Zelda's 40th Anniversary Brings Exciting New Game and Ongoing Rumors
By Published Apr 5, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
fans have been clamoring for a major announcement from Nintendo celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the iconic franchise, but so far the most exciting news of the year has been a rumor regarding a possible Ocarina of Time remake that may or may not be in the works.
While there's still no word from Nintendo regarding an official new mainline Zelda video game, there is actually a new Legend of Zelda game set to release on April 17, 2026, and it's bringing Link and company to one of the most popular card game franchises of all time (via ).
Zelda Officially Returns On April 17
It's Technically A Brand-New Game
Zelda fans are technically getting an official brand-new game this month, though it's likely not the one they're hoping for. The Legend of Zelda is getting an official edition of UNO, one of the most popular card games of all time, available to pre-order now from Merchoid and set to release on April 17.
The officially licensed Zelda-themed UNO card game features various characters and items from The Legend of Zelda, printed front and center on a full set of UNO cards. Sets include 112 cards and are recommended for ages 7+.
The unique set also "includes a special rule" related to the Zelda universe, and is sure to be a hit among hardcore fans and UNO enthusiasts alike. The Zelda UNO set will make for an excellent gift or collector's item, and despite being listed as a European Exclusive, preorders still seem to be available for US-based buyers as well.
Where's The Big 40th Anniversary Announcement?
And Will There Be An Ocarina Of Time Remake?
2026 has been a bit of a disappointing year so far in terms of , and it'd be pretty odd if Nintendo didn't announce something major in the coming months. While recent rumors suggest that an official is potentially in the works and set to release this year, these remain unconfirmed for the time being.
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Further, fans find it hard to believe that minor announcements such as new merch or unique collectible items is all that Nintendo has in store for them during such a momentous year where Zelda is . That said, it's worth noting that on occasions such as Super Mario's 35th anniversary, Nintendo waited until mid-summer to reveal its major announcements and plans.
While that's certainly not an indication that Zelda's 40th anniversary will follow suit, it should give fans a bit of solace knowing there's plenty of time and a high likelihood for Nintendo to announce the major Legend of Zelda news we're waiting for in 2026.
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Like The Legend of Zelda Action-Adventure Released February 21, 1986 ESRB E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Publisher(s) Engine Havok Franchise
Genre(s)Action-Adventure Expand Collapse
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