apanese accessory maker Hori has unveiled an unusual yet charming gadget: the NSX-261U electronic ocarina, priced at $50. Timed for the rumored remake of the iconic *The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time* on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, it looks like standard plastic merchandise at first glance. However, Hori turned it into a fully functional gaming controller.
At its core, the device is a portable wind synthesizer. You can blow into it and cover the finger holes to play actual notes manually, or switch to an automated mode that plays any of the 12 canonical tunes from the game. Hori added a physical volume dial and a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, letting you practice scales late at night without disturbing anyone, or hook it up to an external speaker.
The cleverest engineering trick is the total absence of traditional pairing. There is no Bluetooth, no cables, and no setup menu. Instead, the Nintendo Switch 2 simply listens via its built-in microphone to what you play in the room, recognizes the melody in real time, and triggers the corresponding in-game event.
Rather than another static dust collector, fans get a tangible instrument that brings the game's core mechanic straight into their hands. For anyone planning to play the remake who enjoys a bit of playful immersion, spending $50 on this quirky hardware makes a lot of sense.