Google is marking the return of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with a hidden feature in its search engine. The remake is scheduled to arrive on Nintendo Switch 2 on November 5, 2026, and the company’s easter egg pays tribute to one of the game’s central mechanics: travelling through time.
To activate it, search for “Zelda” or “The Legend of Zelda” on Google. A sword appears in the lower-right corner of the page, suspended above a pedestal. The weapon is a reference to the Master Sword, Link’s iconic blade.
Clicking the sword triggers an animation in which it returns to the pedestal, accompanied by Link’s cry. Once the animation ends, Google’s page adopts a retro appearance, including an older version of the company’s logo and a simpler interface inspired by the search engine’s look in 1998.
The effect only applies to the Zelda-related search page. It does not turn the rest of Google Search into a permanent retro interface, so additional searches return to the usual presentation.
The animation reflects Ocarina of Time’s story, in which Link moves between two periods separated by seven years. By removing the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Temple of Time, he is sent into the future; placing it back allows him to return to the past. Google recreates that gesture to move its search page back in time.
The Nintendo Switch 2 remake is expected to feature fully revised graphics and modernized controls. A Zelda-themed collector’s edition of the console is also already available.
Sources: Numerama.