The people yearn for the next Zelda game. The epic franchise has improbably spanned almost four decades, and once the next one comes out, it likely will have reached that plateau. Fresh off the impressive success of Tears of the Kingdom, there’s a ton of interest in where the franchise will go next (and some places it won’t go). Here’s what we know so far about what’s next for one of the most iconic franchises in gaming.
Next Zelda Game Confirmed
At the June Nintendo Direct, the gaming company confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom would be the next Zelda game. It will arrive on September 26, 2024, which is a very short turnaround. That will mark about a year and a half between mainline entries, which is a rarity for the franchise (and one of the most active franchises of all time at that). This time, Zelda must rescue Link!
What We Know About the Next Zelda Game
https://://gty.im/1258270377
Presently, there is no timetable for the following game in The Legend of Zelda franchise. After 2023’s epic release, they are absolutely moving forward on a game, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when. The development team confirmed there would be a new game because they opted to start focusing on the next Zelda game rather than any DLC for TOTK. Now that we know it’s Echoes of Wisdom, we know a little more about the future. However, that’s in a few months, and there’s a bright future ahead of Nintendo and Zelda after that.
It will probably take some time for that to arrive, though. When they had a plan, it still took six years between Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Since they’re effectively starting from scratch, it might be a while, although six years would be an agonizing wait for Zelda fans. The launch of the Switch 2, whenever that happens, will probably play a big role in the timeline of any new games.
The Latest Iteration of Hyrule Won’t Return
The version of Hyrule that players have been exploring for the last seven years will not return. The developers have stated that they consider the Tears of the Kingdom version of Hyrule to be the pinnacle of what that world can be, so there’s no reason to stay there. They will move on to try new things in new places.
It’s difficult to predict what that might be, but it was also difficult to imagine what was coming in Breath of the Wild. Never before had there been a Hyrule like that one before, and it was a surprise coming after Skyward Sword and A Link Between Worlds. Whatever they do for the next Zelda game, it will be new and it will likely be very exciting.
Zelda Franchise Will Move Forward Not Back
https://://gty.im/1149360149
As for what style the game will be in, don’t expect them to return to the classic days. Older Zelda games had small regions to explore with massive dungeons waiting. Now, it’s the opposite. The open world for modern games is huge and rich, and the dungeons are a little smaller. They’re also much less the focus for players. Nintendo is not planning to reverse course on that for the next Zelda game.
Eiji Aonuma, the Zelda producer, said, “I do think we as people have a tendency to want the thing that we don’t currently have. There’s a bit of a grass is greener mentality. It’s interesting when I hear people say those things because I am wondering, ‘Why do you want to go back to a type of game where you’re more limited or more restricted in the types of things or ways you can play?'” The next Zelda game is being planned, and it’s going to push the boundaries even more and will not return to the old ways. For now, that’s what we know about it, but stay tuned for more coverage!
For More Great Content
Be sure to visit the Music Section of Total Apex Entertainment for some brilliant coverage of the industry!
Total Apex is an all-encompassing content producer. We provide heavily detailed articles every day on entertainment, gaming, sports, and so much more! Check out all our great sports content at Total Apex Sports. Check us out on X @TotalApexEandG and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
