Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake was co-developed by Xenoblade studio Monolith Soft
The remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launched on November 5, 2026 with Nintendo listed as the sole developer, but a Monolith Soft tweet later confirmed the studio’s involvement in core areas such as design, code and visual assets. The revelation corrected an earlier Norwegian retailer listing that had already credited Monolith, underscoring how Nintendo’s development credits can be opaque until an official statement appears. By tapping Monolith’s expertise, Nintendo ensured the high‑fidelity remake met modern standards while still retaining internal control over the franchise’s flagship title.
Monolith Soft’s participation fits a broader pattern of Nintendo outsourcing specialized work to trusted partners. Over the past 15 years the Kyoto‑based studio has contributed to major releases—including Skyward Sword, A Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart World, every Splatoon entry and Animal Crossing: New Horizons—demonstrating its capacity to handle graphically intensive, open‑world projects. The Ocarina remake follows Grezzo’s earlier Zelda remakes, but unlike Grezzo’s primarily 2D updates, Monolith’s pedigree in 3D and open‑world design suggests Nintendo is deliberately pairing the classic 3D Zelda formula with a studio that excels at modernizing legacy titles. Daiki Iwamoto’s public wish for Monolith to eventually helm its own Zelda further signals internal confidence in the studio’s ability to carry the series forward.
The confirmed collaboration hints at a possible shift in Nintendo’s development pipeline: future “traditional” 3D Zelda entries could be led by Monolith Soft, freeing internal teams to focus on new IP or hardware initiatives such as the Switch 2 launch. This arrangement carries risks—splitting creative vision between two large teams may lead to inconsistencies, and over‑reliance on external talent could dilute Nintendo’s brand identity. Observers should watch for official announcements naming Monolith as lead developer on upcoming Zelda projects, monitor the sales performance of the Switch 2 as the primary platform for the remake, and note any further credit disclosures that clarify the division of labor between Nintendo and its partners.
Key Takeaways
Monolith Soft provided design, programming and graphics work on the Ocarina of Time remake, confirming a co‑development model with Nintendo.
The studio’s involvement follows a decade‑plus history of supporting Nintendo’s flagship franchises, from Breath of the Wild to Splatoon.
Nintendo’s decision to enlist Monolith for a classic 3D Zelda remake signals a strategic move toward leveraging external expertise for legacy titles.
Future Zelda projects may see Monolith Soft in a lead role, a development that could reshape Nintendo’s internal resource allocation and brand stewardship.
About the Source
This analysis is based on reporting by GamesRadar. Here is a short excerpt for context:
The developer has assisted on almost every mainline Zelda since Skyward SwordRead the original at GamesRadar
