HORI Launches an Electronic Ocarina for Playing the New Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The most famous ocarina in video game history is about to leave the screen. As reported by Vandal, accessory maker HORI will release an electronic replica of Link's instrument on November 27. Officially licensed by Nintendo, it's designed for use with the new version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo Switch 2. It will cost €49.99 and include 12 songs.

The appeal isn't just having a collector's piece on your shelf: what you play in your living room can have an effect inside the adventure. It's the first time the mechanic that gave the 1998 classic its name has officially made the jump to the physical world, and that says a lot about how Nintendo wants to sell this comeback: less as a simple remake and more as an experience that blends nostalgia with a tangible object.

What You Need to Know

• Manufacturer: HORI, officially licensed by Nintendo.
• Release: November 27, a date HORI has also confirmed for Europe.
• Price: €49.99, according to the product page at retailer GAME, where it's currently listed as "coming soon" with an option to get notified.
• Contents: the replica includes 12 songs.
• Compatibility: it can be used with the new Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, which arrives earlier, on November 5.

How It Works and Why It Arrives After the Game

As revealed during the announcement of Ocarina of Time's return, one of its new features is that you'll be able to play the melodies outside the game so that Link plays them inside it. The key is the hardware: the console recognizes the sound through its built-in microphone. In other words, HORI's ocarina doesn't seem essential to enjoy this feature; rather, it's a flashier, more comfortable way to do it with an authentically shaped instrument.

The timing is curious. The game launches on November 5, and the accessory won't arrive until the 27th, just over three weeks later. Anyone who wants the full experience from day one will have to make do, for now, with the controller or any other sound source the console can pick up, and wait until the end of the month to break out the replica.

Our Take

Here in the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we have mixed feelings. On one hand, the idea is beautiful: bringing to real life the mechanic that turned Ocarina of Time into a legend is exactly the kind of nod that makes a remake feel special rather than a simple facelift. For content creators, it's also pure gold. Picture a stream where you play Epona's Song on a physical ocarina and Link responds on screen: the clip practically edits itself.

On the other hand, we have to be critical. If the console recognizes sound through its microphone, HORI's ocarina is essentially a very well-licensed toy instrument. Nearly €50 is no small sum for an accessory whose main function is already covered by the system itself, and the fact that it arrives weeks after the game smells like a strategy to squeeze a second purchase out of the most dedicated fans. We also don't know yet how reliable recognition will be in a noisy environment, which matters a lot if you plan to use it live with background music, voice chat, or an audience.

For competitive players, this accessory adds nothing: if you speedrun Zelda, a microphone picking up sounds is the last thing you want between you and your record, and you'll most likely stick with buttons. For collectors and streamers who live for memorable moments, on the other hand, it could be a very justified purchase. Our recommendation: wait for real-world tests before preordering, especially if you plan to use it on stream.

What Do You Think?

Some see this ocarina as a childhood dream come true, while others see nothing more than a pricey accessory for something you can already do with the console's microphone. We're divided, so we want to hear from you: would you pay €49.99 to play Link's ocarina at home, or would you rather stick with good old buttons? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and tell us where you stand.