The 2021 Game Awards are just around the corner, with a ceremony on December 9th to honor the best of the best from the previous year. It’s been a great year for interactive entertainment, with games like Deathloop and Metroid Dread competing for top honors. Aside from handing out awards to recently released games, these kinds of events usually include sneak peeks and jaw-dropping reveal trailers to give attendees a taste of what’s to come in the future. Nintendo may have something new for The Legend of Zelda franchise, according to rumors building up to the event.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the franchise, and many other The Legend of Zelda themes merchandise has already been launched. It’s unclear what Nintendo has planned for the Game Awards, or even if this story is real in the first place. However, based on other speculations, fan demands, and Nintendo’s usual release patterns, some educated estimates for what’s to come in the next few weeks can be made. It’s worth noting that none of them have been verified or hinted at by Nintendo, and they’re all pure guesswork.
Nintendo announced a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy in 2019. Grezzo created this delightful Nintendo Switch remake, and the team did an excellent job of bringing this beloved game up to modern standards. The “toybox” aesthetic approach is instantly appealing, and the adjustments to the controls and additional material further added to an already full package.
Grezzo advertised earlier this year that he was hiring for a new project with medieval elements and presentation. While it’s better not to make snap judgments, the Legend of Zelda franchise can be classified as medieval due to the presence of swords, sorcery, and other high fantasy themes. It wouldn’t be surprising if Nintendo enlisted the help of the crew to remake another game in the series, or two in this case.
It’s all the fashion these days to bundle older games with some aesthetic enhancements. Nintendo gave Mario this treatment with Super Mario 3D All-Stars just last year, and there have been persistent whispers that a collection for the Metroid Prime trilogy is on the road as well.
Nintendo Switch Online just added N64 titles to its service, including the critically acclaimed Ocarina of Time, as well as confirmation that Majora’s Mask will be released in the future. Expecting Nintendo to bring GameCube titles to this service is a reach, which is why games like The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess could be better off as independent releases. All Nintendo would have to do is convert these games’ already aesthetically stunning Wii U versions to the Switch, and the company would practically print money.
Breath of the Wild 2 is clearly one of the most anticipated games of 2022, despite only two brief and mysterious trailers. Nintendo is keeping a lot of details about this sequel under wraps until it releases, but the veil should start to break on this intriguing title for marketing purposes. The Title Awards will be seen by a large number of people, which Nintendo may exploit to promote what is likely its most important future game.
Nothing has been confirmed, but given the idea that The Legend of Zelda will make an appearance at The Game Awards in some capacity, the safest option could be a tease for Breath of the Wild 2. Plot elements can still be kept under wraps, but gaming footage to give people an indication of what to anticipate from the game would be fantastic.
Nintendo has a history of surprising us with unexpected announcements. Just when gamers think they’ve worked out the company, the most surprising items will be dropped on fans all across the world like a bomb.
Who knows what this could be, but stranger things have happened, and even the most bizarre concepts can become reality. There was a rumor that Netflix was working on a TV show based on The Legend of Zelda, but it never materialized. Nintendo is notoriously protective of its intellectual property, but given its willingness to collaborate with Illumination on a Super Mario Bros film, there’s a chance Link and co. will get the same treatment. Fans of The Legend of Zelda franchise will be hoping for some big news on December 9th.
