In Nintendo's most recent shareholder meeting, as relayed by Japanese reporter NStyles, one participant asked about past Nintendo IPs that hadn't seen releases in a long time and enquired whether there were any remakes or new projects in the works. They specifically mentioned F-Zero as what they consider to be a popular IP regarding this idea. That's right; the demand has come knocking on Nintendo's door at this point.
F-Zero was never one of Nintendo's major flagship franchises, but it was able to amass a sizeable and loyal fanbase throughout its various games in the 90s and early 2000s. As time went on though, it became clear that Nintendo had decided to lock this one away in their attic of old and forgotten IPs, left to collect dust next to Golden Sun and Mother, never to be played again. The series' last title was the GBA exclusive F-Zero Climax, which came out in 2004 to middling reception.
This is not uncommon with Nintendo. All their old IPs have at least a small group of people clamoring for their return, but F-Zero is a game that just keeps popping up, especially after the success of the Switch. It wasn't that long ago that a former producer of the franchise stated he would be open to returning to work on it.
Why is it so popular though? Well, it was a unique take on the racer genre, with its fast-paced gameplay and fantastical sci-fi setting. It was other-worldly, but not as silly or arcade-y as most kart racers. Many believe the F-Zero still has a place in the market, as there's just nothing like it anymore, and are curious to see what it could look like in a modern console. Also, let's be honest, the demand is probably heightened by how cool Captain Falcon is in Smash.
How could you not love this man?
It's certain many will appreciate this investor's candor, however, they'll likely be less excited to hear what the response was. According to translations by VGC, the General Manager of Nintendo's Development teams, Shinya Takahashi, stated, in part, "We cannot tell you if there are any plans for future remakes of any specific game, but, during development, we are always thinking about various possibilities that players can enjoy." He proceeded to change the subject to upcoming titles and showed a video of Xenoblade and Splatoon.
It was a relatively standard business-speak answer that didn't really say much of anything. All we can do is wait and see what, if anything, Nintendo has planned for this fan-favorite franchise.