The rumors are true: Nintendo’s long-awaited Zelda game will launch with the Nintendo NX, which is set for March 2017.
First, the good news: We finally have a release date for Nintendo’s new system, codenamed ‘NX,’ as well as the Zelda game we’ve been looking forward to since 2014.
And the bad news? We have to wait until March 2017 for both.
Nintendo broke the news today in a financial earnings announcement, stating (via Polygon), “For our dedicated video game platform business, Nintendo is currently developing a gaming platform codenamed ‘NX’ with a brand-new concept. NX will be launched in March 2017 globally.”
The video game behemoth added that we shouldn’t expect to see the console at E3 in June. What we can expect is more footage from and specs for the new Legend of Zelda game, which will allegedly be “playable” at the event.
The new Legend of #Zelda will be the focus of #E3 2016. It will launch simultaneously on both Wii U and NX in 2017 pic.twitter.com/icfBlybnkm
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 27, 2016
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Although the latest Zelda instalment will be released with the NX, Nintendo has confirmed that it’ll also be released for the Wii U.
Related: Watch the Game of Thrones opening credits mash-up with Legend of Zelda
We don’t yet know exactly what to expect from this new and exciting Zelda game, but early reports have us very excited. By all accounts this is going to be as close to open-world as a Zelda game has ever gotten, with the player being able to take Link and Epona around an expanded Hyrule at their own pace. Check out some gameplay footage from an old preview to see what we’re talking about:
Unlike in previous games, the player isn’t forced to do each quest and dungeon in a certain order, and we can probably also expect a lot more side-adventures. (Not that collecting Poes isn’t fun.)
The Zelda game was originally scheduled to arrive in 2016 and the extra wait is gonna be tough, but at least we know Nintendo is taking its time with this game — hopefully, the wait will be worth it.
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