Breath of the Wild Sequel Release Date & Zelda Game & Watch

Nintendo's E3 Direct: Games Take Center Stage

Nintendo surprised many observers today with its E3-focused Direct presentation. Rather than unveiling anticipated new Switch hardware, the company showcased a substantial lineup of over a dozen upcoming games. A release timeframe for the highly awaited next installment in the Zelda franchise was also revealed.

A Diverse Game Roster

To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the original game, Nintendo announced a new Game & Watch handheld, pre-loaded with the first three titles in the series.

The presentation included remastered or remade versions of beloved games from franchises like “Monkey Ball,” “Mario Party,” “Advance Wars,” and “Wario Ware.” New additions to the “Mario + Rabbids” and “Shin Megami Tensei” universes were also announced.

Furthermore, several other newly revealed or previewed games are slated for release on the Switch, including the forthcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy” title.

The Return of Metroid

A particularly noteworthy announcement was the unveiling of a new 2D side-scrolling Metroid game. This marks the first new entry in the series in almost two decades, having undergone periods of development spanning half that time.

“Metroid Dread,” the fifth main installment beginning on the NES, is scheduled for release on October 8th. The question remains whether Nintendo can maintain its pioneering status in a genre that has been significantly advanced by other developers.

Image Credits: Nintendo

Zelda Celebrations

Anticipation was high for news regarding the Zelda series, and Nintendo delivered… with a slightly different approach. Acknowledging the 35th anniversary of the original NES game, presenters indicated that there are “no campaigns or other Nintendo Switch games planned” beyond what was shown.

Instead, a new Game & Watch device, similar to the one released last year for the Mario series, was presented. The previous device received positive reviews, and this new iteration is expected to provide a similarly enjoyable experience.

The ability to pause gameplay and resume later, without rewind or save functionality, aims to replicate an authentic playthrough of the initial three Zelda games: “The Legend of Zelda” and “Zelda II: The Adventure of Link” for NES, and “Link’s Awakening” for Game Boy (which was recently remastered).

Image Credits: Nintendo

Breath of the Wild's Sequel

The presentation concluded with a fresh look at the sequel to “Breath of the Wild,” a game that continues to be regarded as one of the best titles available on the Switch, even years after its initial release.

This new trailer showcased actual gameplay and the expansive overworld, highlighting a significant increase in verticality with the inclusion of airborne fortresses and castles. The visuals are certainly impressive, but concerns arise regarding the limitations of the Switch’s hardware.

“Breath of the Wild” already pushed the system to its boundaries upon release, and its processing power remains inferior to that of competing consoles from Microsoft and Sony – both of which have since been superseded by newer generations.

Looking Ahead

Many are hopeful that Nintendo is intentionally maintaining an element of surprise and has a hardware upgrade in development, as has been its pattern in the past. The Switch itself was announced unexpectedly, and previous hardware revisions have been released with minimal pre-release publicity.

Expectations center on an updated Switch model with the same physical dimensions but significantly improved internal components and a larger, higher-quality display. Full backwards compatibility, mirroring the approach taken with the 3DS family of handhelds, would also be a logical step.

However, Nintendo consistently charts its own course, and its fanbase embraces this independent spirit.