The Ocarina of Time remake is getting an official UK midnight launch, with Nintendo UK hosting a late-night event at the Nintendo store inside Argos on Tottenham Court Road in London this Wednesday evening, ahead of the Switch 2 game’s release on Thursday 5 November.
The real hook is the freebie, because anyone who buys the game there gets a free replica Nintendo 64 box, plus an Ocarina key ring, while supplies last, and on top of that Google has hidden a time-travelling Zelda easter egg in its search page. So is a cardboard box worth a midnight trek into central London? Let’s find out!
What Do You Actually Get at the Ocarina of Time Midnight Launch?
According to VGC, the box is based on the original UK N64 packaging and comes with an inner tray and a slipcase sized to hold your Switch 2 game case, which is a lovely touch for anyone who still has that grey cartridge somewhere in a loft.
Here’s the full rundown:
- Where: Nintendo store at Argos Tottenham Court Road, London
- When: Wednesday evening (4 November), ahead of the 5 November launch
- Freebie 1: Replica UK Nintendo 64 box with inner tray and slipcase for the Switch 2 case
- Freebie 2: Ocarina key ring
- The catch: You have to buy the game at the event, and stock of the goodies is limited
My Nintendo News also warns these are in limited supply, so if you want one, you’ll probably want to get there early… and maybe bring a flask, because London in November is not exactly Lake Hylia in summer!
Quick NoteNintendo hasn’t confirmed an exact start time or whether you need to pre-order, so keep an eye on Nintendo UK’s socials before you plan your night around it.
Why Is Google Sending People Back to 1998?
This is the genuinely delightful bit, because if you search “zelda” on Google, a Master Sword pops up in the corner, and clicking it plays a Link yell and a time-travel effect before dumping you on Google’s old 1998 homepage, complete with plain text results and the “I’m feeling lucky” button.
As VGC’s report on the easter egg notes, it only works for that one page of Zelda results, so sadly you can’t browse the whole internet like it’s the year Ocarina first launched… no AI summaries, no adverts, just vibes!
Is the Ocarina of Time Remake Worth $69.99?
That’s the big question, and honestly we won’t know for sure until reviews land, with Metacritic hinting scores should appear “midweek”, so probably the day before launch, but the previews have been very positive and the remake does add new content rather than just a fresh coat of paint.
We already dug into whether its extras, like the Boss Rush Museum, can justify the price in our Ocarina of Time remake previews round-up, so give that a read if you’re still sitting on the fence, or should I say, sitting on the fence outside Kakariko Village?
Fun FactThe UK isn’t the only place getting N64 box love, because French retailer Micromania is running its own midnight launch with an N64 replica box, and Best Buy in the US is doing midnight launches too, so this really is a global nostalgia party.
So Should You Go to the London Midnight Launch?
If you live in or near London and you were already planning to buy the Ocarina of Time remake on day one, then yes, absolutely go, because a free replica N64 box is the kind of collector’s bit that’ll be selling for silly money on eBay by Christmas.
If you’d have to travel a long way, though, or you’re not sure the remake is worth full price yet, I’d honestly just wait for reviews on Wednesday and order it normally, because a cardboard box is lovely, but it isn’t worth a train ticket and a cold night on the pavement!
FAQs
When does the Ocarina of Time remake come out?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday 5 November 2026.
Where is the UK Ocarina of Time midnight launch?
The UK Ocarina of Time midnight launch is at the Nintendo store in Argos Tottenham Court Road, London, on Wednesday evening.
How do I get the free N64 box?
You need to buy the Ocarina of Time remake at the London midnight launch event, and the replica boxes are only available while supplies last.
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