Breaking: Zelda Producer Drops Unexpected Bombshell for Tears of the Kingdom Fans

Highlights

Nintendo has no plans to release DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, according to producer Eiji Aonuma.

Aonuma is confident that the developers have exhausted all their efforts in making the latest version of Hyrule enjoyable.

Although a third game within the same setting remains possible, Aonuma assures that the next installment will provide a completely fresh and distinctive experience.

Nintendo may not produce any DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, according to Eiji Aonuma, the long-time producer of the series. Aonuma's comments provide further insight into the development of Tears of the Kingdom and Nintendo's hesitation to continue expanding on their latest version of Hyrule. Fans had expected post-launch content for the game, considering Nintendo's previous success with Breath of the Wild's Expansion Pass. Therefore, the possibility of Tears of the Kingdom receiving its own DLC appeared to be another promising opportunity for the company.

Yet the gaming giant doesn't seem to share that perspective. According to a recent interview with Famitsu, Aonuma, an industry veteran, has indicated that there are currently "no plans to release additional content" for the popular game. Additionally, the Zelda team is not interested in revisiting the setting of the last two mainline installments. Aonuma explained that the developers feel they have already done everything possible to make the latest version of Hyrule as enjoyable as it can be. This information, taken from a machine translation of his comments, provides insight into the developer's current stance on DLC or a sequel for the game.

The producer acknowledged the possibility of a third game in the same setting, stating that if his team were able to come up with sufficient justification for another direct sequel, it wouldn't be entirely out of the question. He pointed to Tears of the Kingdom as an example of how a new game came into existence based on similar circumstances. Regardless of what ultimately happens, Aonuma emphasized that the next Zelda installment will provide a completely fresh experience.

Tears of the Kingdom director Hidemaro Fujibayashi also participated in the interview, but provided minimal insight into Nintendo's future plans for the series, stating that he is unsure about his next project. Fujibayashi did mention in May that he has some ideas for another Zelda game, but has yet to share them with Aonuma.

Meanwhile, this newfound revelation strongly suggests that the latest Zelda game will not receive any additional content after its release. Although Nintendo could potentially change their stance, it is highly uncommon for single-player games to receive DLC years after their initial launch. However, Nintendo has consistently strayed from industry norms, as evidenced by the unexpected announcement of the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which was introduced five years after the game's release.

Now available on the Nintendo Switch, you can get your hands on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Source: Famitsu (Japanese)