20 December 2025

Zelda Producer Comments on the Franchise’s Next Game

By newsgame

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 so it’s cause for celebration whenever a new one comes out.

Most years have some kind of new Zelda release, whether it’s a main series entry or a spin-off. In fact, 2025 had multiple Zelda releases, with the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom launching this past summer and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment hitting store shelves in November. The wait between brand-new, main series home console entries is usually a little longer, with six-year gaps between Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom.

Zelda Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment Link

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Marks A Growing Trend For Zelda Games

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

We’re coming up on Tears of the Kingdom‘s three-year anniversary in 2026, but we have no idea when the next Zelda game will release or what form it will take. Nintendo has yet to officially announce a new Zelda for the Switch 2, though one is inevitable. It might be some time before fans learn what’s next for Zelda, but Eiji Aonuma has suggested that playing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment might give them some idea. In an interview with 4Gamer, as reported by IGN, Aonuma said, “The inspiration we received from this collaboration with Koei Tecmo may be reflected in the (next) Zelda we create. Please picture this while playing Age of Imprisonment, and look forward to our Zelda.” Since Age of Imprisonment is a musou game that has very little in common with what fans expect from Zelda gameplay, it’s hard to know what exactly he means by this, and we likely won’t know until the game is actually revealed.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Gets Early Demo

Perhaps the next main series Zelda game will feature large waves of enemies like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment does. Maybe it will feature 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 at this point, but it will definitely be interesting to see the Age of Imprisonment influence once the next Zelda is unveiled.

When Will the Next Zelda Game Be Announced?

Historically, Nintendo has wasted little time getting main series Super Mario and Legend of Zelda games on its consoles. They are often launch titles or if not, they release not long after the console. To date, 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 somehow, and what would be more exciting than a brand-new Zelda game reveal. Even if it’s just a small teaser of the next Zelda, many fans would be happy to see that a new game in the series is in the works for the Switch 2.

Nintendo tends to host Nintendo Direct events in February every year, so maybe that’s when the next Zelda will be revealed. If not, perhaps that will be when Nintendo reveals what its other plans for Zelda‘s anniversary are. Beyond wanting a new main series Zelda games, many fans are anxious for Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD to finally escape their Wii U prison and come to Switch, and the 40th anniversary would mark the perfect opportunity to make that announcement as well.