Ocarina of Time on Switch 2: What to Buy or Skip
By Samuel 76 · Founder & Editor
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Ocarina of Time comes out on November 5, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, and Nintendo has not published how big the download is, so you do not need to buy anything today to be ready. The one rule worth knowing before you shop: Switch 2 only accepts microSD Express cards, and a regular microSD card, including the one from an original Switch, will not hold its games, according to Nintendo's support page.
I checked the date and the platform on Nintendo's game page on October 14, and Nintendo's anniversary announcement gives the same day. Below: what Nintendo has and has not said, then the three pieces from our catalog that fit this launch (a card, a case and a capture card), each with who it is for and who can skip it.
What Nintendo has said, and what it has not
| Item | What Nintendo says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | November 5, 2026 | Nintendo game page |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch 2 | Nintendo game page |
| Players | 1 | Nintendo game page |
| Download size | Not stated | Nintendo game page, checked October 14 |
| Storage | Make sure you have enough free storage; an additional storage device may be needed depending on the hardware and how it is used | Nintendo game page |
| Cards that work in Switch 2 | microSD Express only, up to 2 TB; older microSD cards cannot be used for game data | Nintendo microSD Express FAQ |
| Included in the box | No microSD Express card; they are sold separately | Nintendo microSD Express FAQ |
Table: what Nintendo's own pages say about Ocarina of Time on Switch 2, checked October 14, 2026. Everything marked "not stated" is a number Nintendo has not put on the pages I read.
The card: buy it when your memory fills, not before
With no download size published, I would not buy a card for this one game. If your Switch 2 memory is already close to full, a microSD Express card is the kind of card Nintendo supports for adding space, so that is the moment to buy. Nintendo adds that you should stick to a single card, because software on different cards cannot be combined later.
The one we carry is the Samsung microSD Express Card 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 ($40 to $60). Samsung lists reads of up to 800 MB/s on its page for the P9 Express 256 GB and does not show a write speed that I could find, so I will not give you one. That page does not mention Switch 2, and I did not find the speed of the console version on Nintendo's page, so treat 800 MB/s as Samsung's number for its card line, not a promise for this exact listing. 256 GB is the only size in our catalog; if your library is already big, it may not be enough, and that is a limit of what we carry, not advice to buy small.
The case: only if the console leaves the house
A case does nothing for the game and a lot for the console in a backpack. The Orzly Carry Case for Nintendo Switch 2 (under $25) fits the console with the Joy-Con attached, holds up to 20 game cards and has a built-in screen cover, according to Orzly's page for its Switch 2 case, which gives 303 × 153 × 63 mm outside. Orzly's page does not mention a Pro Controller, so do not count on it fitting one.
Two honest notes. First, Nintendo's page I read describes the game as an eShop download and does not say if a physical copy exists, so the card slots only matter if you already own physical Switch 2 games. Second, I could not match the Amazon listing line by line to Orzly's page, so check that the listing title says Nintendo Switch 2 before you pay.
Orzly Carry Case for Nintendo Switch 2 with Screen Padding and Card Slots
View on Amazon (paid link)
The capture card: only if you record or stream
If you only play, skip this. If you want to record or stream the game, the Elgato 4K S ($110 to $150) lists Switch 2 as a supported source on Elgato's specification page: capture up to 2160p60, HDR capture only up to 1080p60 and only on Windows, and passthrough up to 2160p60 to your screen. Elgato's setup guide for Switch 2 says the console has to be docked, with the dock's HDMI output going into the card and a second cable to your monitor or TV.
Heads up from the same guide: a headset plugged into the docked console can reroute the audio away from the card and leave you with silent recordings, so Elgato suggests putting the headphones on your computer instead. For a wider look at cards for consoles, see our guide to the best capture cards for streaming.
The controller I will not recommend yet
Nintendo's game page mentions motion controls for aiming the slingshot and bow, button controls for playing the ocarina and the console's built-in microphone for humming melodies. It does not say which controllers support each of those, so I will not point you at a third-party controller for this game. Nintendo's own announcement lists a Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition Switch 2 console, Pro Controller and carrying case for October 29, and does not say they come with the game. We do not carry that Pro Controller, so there is no link here.
Already own accessories for other consoles? Our guide to essential console accessories covers PS5, Xbox and Switch 2 in one place.
How we choose
This guide has three products because those are the Switch 2 accessories already in our catalog, not because they are the only ones that exist. I read Nintendo's game page and support FAQ, then Samsung's, Orzly's and Elgato's own pages, and compared what each says against one job: store the game, carry the console, or capture it. I have not used any of them, so nothing here comes from using them. Prices come from the band shown next to each product.
I write every guide with the help of AI tools for research and drafting; I decide which products make the cut, check every figure against the manufacturer's spec sheet and the price on the day I verify it, and sign the text. — Samuel
Frequently asked questions about Ocarina of Time on Switch 2
When does Ocarina of Time come out on Switch 2?
November 5, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, according to Nintendo's game page, checked October 14. Nintendo's anniversary announcement lists the Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition console, Pro Controller and carrying case for October 29.
Can I use my old microSD card on Switch 2?
No, not for games: Nintendo says Switch 2 is only compatible with microSD Express cards, and older microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC cards cannot be used for game data. The same Nintendo FAQ says you can use an old card once to import screenshots and videos into the console's memory.
How big is the Ocarina of Time download?
Nintendo has not published a size on the game page I checked on October 14, so any number you see elsewhere is not from Nintendo. The page only asks you to have enough free storage and says an extra storage device may be needed. Check the game's page in the eShop before launch day.
Does Switch 2 come with a microSD Express card?
No. Nintendo says microSD Express cards are sold separately and are not included with the console, in the same microSD Express FAQ.
Is Ocarina of Time coming to the original Switch?
On the Nintendo pages I checked it is listed for Nintendo Switch 2, and I did not find an original Switch version mentioned. If that changes, Nintendo's game page is where it will show first.
In what order I would spend the money
First, nothing: wait for the download size and see how much room your console has left. Second, a microSD Express card, the day your memory is full and not a day sooner. Third, the case, if the console travels with you. Fourth, the capture card, only if you already know you will record or stream it. That is my order, and if you ask me the first step saves more money than any of the other three.