Tech
Googling "Zelda" today offers a glimpse of how search worked in 1998
Publication: Ars Technica - All content
Author: Ryan Whitwam
Source published: 02/11/2026, 19:52:23 UTC
Briefing created: 02/11/2026, 20:29:09 UTC
Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 02/11/2026, 20:28:24 UTC.
Briefings
A 2026 article describes a Google Easter egg that transports users to 1998 by searching for 'Zelda' or 'Ocarina of Time'. The animation features the Master Sword and a Link shout, while the search results display retro branding. This feature was created to celebrate the 1998 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64.
Key points
- The Easter egg allows users to search for 'Zelda' or 'Ocarina of Time' to trigger a time-skipping animation and a Link shout.
- The search results page displays retro Google branding and a list of blue links to the 1998 era.
Context
The article explains that Google launched this Easter egg to commemorate the 1998 release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on the Nintendo 64, a game that was a major cultural phenomenon at the time.
Limitations
The evidence is a single article from 2026 describing a specific Easter egg feature. It does not provide historical context about the game's release, the 1998 era, or the Nintendo 64 platform. The animation and specific details of the time-skipping animation are not described.
Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 02/11/2026, 20:29:09 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.
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