Odds that 'The Legend of Zelda' will be released this year are very slim as Nintendo continues to remain silent on development details. Fans were initially expecting the game to be released in 2015.
However, the game's producer Eiji Aonuma made an unexpected announcement in March by stating on YouTube that the release date will be pushed back.
"In these last three months, as the team has experienced firsthand the freedom of exploration that hasn't existed in any Zelda game to date, we have discovered several new possibilities for this game," Aonuma explained.
"As we have worked to turn these possibilities into reality, new ideas have continued to spring forth, it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds even my own expectations."
He stopped short of saying by how long. Based on the comments section, reactions from the Zelda fanbase were generally sympathetic.
Nintendo went further by refraining from showing off additional footage at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2015 in June. Due to this situation, it is impossible to know if the Zelda is nearing completion. Meanwhile, there are rumors that the game is being delayed due to the development of the NX console. The same gossip purports that the next Zelda may be ported to both Wii U and NX. As usual, Nintendo is keeping its usual secretive stance regarding the development status for Zelda Wii U.
'Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' May Be Getting HD Remake
If it is any consolation to fans, a GameCube title in the Zelda may be getting the HD remake treatment. Hackers found an alleged leak hinting at the possible existence of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess on Wii U. That information comes from hackers who reportedly found a listing for the fabled game on Nintendo's own server.
Destructoid suggested that the latest occurrence may be the result of a 2013 experiment, in which Nintendo tried porting two older Zelda titles onto the Wii U platform.
"When we were thinking about the new Zelda for Wii U, which is something we're actually working on, we needed to experiment with a variety of graphic styles and it was part of that process we took some existing Zelda games and made them HD just to see what would happen," Eiji Aonuma said in an interview with Polygon.
"In doing so we realized that the Wind Waker graphic style, the art style, really represented well on the Wii U given the graphic capabilities of the new system. It really brought that world to life."
The games that Eiji was talking about included The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Nintendo never published the results of their findings. For now, fans will need to wait for more information from the Japan-based giant.
