Zelda producer comments on the franchise's next game

The Legend of Zelda franchise producer Eiji Aonuma has suggested that the next main series game may take inspiration from the recently released spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. The Legend of Zelda is one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed video game franchises in history. Some of the most innovative and highly rated games of all time are Zelda titles, and therefore there is reason to celebrate when a new one comes out.

Most years have something new Zelda release, whether it's a main series entry or a spin-off. In fact, 2025 had several Zelda releases, with the Switch 2 releases of Breath of the Wild and The tears of the kingdom launched this summer and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment on store shelves in November. The wait between all-new main series home consoles is usually a bit longer, with six-year intervals between them Skyward sword, Breath of the Wildand The tears of the kingdom.

Zelda Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment Link

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment marks a growing trend for Zelda games

As long as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a canonical prequel, a missing character could reveal that the future of Zelda games is changing.

We're coming up The tears of the kingdomthird anniversary in 2026, but we have no idea when the next one Zelda the game will be released or what form it will take. Nintendo has yet to officially unveil a new one Zelda for Switch 2, although one is inevitable. It may be a while before fans find out what happens next Zeldabut Eiji Aonuma has suggested playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment can give them an idea. In an interview with 4Gamer, as reported by IGN, Aonuma said, “The inspiration we got from this collaboration with Koei Tecmo can be reflected in (next) Zelda we create. Please imagine this while playing Age of Imprisonment and look forward to ours Zelda.“Then Age of imprisonment is a musou game that has very little in common with what fans expect from it Zelda gameplay, it's hard to know exactly what he means by this, and we probably won't know until the game is actually revealed.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment gets early demo

Maybe the next main series Zelda the game will feature large waves of enemies that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment do. Maybe it will include co-op in some capacity. Or maybe there will be multiple playable characters for players to choose from instead of just Link. There are so many different possibilities that we can only guess right now, but it will definitely be interesting to see Age of imprisonment influence next time Zelda is revealed.

When will the next Zelda game be announced?

Historically, Nintendo has wasted little time getting main series Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda games on their consoles. They are often launch titles or if not, not released long after the console. So far no brand new main series Super Mario or Zelda games have been announced for the Switch 2, but one has to imagine that will change in the relatively near future.

Link fighting some enemies while on horseback - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

2026 marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise. Chances are Nintendo plans to celebrate in some way, and what would be more exciting than a brand new one Zelda the game reveals. Even if it's just a little teaser of the next one Zeldamany fans would love to see a new game in the series in the works for Switch 2.

Nintendo usually hosts Nintendo Direct events in February every year, so maybe that's when the next one will be Zelda will be revealed. If not, maybe it will be when Nintendo reveals what its other plans are Zeldas anniversary is. Besides wanting a new main series Zelda games that many fans are keen on Twilight Princess HD and The Wind Waker HD to finally escape their Wii U prison and come to the Switch, and the 40th anniversary would be the perfect time to make that announcement as well.