Even though 2021 is a huge year for Nintendo with the 25th anniversary of thePokemonseries, many fans ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries have been excited for its 35th anniversary.The Legend of Zeldaseries may have begun in 1986, but the fan base continues to grow stronger, especially withthe recent success ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. While many fans were hoping for news of the Breath of the Wild sequel during today’s Nintendo Direct, Eiji Aonuma asked fans to wait just a bit longer.
First teased in 2013 as an exclusive for the Wii U, Breath of the Wild was eventually delayed to become a launch title for the Nintendo Switch in March 2017. Millions of players loved the new open-world Zelda game, and when Nintendo surprisingly announceda sequel toBreath of the Wildat E3 2019, many fans' minds were blown. The dark and mysterious trailer instantly had players speculating about what could be in store for the series. The wait was temporarily alleviated with the release ofHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which was described as a canon prequel.Â
Unfortunately, news about Breath of the Wild 2 was not present during the Nintendo Direct today. Instead, Aonuma, the producer for The Legend of Zelda series, made an appearance to say there isn't anything major to share at the moment. He did let fans know that development on the game is progressing smoothly, and that fans can expect official news later this year.
Since today’s Nintendo Direct was focusing on games coming out in the first half of 2021, there are two assumptions that can be made. First, it’s possible that the sequel to Breath of the Wild could be released in the second half of 2021, possibly as the big holiday title. Or, the sequel still requires a large amount of development and may be released in 2022.
The first option is possible, even though it's all still speculation. 2021 is a perfect time to release the sequel if it’s ready, as it’s the 35th anniversary of the series. Nintendo was confident enough to announce the game in 2019, and even with the probable complications and delays caused by the pandemic, the game could be close to completion.
For a game that started out as DLC for its predecessor, Breath of the Wild 2 must be something special for Nintendo to keeps fans waiting for so long. Breath of the Wild has been a cultural impact since its launch, and recent games like Immortals Fenyx Rising and Valheim have even been inspired by Breath of the Wild. In any case, The Legend of Zelda fans will need to be patient, and enjoy the other Zelda content coming their way.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is in development.
