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TechQuiet 8d · day 9

Google adds hidden Ocarina of Time Easter egg ahead of remake launch

Searching “zelda” and clicking the Master Sword flips Google’s homepage back to its 1998 look.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 8d ago38 pieces13 likes & upvotes MastodonGoogle NewsNewswiresHacker NewsBluesky

What to know

  • Searching 'zelda' on Google makes a Master Sword appear; clicking it plays a time-travel effect and reveals a recreation of Google's 1998 homepage, complete with plain text results and the original 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button.
  • The Easter egg is timed to the release of the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake on Nintendo Switch 2, out November 5.
  • The effect is limited to that single Zelda results page — users cannot keep browsing Google in the retro style.
  • It follows a line of existing Google game-themed Easter eggs, including 'do a barrel roll' and a 'the last of us' cordyceps effect.

Google Creator of the search Easter eggNintendo Publisher of the Ocarina of Time remake

Google adds hidden Ocarina of Time Easter egg ahead of remake launch
videogameschronicle.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 14 pieces in two hours at Nov 2, 4 AM; 38 pieces over 9 days (25 articles · 13 posts) Nov 2, 4 AM — 14 pieces · 13 articles · 1 post — Google News 13, Mastodon 1Nov 2, 6 AM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 post — Google News 2, Newswires 1, Mastodon 1Nov 2, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Nov 2, 10 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, Hacker News 1Nov 2, 12 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Nov 2, 2 PM — 7 pieces · 4 articles · 3 posts — Google News 2, Newswires 2, Bluesky 2, +1 moreNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Nov 2, 8 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 12 AM — quietNov 3, 2 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — 3 pieces · 3 posts — Bluesky 2, Mastodon 1Nov 3, 6 AM — quietNov 3, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Bluesky 1Nov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 12 PM — quietNov 3, 2 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Hacker News 1Nov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 6 PM — quietNov 3, 8 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 12 AM — quietNov 4, 2 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 6 AM — quietNov 4, 8 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 12 PM — quietNov 4, 2 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 6 PM — quietNov 4, 8 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 12 AM — quietNov 5, 2 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 6 AM — quietNov 5, 8 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 12 PM — quietNov 5, 2 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 6 PM — quietNov 5, 8 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 12 AM — quietNov 6, 2 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 6 AM — quietNov 6, 8 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 12 PM — quietNov 6, 2 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 6 PM — quietNov 6, 8 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietNov 7, 12 AM — quietNov 7, 2 AM — quietNov 7, 4 AM — quietNov 7, 6 AM — quietNov 7, 8 AM — quietNov 7, 10 AM — quietNov 7, 12 PM — quietNov 7, 2 PM — quietNov 7, 4 PM — quietNov 7, 6 PM — quietNov 7, 8 PM — quietNov 7, 10 PM — quietNov 8, 12 AM — quietNov 8, 2 AM — quietNov 8, 4 AM — quietNov 8, 6 AM — quietNov 8, 8 AM — quietNov 8, 10 AM — quietNov 8, 12 PM — quietNov 8, 2 PM — quietNov 8, 4 PM — quietNov 8, 6 PM — quietNov 8, 8 PM — quietNov 8, 10 PM — quietNov 9, 12 AM — quietNov 9, 2 AM — quietNov 9, 4 AM — quietNov 9, 6 AM — quietNov 9, 8 AM — quietNov 9, 10 AM — quietNov 9, 12 PM — quietNov 9, 2 PM — quietNov 9, 4 PM — quietNov 9, 6 PM — quietNov 9, 8 PM — quietNov 9, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 2 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 1–2
Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6Nov 7Nov 8Nov 9now · 5:49 AM ET
  1. background

    Ocarina of Time remake releases, prompting the tie-in — The Nintendo 64 classic's remake launches this Thursday, which VGC and others note is the occasion for Google's retro homage to the game's time-travel mechanic.

  2. 2

    IGN and other outlets confirm and describe the gag

    Multiple gaming outlets (IGN, Nintendo Life, TheGamer, Vooks, Inven Global and others) pick up the find, describing the 1998 page's blue text links and simplified layout.

    “Google just got a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Easter egg that transports you back to the 1998 version of the search engine — complete with blue links for results.”
    — IGN
    • eibrain.org

      Those were the days. Googling "Zelda" today offers a glimpse of how search worked in 1998 The flow of time is always cruel."

      eibrain.orgBluesky8d agoview on Bluesky ↗
    3 posts in this stretch →
  3. 1

    Google unveils Ocarina of Time Master Sword Easter egg

    Typing 'zelda' into Google's search bar makes the Master Sword appear hovering over its pedestal; clicking it plays a Link shout and time-travel screen effect that reveals a recreation of Google's 1998 homepage.

    “By clicking the Master Sword, you can travel back in time to the old Google homepage…”
    — Video Games Chronicle
    1. 8 outlets Google Zelda ‘Ocarina of Time’ And Time Travel to 1998 Search Page

      first by Beebom, 8d ago · also The Shortcut | Matt Swider, IGN, TheGamer, Instant Gaming News, Nintendo Life, Vooks +1

      7 more headlines
    2. 7 outlets Type “zelda” into Google for a little Easter egg.

      first by The Verge, 8d ago · also IGN, Kotaku, Engadget, Mashable, Polygon, CNET

      6 more headlines

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