The Future of Zelda: Breaking Away from Breath of the Wild's Kingdom
Prepare for an exhilarating shift in the Zelda universe as Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi sets his sights on a thrilling new storyline for the next installment Brace yourself for unprecedented adventures beyond Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
In a recent interview, the director of the Legend of Zelda series expressed that the next game is unlikely to be a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, and instead, the team is focused on creating something completely original. Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma and director Hidemaro Fujibayashi stated that the iconic Ultrahand from Tears of the Kingdom probably won't make a return in future games, as they are looking to explore new ideas.
Fujibayashi explained that bringing in established elements like Ultrahand into a new game would feel like rehashing the same material. From a game creator's perspective, the goal is to innovate and create something new with each Zelda title. Aonuma added that the development team was selective in choosing which ideas to incorporate into Tears of the Kingdom, resulting in a game that is complete without the need for additional DLC.
When asked if there would be a sequel to Tears of the Kingdom, Aonuma expressed doubt and provided an explanation. "Creating a sequel to a sequel starts to get a bit out of hand," he said. "With Tears of the Kingdom, our goal was to expand on the world of Breath of the Wild and push the boundaries of what we could create within that world. It's like reaching an apex, the ultimate expression of that version of The Legend of Zelda. Given that, I don't believe we'll be making a direct sequel to a world like the one we've built."
With Tears of the Kingdom concluding this chapter of the Zelda universe, it will be intriguing to see what direction the series takes next. The interview also delved into the Zelda timeline, with Aonuma and Fujibayashi discussing how they consider a game's placement in the timeline during development.
"We've noticed that fans love to theorize and enjoy speculating about where things fit in the timeline. This is something our development team acknowledges and takes into consideration - to a certain extent. However, we have to be careful not to get too bogged down or detailed in the placement, as it can stifle our creativity," explained Fujibayashi. "We do take it into account, but we don't want it to limit our development process."
Editor's P/S
As a devoted Zelda fan, I am both excited and intrigued by the news that the next installment in the series will break away from the Breath of the Wild storyline. The prospect of embarking on unprecedented adventures in a completely original setting fills me with anticipation. The Zelda series has always been known for its ability to reinvent itself while staying true to its core elements, and I trust that the team led by Hidemaro Fujibayashi will deliver another masterpiece.
The decision to move away from established elements like the Ultrahand from Tears of the Kingdom demonstrates the developers' commitment to innovation and their desire to create something fresh and exciting. I appreciate their focus on creating a complete game without the need for additional DLC, as it shows their dedication to delivering a satisfying experience to players. While I understand the challenges of creating a sequel to a sequel, I can't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that we may not see a direct continuation of the Breath of the Wild storyline. Nevertheless, I am confident that the new direction the series is taking will lead to unforgettable adventures and memorable experiences.
