Promised at E3 2011 during the Nintendo Press Conference, as part of the celebration for the Zelda series reaching its 25th Anniversary, the multiplayer Zelda game known as Four Swords Adventure will be released as a DSi Ware Download for free for a limited time. Now we know what that limited time frame is.

Between October 3, 2011 and February 20, 2012, Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure Anniversary Edition will be available for download. While Nintendo wasn’t perfectly clear, the game should be downloadable on Nintendo DSi systems as well as through the eShop on Nintendo 3DS.

This won’t be a straight port of the Gamecube original. While the four player cooperative action will be preserved via local wireless, a new single player mode is being added. The single player mode will give players control of two Links to allow for progression through the challenges. Players can choose to switch control at the press of the shoulder buttons.

It doesn’t sound like online multiplayer will be an option, but this will provide the most convenient way to play the game to its fullest. Originally, each player was required to have a Game Boy Advance system (regular or SP version) and have the Game Boy Advance Link Cable with which to connect the systems to the Gamecube.