Costco cut the price of digital copies of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 to $54.99 for its members on November 6. The sale gave subscribers an early five-dollar price reduction right after the game launched. The warehouse retailer rolled out the markdown for shoppers who buy digital codes through its website. It provides an early Ocarina of Time discount for players jumping into the adventure on launch week [1].
How to Get the Ocarina of Time Discount
Shoppers who want to secure the Ocarina of Time discount at Costco must log into an active membership account before moving to the digital checkout counter. The listing offers a five-dollar price reduction from the standard sixty-dollar price tag that Nintendo set for digital editions on the Nintendo eShop. Buyers receive a digital redemption code right after completing the transaction. They can enter that code directly into their console system to begin downloading the adventure [1].
The promotion arrived shortly after the game hit store shelves following its reveal during the Nintendo Zelda Direct broadcast. Players who lack a paid warehouse membership still pay the full sixty-dollar cost when buying digital editions from ordinary online stores. That pricing difference turns the five-dollar markdown into a distinct perk for existing club members.
Costco often uses small discounts ($5) on digital game codes to attract members during busy shopping windows in November. The retailer keeps these digital offers active as long as promotional supplies last, but inventory can shift quickly as digital codes sell out. Similar card sales have surfaced for other major first-party releases in recent months. Warehouse members get a simple way to save cash on brand-new software without waiting for clearance sales [1].
Changes from the 1998 Original
The new release delivers a large visual step forward on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware compared to the original Nintendo 64 adventure that first debuted in 1998. Back then, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time had to work within tight cartridge memory constraints at a time when rivals were moving to CD-ROM formats. To show the difference between both eras, GameSpot captured clean gameplay footage using an original NTSC 1.0 cartridge running on an Analogue 3D system with de-blur enabled to mimic the look of a vintage CRT TV display. The new hardware delivers sharp text, rich environmental lighting, and cleaner character models that honor the original aesthetic and cleanly modernize Hyrule [4].
Producers Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi spoke to GameSpot about what it took to update the classic game and keep its core soul intact. They wanted the controls and movement to match current hardware expectations. Both producers stressed that preserving the atmosphere was their main goal during development [4].
The fantasy kingdom takes on an art direction with a Studio Ghibli feel on the new console, pairing atmospheric lighting with clean character silhouettes. Reviewers praised the balance between nostalgic art design and modern visual clarity. Steve Watts wrote in his GameSpot review that “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a reverent remake with stellar presentation, letting the original greatness shine through,” and he added that the updated presentation allows the foundational adventure to stand tall for both veteran players and newcomers alike [4].
The English Voice Cast
Beyond graphics, the remake introduces quality-of-life upgrades to controls, menu navigation, and audio production. Nintendo added voiced cutscenes on Switch 2 to give key story beats greater cinematic presence during major narrative moments. Characters now speak their lines aloud during specific cutscenes. That vocal delivery brings fresh personality to scenes that originally relied entirely on silent text boxes.
Even with the new audio production, Link stays a silent protagonist who expresses himself only through combat grunts and vocal shouts. Other characters received full spoken performances, prompting actors to confirm their roles on social media once the game launched. Voice actor Erica Mendez stepped into the dual roles of Princess Zelda and Sheik, calling the 1998 Nintendo 64 original her “favorite N64 game as a kid.” Lisa Reimold took on the role of Navi. Her performance features extended dialogue that goes far beyond the iconic “Hey, listen!” audio chime from the original release [2].
The remake credits also list English voice support from Daniel Bushey, Danny Hunt, Haley Hanna Hunt, and Rachel Seeley. Their studio work helped assemble the vocal tracks for the game’s newly recorded story sequences without disrupting the familiar rhythm of classic quest dialogue [3].
Returning Actors and New Roles
Veteran voice actor Matthew Mercer returned to portray Ganondorf. He previously voiced the antagonist in Tears of the Kingdom and the spin-off title Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Mercer shared statements on social media announcing his return to the legendary franchise, where fans also recognize his work from Critical Role and his performance as Cassidy in Overwatch. Richard Epcar joined the cast to voice the Great Deku Tree. He brought his long experience playing Raiden in Mortal Kombat 11 and Ansem in Kingdom Hearts 3 to give the guardian a resonant presence [2, 3]. His deep vocal tone anchors the opening hours inside the forest.
Suzie Yeung voiced Saria, drawing on past work in Fortnite as Hope. Frank Todaro handled both the owl Kaepora Gaebora and the sage Rauru after voicing Starscream in Transformers: Titans Return (TV series). Laura Post stepped into the role of Impa, and Josh Petersdorf provided the booming voice of Darunia [3].
Anne Yatco voiced Princess Ruto after notable roles in Genshin Impact and Jujutsu Kaisen, and Cristina Vee played Nabooru following her work in Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. Deva Marie Gregory voiced the Deku Tree Sprout, having previously worked on Starfield and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Reba Buhr handled three roles by voicing the witches Koume, Kotake, and their combined form Twinrova. She brought distinct voices to each of those three characters. Erica Mendez also brought her background from Kill La Kill and Aggretsuko to her royal performance [3].
Retail Deals Beyond the Ocarina of Time Discount
Early reviews for the remake have been positive from major gaming outlets. IGN reviewer Logan Plant awarded the game a 9/10, writing that “Nintendo skillfully melds the world and dungeon design of classic Zeldas with the movement and presentation of its more recent games, creating both a beautiful retelling of a legend and a rich adventure that stands on its own.” That positive reception helps explain why early buyers are rushing to pick up digital codes right after launch [1].
Previous versions of the adventure appeared on Nintendo 64, GameCube, and Nintendo 3DS, but this new edition stands as the main version for modern hardware. Players looking for the definitive version can now access the full quest with upgraded visuals and modern controls on Nintendo’s newest system [2].
The five-dollar markdown at Costco arrives just as early Black Friday sales begin rolling out for shoppers across the country. Competitors like Best Buy and Target are already launching their own promotional events ahead of the holiday shopping rush, though early discounts on newly released first-party software are rare. The entire month of November will feature rolling retail promotions leading into the holiday season. For members looking to jump into the fantasy world without paying full price, the warehouse offer provides an early Ocarina of Time discount on a major first-party release [1].
- ONLINE NEWS Hoolihan, H. (2026, November 6). Costco Has Dropped the Cost of Digital Copies of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2 to $55 for Members. IGN. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Lada, J. (2026, November 5). English The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Voice Actors Revealed. Siliconera. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS Duwe, S. (2026, November 5). The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake – All voice actors and full cast list. Destructoid. [Article Link]
- ONLINE NEWS GameSpot. (2026, November 5). The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time’s 2026 Remake Looks Stunning Next To The Original N64 Game. GameSpot. [Article Link]
