Within a few days of the Nintendo Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time hitting stores, the speedrunning community has already identified a novel exploit made possible by the game’s new jumping ability. The trick, dubbed “actor jumping,” lets players launch Link far higher than intended, creating shortcuts that were impossible in the original Nintendo 64 version or the 3DS port.
What is Actor Jumping?
Actor jumping is a glitch that combines the game’s lock‑on function with a movable in‑game object, often referred to as an “actor” such as a chest or a tombstone that can be shifted by the player. To execute the maneuver, a runner first positions Link on the selected actor. While the actor is being used, the player must fire a projectile or use an aimable tool, then press the lock‑on button (ZL by default) before the action completes. As soon as the animation finishes, the player triggers a jump. The sequence causes Link to perform a super jump that reaches heights far beyond the game’s design.
The glitch is most reliably performed with the hookshot, an aimable tool that many speedrunners already employ. When timed correctly, the hookshot’s lock‑on combined with the premature jump propels Link upward enough to bypass entire sections of a level, effectively shaving minutes off a full‑game run.
Community Reaction and Early Adoption
Content creators on YouTube, including Kethaldo and Knightpohtayto, have posted demonstrations of the technique, and a user known as Mircacle on Bluesky has also shared footage. Their videos illustrate the step‑by‑step process and showcase the dramatic height gains achievable with the glitch. The speedrunning community has responded quickly, integrating actor jumps into practice runs less than a week after the remake’s launch.
Nintendo has not issued a patch to remove the exploit, meaning the glitch remains usable in the current version of the game. Compared with other emerging tricks in the remake, actor jumping is considered relatively easy to perform, further encouraging its adoption among runners seeking to push the limits of the new title.
Implications for Future Runs and Nintendo’s Response
The addition of a jump mechanic to Ocarina of Time was intended to modernize the classic adventure, but the unintended side effect has given speedrunners a powerful new tool. Observers note that while Nintendo likely did not anticipate this specific exploitation, the discovery underscores how even minor gameplay changes can open avenues for advanced techniques.
As more runners experiment with the mechanic, additional glitches and shortcuts may surface, prompting Nintendo to decide whether to patch the behavior or leave it as part of the evolving meta. For now, actor jumping stands as a vivid example of how the speedrunning community rapidly adapts to new game features, turning a simple jump into a game‑breaking advantage.
Norman Pearlstine is the Executive Editor and Co-Founder at News Raise. With over two decades of experience across financial journalism, corporate governance, and market analysis, Norman leads the editorial direction and ensures strict adherence to journalistic accuracy and ethics.
