Summary
After series producer Eiji Aonuma said there are currently no plans for DLC forThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, attention has now turned to the series' next game and how it might follow in the wake of its two Switch predecessors. DespiteBreath of the Wildadding two Expansion Passes with new shrines, quests, dungeons, and more, the recent revelation there was littlepossibility forTears of the Kingdom’s DLC. But while some remain hopeful that Nintendo might reverse this decision, others are looking ahead to an already teased futureZeldagame.
ThoughBreath of the Wildwas a huge departure from the series, it launched to critical acclaim and quickly became a fan-favoriteZeldagame rivaling the likes ofOcarina of TimeandA Link To The Past. It was arguably due to this success that the nextZeldagame was soon announced as its sequel, just asMajora’s Maskhad followed shortly afterOcarina of Time. But if Nintendo feels it has done everything it can with the world ofThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomas Aonuma says, then the nextZeldagame faces the challenge of overcoming player expectations and innovating its own design.
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No Tears of the Kingdom DLC Means No Threequel
While there are several direct sequels spread throughout the series, Nintendo hasn’t yet made an officialZeldatrilogy, with the closest attempt being a cut third game followingOracle of AgesandOracle of Seasons. AfterTears of the Kingdomsuccessfully maintained its predecessor’s momentum, there was hope that Nintendo might finally follow through onZelda’s first-ever threequel. However, asequel seemed uncertain followingTears of the Kingdom’s endingas the story started inBreath of the Wildhad now been effectively resolved with the real Ganondorf’s defeat, if only for the time being.
Moreover, alongside Aonuma’s comments suggesting that there will beno DLC forTears of the Kingdomwas the justification that Nintendo felt it had achieved everything it wanted for the sequel after already building on whatBreath of the Wildhad established. From this, it’s possible to infer that Nintendo cannot see any more potential in the world or story following on fromTears of the Kingdom. Between this and renewed discussion surrounding the Switch’s lifespan, ifTears of the Kingdomis complete without DLC, then the likelihood ofZelda’s first threequel will have to come another day potentially on another console.
Zelda’s Next Game Could Be Very Different
So despite the slim probability that the nextZeldagame will share the design and mechanics ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, the show will go on as directorHidemaro Fujibayashi has already hinted at anotherZeldagame. Arguably, it was always inevitable that Nintendo would eventually transition away from the style of these games just as it had done across theZeldaseries. The nextZeldagame is therefore probably going to look and play very differently from the recent Switch games, just asTwilight Princesshad been a significant departure from the cartoonish style ofWind WakerorThe Minish Cap.
A radical change might not be a bad thing, as prior toTears of the Kingdom’s launch, bothLink’s AwakeningandSkyward Swordwere released on the Switch with a positive reception. So even withLink’s Awakeningclassic top-down perspective and toy-like visuals, players remain open to any sort ofZeldagame so long as it delivers an engaging and enjoyable experience. Therefore, after straying so far from thefranchises' traditions withBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, Aonuma’s comments could suggest Nintendo might be returning to its roots for the nextZeldagame in terms of design, mechanics, and story.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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