It’s been over four years since The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released for the Nintendo Switch, and ever since then, players have been anxiously waiting for a sequel to the revolutionary open-world game. While Breath of the Wild 2 is officially in development, news about the game has been sparse. However, several details have been unveiled, giving fans another glimpse of what to expect from the in-development title.
Recently, 3 patents were filed by Nintendo that Zelda-savvy fans believe could be connected to Breath of the Wild 2. These patents are registered with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and include illustrations corresponding to possible gaming mechanics for Link. In addition, they appear similar to gameplay seen in the E3 trailer from this summer.
The first of these patents registered as US20210370179 is called “Free Falling” by numerous fans. According to the patent, it pertains to a specific move performed during free fall. The action seems to be performed while shooting an arrow in the direction of a target. Speculation surrounding the move arose due to a section of the E3 gameplay trailer that showed Link free falling. It will be interesting to see what this move would look like in-game.
The next patent published as 20210370175 gives players a better understanding of an already revealed gameplay mechanic. As seen in the first gameplay trailer, this patent pertains to Link’s ability to pass through solid surfaces. The action is currently being labeled “Phase-Through Terrain.” Based on the information shown in the patent, it appears that the character can move through platforms and walls freely. A similar ability was seen in the summer gameplay trailer for Breath of the Wild 2 that showed Link travel through a stone platform.
Rounding out this list is patent US20210370178, called “Rewind” by the community. As the name suggests, it deals with a type of rewind feature. It appears that by using this ability, players can tamper with in-game objects and move them to places further back in time. Like before, this action was seen in the trailer for the sequel. In that footage, Link moved a large rock back to its previous orientation.
Following the reveal of these patents, it’s worth noting that none of these registered mechanics have been confirmed by Nintendo to be in the sequel. However, it’s doubtlessly exciting for many Nintendo fans to see more potential news regarding Breath of the Wild 2. With the game projected to come out sometime next year, it will be interesting to see when the developer decides to give gamers another official look at the project.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is expected to release in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.
Source: IGN
