintendo remake following the release of Ocarina of Time. Nintendo has not yet provided a specific release date for its official Ocarina of Time remake for the Switch 2.