Miyamoto defends Ocarina of Time remakes for Switch 2

The Case for Remakes: Gaming Legend Shigeru Miyamoto on Nostalgia and New Worlds

Gaming titans often stand at the intersection of nostalgia and innovation, and no one embodies this balance quite like Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator of iconic franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda. Recently, Miyamoto has opened up about the practice of remakes, defending why these lovingly recreated classics are more than just nostalgic throwbacks—they are essential drivers for the future of interactive entertainment.

While some argue that developers should focus all their energy on building entirely new worlds, Miyamoto believes the value of remakes extends far beyond mere nostalgia. He suggests that bringing beloved games back to life is a necessary way to meet the evolving desires of modern players who might have missed out on the original releases.

“Some people might say there are a lot of remakes,” Miyamoto noted, “but after five years, a lot of people have outgrown games and stop playing them. Young people today don’t have the opportunity to play games from 10 years ago, so remaking them to be more playable and releasing them again is a good way to meet the demand.”

Beyond satisfying current demand, Miyamoto points out a significant commercial advantage. When a remake finds success, it generates additional resources that companies can channel into exciting new projects, fueling further innovation within the gaming industry.

Furthermore, revisiting classic works serves as a crucial educational tool for developers. By allowing people to experience the original games alongside modernized versions, it naturally leads to future developments and deeper explorations of established game mechanics.

The ripple effect of this trend is evident across the entire industry. The appeal of nostalgia coupled with updated graphics and gameplay has made remasters and remakes massive commercial successes. In 2025 alone, these updates garnered more than 138 million downloads, demonstrating an undeniable appetite for revisiting beloved history.

This desire for evolution is already translating into major upcoming projects. Nintendo, for instance, is set to release a highly anticipated remake of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, bringing that timeless adventure to the Switch 2 platform. Meanwhile, other giants are also embracing this format; the remake of Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated for early access, promising fans a fresh take on the classic campaign.

The data clearly supports this phenomenon. A recent study found that nearly all gamers participated in playing a remake or remaster within the last year, highlighting how deeply ingrained nostalgia and replayability remain central to the gaming experience.