*Update 11/2019*
This post was written before the release of Breath of the Wild.

I just found out that The Legend of Zelda Wii U game is getting delayed. It looks as though it will not be released this year. While I am eagerly awaiting the release of the new Zelda game and I was excited to see some of it displayed at last year's E3, I feel that the reason behind the delay is justified (see quote below). It also appears that the game will not be shown at this year's E3, which I find disappointing.

Here is what Eiji Aonuma has said about the delay:

"Since I declared at the Game Awards in December that the game would launch in 2015, the directors and the many members of the development team have been working hard developing the game," Aonuma said. "In these last three months, as the team has experienced first-hand the freedom of exploration that hasn't existed in any Zelda game to date, we have discovered several new possibilities for this game."

"As we have worked to turn these possibilities into reality, new ideas have continued to spring forth, and it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds my own expectations," he added. "As I have watched our development progress, I have come to think that rather than work with meeting a specific schedule as our main objective, and releasing a game that reflects only what we can create within that scheduled time, I feel strongly that our focus should be to bring all these ideas to life in a way that will make Zelda on Wii U the best game it can possibly be."

"So I must apologize to all of you who were expecting the game by year's end, but we are no longer making a 2015 release our number one priority. Instead, our priority is to make it the ultimate and most complete Zelda game. I hope to use the added time to make a Zelda on Wii U that will reward you for your patience. So thank you for your continued support."


News source: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-wii-u-delayed-skipping-e3/1100-6426227/?utm_source=gamefaqs&utm_medium=partner&utm_content=news_module&utm_campaign=homepage

scrypt   Supporter wrote on 03/28/2015 at 02:33pm

"the ultimate and most complete Zelda game."

That's not going to come back and bite him in the ass.

Thanks for the heads-up @GregoPeck!

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 03/28/2015 at 05:04pm

Let's hope not! Hahaha. You're welcome!

Nintendo has also recently announced development of mobile games. They've also announced that they're working on their next console, currently called "NX," though they didn't release any details about it.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 03/28/2015 at 10:30pm

This is super disappointing! But also makes me more excited for the game when it is released eventually :)

jdodson   Admin wrote on 03/29/2015 at 02:03am

It's a good idea to take the time you need to create the game right. It's disappointing but it would be more so if the game launched badly.

Still wondering what kind of Zelda game this will be? I like the art direction and am curious what the gameplay and story will be like?

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 03/01/2016 at 06:16am

I can't recall which roundtable it was, but Scrypt speculated that the game may end up being launched with the Nintendo NX. News has been released about a rumor that pretty much claims just that, so I'm impressed, Scrypt! The rumor states that both the game and the new console will be released at the end of the year. However, the game will also be launched for the Wii U. Check out this link for more details:

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-nx-and-new-zelda-launching-this-year-newl/1100-6435145/

scrypt   Supporter wrote on 03/01/2016 at 06:58pm

Nintendo did the same thing with Twilight Princess, launching it for the Gamecube and with the system launch of the Wii. The biggest problem that seems to arise with this type of development, is catering to the older hardware and not maximizing the experience on the new. I'm sure it will do quite well, regardless. Especially if it's as open-world as they are hyping it to be. Imagining Link running around in a Hyrulean themed, Xenoblade-Chronicles-X-sized world, is enough to make any fan of the series giddy, and the Wii U seems to pull off that scope of game quite well.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 03/01/2016 at 07:46pm

Super disappointed by this. One of the main reasons I bought my Wii U was for the new Zelda game. Now it feels like I'm getting the second rate version if I don't get it on the NX.

(And scrolling up through the comments, I see that my initial response to the delay was "Super disappointing..." lol. Apparently I've been let down a lot by this game already :)

Azurephile   Super Member   Post Author wrote on 03/01/2016 at 08:57pm

Yeah, Scrypt and Adam, that's exactly how I feel, too. I don't want the second-rate non-maximized version. I guess we'll just have to wait a while to see if that rumor is true.

jdodson   Admin wrote on 03/01/2016 at 09:21pm

In some peoples opinion Twilight Princess on GameCube was better because of the traditional controller support. Hopefully the Wii U Zelda doesn't suffer for coming to the Wii U over NX. But I imagine there might be NX EXCLUSIVES, which would suck. Hard.

If you want to join this conversation you need to sign in.
Sign Up / Log In