The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a tremendous sport and we in all probability might preserve taking part in it endlessly, however as you would possibly recall, it is now been properly over 5 years since this newest entry within the sequence was launched (and subsequent March will mark six). Sure, we’re speaking about model new adventures right here – in order that’s not together with remakes like Skyward Sword HD or spin-offs.
With this in thoughts, immediately marks the “longest ever hole” in “new” releases within the historical past of The Legend of Zelda sequence. The earlier report was the time between the Game Boy basic Hyperlink’s Awakening (1993) and the N64 hit The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998). This reality was highlighted by the Twitter account ‘BombosMedallion‘ – noting the way it was roughly 5 years, 5 months, and 15 days between these explicit titles:
This new hole between releases is about to get even larger – with Nintendo saying earlier this yr it will be delaying The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 till Spring 2023. No actual date has been locked in but, so that is topic to vary. It is also price contemplating the truth that the world was turned the other way up over the previous few years because of the pandemic, and growth schedules at sport corporations across the globe have not at all times gone to plan.
When the sequel was delayed earlier this yr in March, sequence’ boss Eiji Aonuma talked about how the group needed this subsequent expertise to be “one thing particular”. The sequel to BOTW was initially introduced method again at E3 in 2019. And as video games get larger and higher with new tech and bigger open worlds, wait occasions on big-budget titles akin to Zelda will possible get longer.
One different Nintendo sequence that is been in a prolonged growth cycle is Metroid Prime – with the fourth entry’s growth being scrapped and restarted alongside Retro Studios in 2019. Different video games like Grand Theft Auto V and even The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have spanned throughout three console generations – and have now been ported to a number of platforms. So video games aren’t solely taking longer, however in some circumstances, they’re hanging round for a for much longer time – with post-launch DLC and assist.
How do you’re feeling ready this lengthy for a brand new mainline Legend of Zelda sport? Is 5 plus years in between new releases too lengthy for such an vital Nintendo franchise like Zelda, or are you cheerful for Nintendo to take as a lot time because it wants? Tell us within the feedback.