Ocarina of Time Remake CRUSHES Breath of the Wild's UK Launch Sales!

Well, how about THAT for a comeback?

Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has officially launched on the Switch 2, and if the early sales numbers coming out of the UK are anything to go by, gamers are sending a pretty clear message: Sometimes, the classics are EXACTLY what people want.

Released on November 5, the highly anticipated remake wasted absolutely literally like no time making its presence known, immediately shooting to the No. 1 spot on the UK physical sales charts for the week ending November 7.

And who did it knock off the throne? None other than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, which dropped to second place...

Not too shabby for a remake of a game that originally launched nearly THREE DECADES ago!

Ocarina of Time Just Put Up Some INSANE Numbers

According to NielsenIQ retail data, (via Genki) the Ocarina of Time remake has officially become the second-biggest Zelda launch in UK history.

But that's not even the most impressive part.

The remake also managed to secure the biggest physical launch of ANY video game in the UK throughout 2026, beating out major releases like Resident Evil Requiem and EA Sports FC 27.

Let that sink in for a second.

A remake of a Nintendo 64 game from 1998 is outperforming some of the biggest modern releases of the year.

And when you compare these numbers to previous Zelda games, things get even more interesting.

The remake reportedly sold approximately 35% MORE physical copies during its opening week than Breath of the Wild.

Yes, THAT Breath of the Wild.

The game that helped launch the original Nintendo Switch and went on to become one of Nintendo's most celebrated titles.

Here's the kicker: Those Breath of the Wild launch numbers included BOTH the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions combined.

Meanwhile, Ocarina of Time managed to beat that total on the Switch 2 alone.

Now, before anyone gets too carried away, Tears of the Kingdom still holds the crown, with the remake selling roughly half as many physical copies as that game's opening week.

Still, for a remake? That's one hell of an accomplishment.

Maybe Gamers Actually WANT Classic Nintendo Back?

Here's where things get particularly interesting to me.

For years, we've watched the gaming industry chase trends, reinvent franchises, and seemingly convince itself that everything needs to be bigger, different, and more modern to succeed.

Meanwhile, Nintendo takes one of the most beloved video games ever made, gives it a fresh coat of paint, brings it to modern hardware, and watches it absolutely dominate the charts.

Funny how that works, isn't it?

And I'm not just saying this as someone watching the sales numbers from the sidelines.

I've actually been livestreaming the Ocarina of Time remake over on my Smash JT Gameplay YouTube channel, and I've been LOVING my time with it! CHECK OUT MY GAMEPLAY LINK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/live/g2-JJa412zE

There's something genuinely special about revisiting Hyrule, experiencing those familiar locations again, and seeing a game that meant so much to an entire generation brought back to life.

It's been an absolute blast, and honestly, playing through it again has only reinforced why so many people consider Ocarina of Time one of the greatest games ever made.

Sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel. You just need to remember what made that wheel so damn good in the first place.

Nintendo Isn't Sharing Worldwide Sales Numbers... Yet

Of course, there's still one pretty important piece of information missing from all of this.

How many copies has the game actually sold worldwide?

As of November 9, Nintendo hasn't provided an official worldwide sales figure for the remake.

The UK data gives us some fascinating comparisons, but it doesn't include exact physical unit totals. It also doesn't account for digital purchases through the Nintendo eShop or sales in other territories.

In other words, we're only looking at one piece of a much larger puzzle.

During Nintendo's November 6 investor Q&A, company president Shuntaro Furukawa reportedly acknowledged that the remake was off to a strong start, although it was still too early to provide specific sales figures.

So while we don't have the complete picture just yet, the early signs are certainly encouraging.

This Should Be a Wake-Up Call for the Gaming Industry

Look, I'm not going to pretend that one successful remake suddenly proves every modern gaming trend is wrong.

But I DO think there's something worth paying attention to here.

Gamers clearly still have an enormous appetite for the franchises, characters, and experiences that made them fall in love with video games in the first place.

And when those experiences are handled properly, people show up.

They buy the games. They play them. They talk about them.

And apparently, they buy enough copies to knock Call of Duty off the top of the charts.

That's pretty incredible...

Now imagine what Nintendo could accomplish if it continued giving some of its other legendary games this kind of treatment.

For now, though, Ocarina of Time is having one hell of a return, and I couldn't be happier to see it.

The Hero of Time is back, and apparently, he's still got it.

What do YOU think? Are these sales numbers proof that gamers are hungry for more classic Nintendo remakes, or is Ocarina of Time simply one of those rare games that can sell no matter how many years have passed?

Let me know in the comments! ~Smash