The future of The Legend of Zelda is mostly vague at the moment, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing in the works. Along with the Zelda movie, which is set to release in 2027, there’s little doubt that Nintendo has another video game adventure or two in the works.
While another game on the scale of Tears of the Kingdom might not come for a while, next February could still have a surprise or two in store. Nintendo never ignores the major anniversaries of its biggest hits, and as luck would have it, the Zelda franchise is up next.
The Legend Of Zelda Turns 40 In February
It’s A Big Anniversary
The Legend of Zelda didn’t release in North America until August 1987, but the game made its original Japanese debut on February 21, 1986. In the past, Nintendo has set a standard for celebrating the Japanese release year, with the 25th anniversary making a particular splash. Skyward Sword was branded as a 25th anniversary title, Link’s Awakening and Four Swords received digital 3DS re-releases, and Ocarina of Time returned with a full-scale 3DS remake.
I wouldn’t expect festivities of the same scale for the 40th anniversary, and both the 30th and 35th anniversaries received comparatively minor fanfare. Even so, there should still be something to look forward to. The 30th anniversary line-up included amiibo, books, and concerts, and the 35th anniversary pushed through with a special Game & Watch release despite the pandemic.
What Does Nintendo Have Planned For Zelda’s 40th Anniversary?
Maybe Games, Maybe Not
Realistically, a major new Zelda game won’t be in the cards for this year, as the teams behind both Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom simply haven’t had enough turnaround time yet. The most optimistic possibility would likely be Switch/Switch 2 ports of the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess remasters, which have been requested ever since the Switch’s debut.
Short of remasters, there’s always the potential for Switch Online re-releases. Other Nintendo games could also get some cross-over content — incidentally, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has already revealed Zelda content coming to January’s 3.0 update. Outside of games, more books or concerts wouldn’t go unappreciated by fans.
No matter what Zelda‘s 40th anniversary ends up looking like, it definitely won’t pass without any comment from Nintendo, confirming that this won’t be a silent year for Zelda. Setting your hopes on a grand new adventure is a recipe for disappointment, but as long as you keep your expectations in check, there should be some surprises to enjoy.
- Movie(s)
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The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
- Created by
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Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka
- Upcoming Films
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The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
- First Episode Air Date
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September 8, 1989
- Cast
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Jonathan Potts, Cyndy Preston
