Key Takeaways:
- Nintendo has announced a free Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary digital wallpaper for early buyers of the Ocarina of Time remake’s digital version.
- To qualify, you need to pre-order or purchase the digital copy before November 23 at 11:59 PM PT.
- The wallpaper comes in formats suited for both desktop and phone wallpapers.
- Nintendo will send the download link to your registered Nintendo Account email after the promo window closes.
- Physical pre-order bonuses vary heavily by region — Japan gets 15+ retailer exclusives, UK gets Spiritual Stone replicas, Canada gets a holographic N64-style slipcover.
- US buyers are still getting the short end of the stick with no dedicated pre-order bonus beyond the standard foil cover and this digital wallpaper.
- The Ocarina of Time remake launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026.
Alright Zelda fans, Nintendo just dropped a little something for those of us going digital with the Ocarina of Time remake. It’s not the massive collector’s haul that players in Japan are sitting on, but hey — a free wallpaper is still a free wallpaper. Let’s break down what’s going on.
What Is the New Zelda Ocarina of Time Digital Pre-Order Bonus?
Nintendo has officially confirmed that anyone who pre-orders the digital version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake — or simply buys it digitally — before November 23 at 11:59 PM PT will receive a special Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary digital wallpaper. Nintendo America announced this through their official X account, and yeah, it’s a pretty clean piece of art.
The wallpaper features the 40th anniversary logo for The Legend of Zelda franchise front and center, with a collage of iconic imagery from classic Zelda titles spread across the background. It’s the kind of thing that would look genuinely nice on your lock screen or desktop if you’re a longtime fan of the series.
What makes this actually usable is that the wallpaper comes in multiple formats — so whether you’re slapping it on your PC desktop or using it as your phone wallpaper, Nintendo has you covered. After the promotional window closes, you’ll receive an email at the address tied to your Nintendo Account with a link to download it. Simple enough.
Every Ocarina of Time Pre-Order Bonus Available Right Now
Look, the digital wallpaper is a nice touch, but let’s be real — the pre-order bonus scene for the Ocarina of Time remake has been wild depending on where you live. Here’s a rundown of everything on the table globally:
United States
US players are technically getting early purchase bonuses rather than true pre-order bonuses. The physical edition comes with a textured foil cover on the first edition copies, and digital buyers get the 40th Anniversary wallpaper mentioned above. That’s it. No pins, no coins, no charms. Just the basics. Nintendo hasn’t explained why the US is being left out of the bigger bonus party, and fans on social media are not happy about it — but with the game dropping on November 5, the odds of that changing are basically zero at this point.
United Kingdom
UK players pre-ordering through the official Nintendo store are getting something way cooler — 3D replicas of the Spiritual Stones. You know, the Kokiri’s Emerald, Goron’s Ruby, and Zora’s Sapphire. Actual physical collectibles. That’s the kind of bonus that makes you want to import.
Canada (EB Games)
Canada gets a holographic slipcover designed to resemble the original Nintendo 64 Ocarina of Time box art. It even replicates the same holographic effect from the original N64 packaging. As someone who grew up staring at that box in a glass case at a game store, that’s genuinely sick. Pre-order deadline there is November 4, 2026.
Japan
Japan, as usual, absolutely won the pre-order bonus lottery. According to reports from Famitsu, there are 15 different retailer-exclusive bonuses available across Japanese stores. We’re talking acrylic charms, character stickers, art cards, keychains, coasters, coins, wallets, pins, wooden diorama display stands — the list goes on. Japanese retailers also include an original Ocarina of Time art card set and a 40th anniversary sticker with physical copies. It’s an entirely different world over there.
What’s Actually in the Ocarina of Time Remake?
Beyond the bonus drama, it’s worth remembering what we’re actually getting here. The Ocarina of Time remake is being built from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2. This isn’t a simple HD upscale — Nintendo went full rebuild. Soft shadows, realistic materials, completely revamped environments, and one genuinely wild new mechanic: you can actually hum into the Switch 2 microphone to play the ocarina in-game. That detail alone has people talking.
Early previews of the game have been largely positive. The visuals have come an enormous distance from the original N64 release, and those who’ve had hands-on time with it have been impressed by how much care has gone into the remake. The game is expected to take around 27GB of storage, and Nintendo is shipping the full game on cartridge — no game-key card nonsense here.
For more context on big November game releases and what else is dropping this season, check out our breakdown of Football Manager 27’s free play event kicking off October 29.
Should You Bother Pre-Ordering the Digital Version for the Wallpaper?
Honestly? If you were already planning to go digital with Ocarina of Time, then absolutely grab it before November 23 and lock in that wallpaper. It doesn’t cost you anything extra. But if you’re sitting on the fence between physical and digital just because of the bonus — the foil cover on the physical first edition is a more tangible keep-forever item, so that might edge it out for collectors.
The bigger picture here is that Nintendo knows Ocarina of Time sells itself. One of the most beloved games ever made, rebuilt for modern hardware, in the franchise’s 40th anniversary year — they didn’t need to load it up with goodies. But for US buyers especially, it does sting a bit watching Japan and the UK get the premium treatment while we’re left with a wallpaper and a shiny cover.
And if you’re the type who goes deep on gaming news and announcements, we covered Beyond Good & Evil 2’s wild 18-year pre-production story — another reminder that the gaming industry never stops throwing curveballs.
When Does Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Launch?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026. The digital version is priced at $59.99 and the physical edition comes in at $69.99. Pre-orders are live right now on the Nintendo Store and at major retailers.
If you’re going digital, you’ve got until November 23 at 11:59 PM PT to qualify for the 40th Anniversary wallpaper bonus. Set a reminder — it’d be annoying to miss it by a day and find out the email never came.
