Monolith Soft Confirmed Its Involvement in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake

Nintendo's remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has received support from an important development studio. Monolith Soft, the team best known for creating the Xenoblade Chronicles series, has confirmed that it contributed to the development of the highly anticipated Zelda remake.

The confirmation is particularly interesting because fans had previously speculated about Monolith Soft's involvement in the project. Although Nintendo's internal development team is leading the remake, Monolith Soft has now revealed that it provided support with game design, programming, and graphics.

The news highlights the continued partnership between Nintendo and one of its most experienced development studios, which has helped create several major Nintendo games over the years.

Monolith Soft Helped Develop the Ocarina of Time Remake

Monolith Soft confirmed its involvement through a post on its official Japanese social media account following the game's release on November 5, 2026.

According to the announcement, the studio provided development assistance in three key areas:

• Game design

• Programming

• Graphics

This means Monolith Soft played a meaningful supporting role in bringing the classic Nintendo 64 adventure to modern hardware.

The studio's contribution is not entirely surprising. Monolith Soft has worked alongside Nintendo on several major projects, particularly within the Zelda franchise. However, its involvement in the new Ocarina of Time remake is an important confirmation for fans who had been wondering which external developers helped create the game.

Nintendo's Internal Team Led the Remake

Before Monolith Soft confirmed its contribution, Nintendo had already revealed which internal team was responsible for leading development.

According to Nintendo's Ask the Developer interview series, the remake was developed by Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) Production Group No. 3.

The development team includes several experienced Nintendo employees:

• HokWai Ng: Director

• Aya Shida: Art Director

• Hiroki Taguchi: Program Director

• Masato Ohashi: Music Lead and Sound Director

The project also involved longtime Zelda series figures Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi as producers.

Nintendo's interview helped clarify that the remake was primarily an internal project, even though additional development support came from Monolith Soft.

Monolith Soft Has a Long History With The Legend of Zelda

Monolith Soft is widely recognized for its work on Xenoblade Chronicles, but its contributions to Nintendo's biggest franchises extend far beyond that series.

Over the years, the studio has supported multiple Zelda projects, including:

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

• The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Its experience with large environments, complex systems, and visually demanding games makes it a valuable development partner for Nintendo.

Monolith Soft has also contributed to other major Nintendo releases, including Mario Kart World, the Splatoon series, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Given this history, its involvement in Ocarina of Time is another example of Nintendo relying on experienced development partners to support its major releases.

Why Fans Expected Monolith Soft to Work on the Remake

Before Nintendo revealed its internal development team, some fans believed Monolith Soft might be leading the project.

That speculation was understandable because of the studio's long history with Zelda games and its technical experience with visually ambitious Nintendo titles.

There was also a retailer listing in Norway that reportedly identified Monolith Soft as the remake's developer, adding further fuel to the discussion.

Nintendo later clarified that its own EPD Production Group No. 3 was responsible for development. Monolith Soft's confirmation now provides a clearer picture: Nintendo led the project internally, while Monolith Soft contributed to selected development areas.

Eiji Aonuma Wanted Developers to Bring Their Own Ideas

Another interesting detail from Nintendo's developer interview concerns how the remake was approached creatively.

Producer Eiji Aonuma explained that he wanted the development team to make the game their own rather than simply follow instructions about every change.

He gave the developers room to decide which improvements were necessary while maintaining the identity of the original adventure.

Hidemaro Fujibayashi also explained that the team needed to establish early on which elements should change and which should remain faithful to the Nintendo 64 version.

This approach allowed the developers to reconsider aspects of the original game while preserving its core experience.

What Monolith Soft's Involvement Means for Future Zelda Games

Monolith Soft's confirmed contribution could be encouraging news for fans who want to see the studio take on an even larger role in future Zelda projects.

Its experience supporting Nintendo's major adventures makes it a natural candidate for additional collaboration. However, its involvement in Ocarina of Time does not necessarily mean it will lead a future Zelda game.

For now, Nintendo appears comfortable using a combination of internal development teams and experienced supporting studios to bring its biggest projects to life.

Whether Monolith Soft eventually gets the opportunity to develop its own major Zelda adventure remains to be seen.

Final Thoughts

Monolith Soft's involvement in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is an important behind-the-scenes detail that helps explain how Nintendo brought the project together.

Although Nintendo's EPD Production Group No. 3 led development, Monolith Soft contributed to game design, programming, and graphics. Its long history with the Zelda franchise makes the partnership a natural fit.