Credible insider NateTheHate has revealed Nintendo’s ambitious Switch 2 roadmap for the rest of the year on his podcast—headlined by a new Star Fox game in summer, a full Ocarina of Time remake for the holidays, and the surprising absence of a new 3D Mario until 2027. VGC independently corroborated the key details from its own sources, lending the claims weight. If accurate, the lineup represents a dream-like lineup anchored by franchise revivals and highly requested remakes. Even with their track record, you should take everything with a grain of salt.
Star Fox Returns After a Decade Out of Commission
The headline claim is a brand-new Star Fox game targeting summer 2026 on Switch 2. NateTheHate described it as a classic-style Star Fox game—suggesting a return to the on-rails shooting of Star Fox 64 rather than the experimental approach of later entries. The visuals are reportedly very good, and the game will feature online multiplayer. He expects a reveal before May, likely as a standalone social media announcement rather than part of a Nintendo Direct.
I’ve been anticipating a new Star Fox since Ubisoft’s Starlink: Battle for Atlas expertly crafted the characters into their new IP, making it the best Star Fox representation we’ve gotten since the GameCube. Star Fox Zero left a sour taste in most fans’ mouths with its mandatory dual-screen gyroscopic controls and it made a lot of people think Nintendo would shelve Star Fox for a long time. But it seems Star Fox is alive and well, and I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that Fox McCloud was confirmed to appear in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Donkey Kong was added to the first Super Mario Bros. Movie with emphasis on the character’s redesign and Donkey Kong Bananza was in the works. Nintendo may be using their films as ways to promote characters before a new game releases, which is very smart.
This Star Fox game sounds like it will be more traditional—an upgraded Star Fox 64—which is slightly disappointing because after Starlink, I see the potential for a fully open-space AAA Star Fox game with Breath of the Wild levels of ambition. But you have to start somewhere, and if a classic-style entry can rebuild the franchise’s reputation after Zero nearly killed it, that opens the door for something more ambitious down the line.
No New 3D Mario in 2026
The most disappointing claim for many fans is that the next 3D Mario game has been pushed to 2027, creating a roughly 10-year gap since Super Mario Odyssey in October 2017. A lot of people thought a 3D Mario would make it this year since Donkey Kong Bananza was handled by a smaller and greener team under the 3D Mario team, but it seems we will have to wait at least another year. Donkey Kong Bananza released on Switch 2 in July 2025 to widespread acclaim, and its development consumed the bandwidth of Nintendo EPD Tokyo—the exact same studio responsible for Super Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 3D World, and Super Mario Odyssey. Key personnel overlap makes this unmistakable: Kenta Motokura, Odyssey‘s director, served as producer on Bananza, while Wataru Tanaka, Odyssey‘s lead programmer, co-directed.
The project originated when Yoshiaki Koizumi asked the Odyssey team to create a 3D Donkey Kong game. Development began after Odyssey shipped in 2017 and originally targeted Switch 1 before moving to Switch 2 around 2021 because the original hardware couldn’t handle its voxel-based destructible environments. With Bananza shipping in July 2025, the EPD Tokyo pipeline simply cannot deliver a new 3D Mario before 2027. It would obviously be great to have one sooner, but it’s hard to feel the sting too badly after the remarkable Donkey Kong Bananza (and the incredible indie platformer Demon Tides can tide you over until then).
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake
The biggest reveal for the second half of 2026 is a full Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2. NateTheHate emphasized this is a full remake, not an HD remaster. It’s a significant distinction that suggests rebuilt assets, environments, and potentially modernized gameplay systems rather than a simple resolution bump. The timing ties to the Zelda franchise’s 40th anniversary, with the original releasing in February 1986, and a Legend of Zelda live-action movie due in May 2027 suggests a staggered celebration across media.
The last re-release was Ocarina of Time 3D on the 3DS in 2011, which was itself a remaster. That 3DS version is now further from today than it was from the N64 original at its time of release, underlining how overdue a fresh treatment is. An Ocarina of Time remake has been one of the most requested Nintendo projects for years, and if it receives the same level of care as recent Zelda remakes like Link’s Awakening, it could be one of the most significant releases of the entire Switch 2 generation. This is a game that defined an entire medium. Giving it the full remake treatment on modern hardware is a statement move from Nintendo.
The Rest of Nintendo’s Rumored 2026 Lineup
- Splatoon Raiders — The next entry in Nintendo’s ink-based shooter franchise is reportedly targeting a summer 2026 window. Details are scarce, but the new subtitle suggests a departure from the traditional turf war formula into something with a different gameplay hook.
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave — A new mainline Fire Emblem is slated for summer 2026. The franchise has been on a strong upswing since Three Houses and Engage, and a Switch 2 entry could push the tactical RPG series to new visual and mechanical heights.
- Rhythm Heaven Groove — The beloved rhythm game series is making a comeback after nearly a decade of dormancy. Rhythm Heaven Megamix on 3DS in 2016 was the last entry, and a Switch 2 revival could introduce the franchise’s quirky charm to a whole new audience.
- Nintendo Switch Sports — It’s currently unclear whether this is an entirely new game or a Switch 2 Edition of the existing title. Either way, Switch Sports was a massive seller on the original Switch and a natural fit for the new hardware.
- Pikmin 4: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — An enhanced port of Pikmin 4 is planned for 2026, bringing Captain Olimar’s real-time strategy adventures to the new hardware with presumably improved visuals and performance.
- The DuskBloods — FromSoftware’s multiplayer-focused action RPG directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki is a Switch 2 exclusive featuring PvPvE gameplay for up to eight players as vampire-like “Bloodsworn” characters. FromSoftware’s parent company Kadokawa reaffirmed its 2026 release in a February earnings call, making it one of the most anticipated third-party exclusives on the platform.
Less Reputable but Still Interesting Leaks
NateTheHate’s podcast wasn’t the only source of Nintendo leaks this week. Multiple anonymous sources shared overlapping information before the podcast even aired, and while none carry the same credibility, the convergence of claims is hard to ignore.
As spotted on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours, a YouTube commenter going by @malo932 posted on a Nintendo Forecast video hours before NateTheHate’s podcast went live, mentioning a classic Star Fox in June, an Ocarina of Time remake, a new Switch Sports, and 3D Mario pushed to 2027—all matching NateTheHate’s reporting. Reddit user u/PikaPhantom_ later pointed out that malo932 had left an even earlier comment six days prior covering the same claims. Separately, Italian YouTuber Poro Michele posted a video about an alleged Instagram DM he received on March 21st containing the same core information. Reddit user u/AlphaSSB noticed that malo932’s YouTube display name is “Michele”—similar to Poro Michele—suggesting these could be connected sources or even the same person.
What makes these sources noteworthy is that they included claims NateTheHate didn’t cover:
- A Super Metroid remake described as “close” with a pixel art style developed by MercurySteam
- A new Wario Land game possibly in 2027
- A second Star Fox project described as “the adventure one” taking cues from the GameCube’s Star Fox Adventures
- Mario Kart World DLC delayed to 2027
- MercurySteam working on Metroid 6 though not in 2026
- The Ocarina of Time remake not being based on the 3DS version.
These claims should be taken with considerably more salt. Anonymous commenters and unverified DMs are not vetted sources, and it’s possible they made educated guesses or are piggybacking off each other. That said, the specificity and timing have given the community reason to watch closely.
Final Thoughts
Nintendo’s 2026 may not have the new 3D Mario fans were hoping for, but what it lacks in plumber power it more than makes up for in franchise diversity and smart strategic positioning. A Star Fox revival, a full Ocarina of Time remake, and a FromSoftware exclusive in The DuskBloods give the Switch 2 a lineup that covers everything from nostalgia to hardcore appeal. Add in Splatoon Raiders, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Rhythm Heaven Groove, and the Switch 2’s second year is shaping up to be one of the most well-rounded release calendars Nintendo has put together in a long time.
NateTheHate’s near-flawless track record and VGC’s independent corroboration make these claims hard to dismiss. The first test comes soon—if Star Fox is revealed before May as predicted, it will validate the entire roadmap and confirm that Nintendo is betting big on revivals in 2026 to set the stage for an even bigger 2027.
