Recent discoveries in the game files of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time‘s remake have fueled speculation that the challenging ‘Master Quest’ mode might be released as paid downloadable content (DLC). This follows hints from series producer Eiji Aonuma and director Hidemaro Fujibayashi in a recent IGN interview, where they suggested the mode, currently absent from the remake, could come later as DLC.
The possibility of Master Quest being a paid add-on has already drawn some player dissatisfaction. Adding fuel to this fire, data miners have unearthed multiple entries in the game’s files that appear to be related to the missing mode. These include identifiers such as ‘MQ’ (likely an abbreviation for Master Quest), ‘HasMQ’, ‘IsMQModeExist’, ‘NewGameMQ’, and ‘ReleaseMQ’. While these findings are not an official confirmation from Nintendo, they strongly suggest that the Master Quest mode is indeed referenced within the game’s code.
Master Quest Content Already Present?
Further investigation by data miner OatmealDome has revealed more intriguing details. According to their analysis, elements of the Master Quest mode are apparently already embedded within the game files. These purported inclusions are said to encompass a mirrored version of the game world, altered dungeon puzzles and challenges, and even the peculiar presence of a cow hidden within the belly of Lord Jabu-Jabu – details familiar to those who played the original Master Quest.
Free Update vs. Paid DLC
A critical point of contention, however, is OatmealDome’s finding that players might require the associated DLC to access these Master Quest features. This has led to many players expressing their hope on platforms like Reddit that Nintendo will opt for a free update instead. This sentiment is largely driven by the precedent set by the 2011 Nintendo 3DS version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which included the Master Quest mode as a free bonus without any additional cost to players.
However, given the evidence uncovered by OatmealDome, the likelihood of a free release seems to be diminishing. Nintendo has yet to issue an official statement regarding these discoveries or the potential release of Master Quest. Therefore, whether Master Quest will ultimately be sold as a separate, paid DLC remains uncertain.
