Nintendo announced that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been delayed.Confirmed on the company's Twitter account, the as-yet-unnamed sequel to the beloved Breath of the Wild is now targeting a spring 2023 launch. In a video update, The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma apologized to fans who were excited to return to Hyrule in 2022.
Aonuma went on to describe what fans can expect from the highly-anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, explaining that the sheer scale of the world will seemingly dwarf the original game. "The adventure in this sequel will take place not just on the ground as in the previous game but also in the skies above," said Aonuma. "However, the expanded world goes beyond that and there will be an even wider variety of features you can enjoy, including new encounters and new gameplay elements." While a specific reason for the delay was not provided, Aonuma states that the entire development team is "continuing to work diligently" to ensure that the game is something special.
Announced in 2019, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is expected to introduce a wealth of new mechanics to the open-world formula established by the original game. While Nintendo has yet to provide a deep dive into these systems, the brief gameplay trailer highlights Link's newfound abilities to phase through walls, control his flight better and use a flame-spewing gauntlet. Next to nothing is known about the sequel's plot but the original teaser suggests that Hyrule will once again be consumed by some kind of dark entity.
When Breath of the Wild 2 eventually arrives for the Nintendo Switch, it will be one of several Legend of Zelda games on the platform. Fans can already purchase Skyward Sword Remastered and the remake of Link's Awakening alongside several classic entries in the long-running franchise. Through Nintendo Switch Online, fans can access the very first game in the series and its much-maligned sequel The Adventure of Link. The subscription now also includes A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is expected to launch in spring 2023.
Source: Twitter