The Legend of Zelda Franchise Looks to the Future
With the Nintendo Switch 2 now comfortably on the market, gamers are eagerly anticipating what’s next for the beloved Legend of Zelda franchise. The Switch 2 has already shown its capabilities with impressive upgrades to Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild, as well as framerate and resolution boosts for Echoes of Wisdom and Link’s Awakening. The recent release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has also given fans a new spinoff to enjoy. However, the real question on everyone’s mind is: when can we expect a new mainline Zelda game?
The Appeal of a New Zelda Game
There’s nothing quite like the excitement of a new Legend of Zelda game announcement. The reveal of a new installment in the series always generates a significant amount of buzz and anticipation. Now that we’ve seen the Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities with games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Star Wars Outlaws, the prospect of a Zelda game backed by the console’s impressive power is an intriguing one. A video from YouTube channel Digital Dreams showcases The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild running with 8K visuals on an RTX 5090, giving us a glimpse of what could be possible.
What to Expect from Zelda on Switch 2
Speculation and Possibilities
While it’s too soon to say for certain, it’s likely that Nintendo will stick with the newer open-world approach for the next mainline Legend of Zelda game. The company may also move away from the overall style and timeline of the Switch games. Some fans, like myself, would love to see a fully open-world sequel to Wind Waker, but that remains to be seen. The idea of sailing around an open world filled with unique islands is an exciting one, and it will be interesting to see how Nintendo chooses to develop the series further.
For now, Zelda fans will have to content themselves with playing classic games and waiting for the next Nintendo Direct to potentially give us a glimpse of the future of the franchise. With the Nintendo Switch 2’s capabilities and Nintendo’s track record of innovation, it’s likely that the next Zelda game will be an exciting and memorable experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released on May 12, 2023, and has an ESRB rating of Everyone (10+). The game runs on a proprietary engine, and its success has set the stage for what’s next in the series. As we look to the future, one thing is certain: the Legend of Zelda franchise will continue to be a major player in the world of gaming.
