Speaking recently on the Nintendo Shack podcast (via Nintendo Life), Grubb said that based on what’s “been intimated” to him, the upcoming Nintendo Direct will also feature the long-awaited reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s sequel’s official name.

Last year, Nintendo said that it was holding back the game’s title because it contained hints about its story. That said, with the sequel due out in Spring 2023, one would imagine Nintendo will be preparing to begin revealing more about it.

Meanwhile, Grubb also says that the Direct presentation will also announced the rumoured Metroid Prime remaster, which, apparently, is one of several remasters Nintendo seems to have in the works (especially for GameCube-era games). Finally, he also corroborates recent reports that a Nintendo Switch port of It Takes Two will be announced.

In the absence of an official announcement regarding a Direct by Nintendo, all we can do at this point is speculate, but hopefully it shouldn’t be too long before that changes. We’ll be keeping an eye out for any new updates, so stay tuned.

The biggest question that instantly popped into most people’s minds as soon as the delay was officially announced was- should we be concerned? Now, as natural as that is as a reaction to a game getting delayed, it isn’t always rooted in rationality and precedence. Delays are, by their very nature, a sign that a game’s production isn’t moving along the way it was supposed to for one reason or the other, but while that is definitely true, there is very rarely a direct link between a delay and a game disappointing at launch. There’s a laundry list of examples that prove that beyond a doubt, which, of course, includes several aforementioned Zelda games as well.

Even so, there’s some merit to that thought specifically where Breath of the Wild 2 is concerned. When the game was announced, for all intents and purposes, it was meant to be an iterative sequel to its predecessor, using much of the same work and assets, with the first game’s Hyrule map also being repurposed for the sequel. Much like Majora’s Mask, an iterative sequel to Ocarina of Time, launched very quickly after its predecessor, it was expected that Breath of the Wild 2 would do the same. Of course, the realities of modern AAA development mean that the turnover was never going to be as quick as it could be in those days, but given the fact that this was a game that originally started life as a Breath of the Wild expansion, many expected that the gap between the two releases wouldn’t be more than 3-4 years at most.

If Breath of the Wild 2 does indeed launch in Spring 2023 as currently planned, the six years separating it and the original BotW will be the longest gap ever between two mainline Zelda releases, exceeding the five and a half year gap between Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild. Of course, we’re not forgetting that COVID is a huge factor here that likely extended the game’s development time by some margin- but even accounting for that, six years is a hell of a lot of time to develop a game that, on paper, is supposed to be an iterative sequel. That’s usually the amount of time developers spend on games that are supposed to be completely new, where most production work has to be done from scratch.

So why exactly has Breath of the Wild 2 taken such a long time to develop? Given how little we know about the game and its development, it’s hard to answer that question with any certainty, but we can take what little Nintendo has said and draw some rough conclusions based on that. And the first conclusion that jumps to mind – especially if we’re taking an optimistic outlook here – is that the upcoming sequel is far bigger in scope than we’ve been led to believe.

Sure, Breath of the Wild 2 may have been a fairly straightforward sequel at one point in time, but knowing Nintendo and how the Zelda team in particular operates, it wouldn’t be surprising in the slightest if we found out that partway through production, they’d decided to just go all-out and make a full-fledged expansive new Zelda game that far exceeds what they’d initially envisioned for it. Until very recently, something like that would have been an assumption with very little to back it up, but that no longer seems to be the case?

And why is that? Well, because that’s what Nintendo’s own messaging seems to suggest. In the recent delay announcement video, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma said that not only will Breath of the Wild’s sequel feature the Hyrule of its predecessor as well as the new locations in the sky we’ve seen in previous trailers, but even go “beyond” that. That’s very vague wording and could mean any number of things- but it’s clear that there’s more to the game than meets the eye. Because what could possibly lie “beyond” the sky? Are we going to outer space? As bizarre as that may seem at first glance, it’s not completely out of the question. Concept art for the original Breath of the Wild has shown that the game was originally going to feature aliens and UFOs invading Hyrule, and though that idea was eventually dropped, Nintendo is a company that isn’t averse to revisiting older ideas and finding ways to make them work in future projects. Of course, that’s purely speculation at this point, but it might be one of several ways that the Breath of the Wild sequel looks to expand in unexpected ways. Extraterrestrial enemies also featured in Majora’s Mask, so this isn’t something that Zelda as a franchise has never played around with.

On the gameplay front, Aonuma said in the delay video that the sequel will have a “wider variety of features” and new encounters and gameplay elements. Again, that’s as vague as it could possibly be, but how much more expansive is the gameplay side of things going to be compared to the first game? Patents discovered last year spilled the beans on some of these new mechanics, including a time rewind mechanic, expanded free-falling mechanics, and the ability to phase upwards through lofted terrain, all of which we’ve seen in the game’s E3 2021 trailer. But what else can we expect beyond that? Will there be better enemy variety? Will there be proper, traditional dungeons?

If we were, say, in 2020 and Breath of the Wild 2 was just a few months way from launching, we probably wouldn’t be asking these questions. In that scenario, we’d be expecting a fairly simple and straightforward sequel. But with this game having the long development cycle that it does now, and with Nintendo implying that there’s more to it than many have expected, the expectations have certainly changed. Fighting against aliens and having full-fledged dungeons in the open world might sound like wishful thinking, but at this point, most people will be expecting significant shake-ups on that level.

We’re not going to have clear answers until Nintendo actually decides to show the game off, but again, it recent delay has raised questions on that front as well- though here, at least, we’re not expecting huge changes in Nintendo’s plans. If Breath of the Wild 2 was still set for 2022, an appearance at a summer Nintendo Direct would more or less be a lock. That might not be as set in stone now as it was a few days ago, but even so, we would be very, very surprised if the game didn’t make an appearance with a meaty showing by Nintendo’s traditional yearly September Direct at the latest. If nothing else, we at least need to know what the game’s name is by that point.

Of course, with Nintendo, you can never be too sure about anything. Nintendo does what Nintendo wants, and while that’s not always for the better, specifically where Zelda is concerned, the company usually makes the right decisions. There’s every chance that things have gone horribly wrong and Breath of the Wild’s sequel is an absolute dumpster fire behind-the-scenes, but given the series’ track record, we’re not too concerned about its delay.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

This comes shortly after Nintendo shares saw a rather steep rise of 25% year-to-year (as reported by Reuters). However, what makes this slump rather interesting is that despite the delay to the Zelda sequel, Nintendo still has a number of major titles set to release this year, from Splatoon 3 and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet to Nintendo Switch Sports and Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

“If there’s a year Nintendo can afford to push Zelda out of, it’s this year. The fiscal year hasn’t even started yet and they have spread out all of these potential blockbuster titles,” said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy.

The delay also means that Nintendo’s open-world offering won’t be competing with other premier releases of the genre such as the likes of Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and the upcoming Starfield for both sales and critical acclaim, giving the game a much brighter spotlight to shine when it releases next year.

In a video uploaded by Nintendo, The Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Auonuma has confirmed that the sequel to Breath of the Wild will now launch in Spring 2023. The video also contains a couple of brief glimpses at the game, with Aonuma also confirming that in addition to the new elements that were shown in last year’s trailer, the game will feature an “expanded feature” and “an even wider variety of features”, including “new encounters and gameplay elements.”

“In order to make this game’s experience something special, the entire development team is continuing to work diligently on the game, so please wait a while longer,” he adds.

New Nintendo patents discovered in December of last year detailed new gameplay mechanics being introduced in the sequel, including phasing through lofted terrain, free-falling, and a rewind mechanic. Read more on that through here.

After its E3 showing last year, Nintendo confirmed that the game’s title reveal was being saved until it was closer to launch due to the name containing hints about the story. The company has also said that though the sequel will build on Breath of the Wild, it is going to be “it’s own game”.

Grand Theft Auto 5 For PS5 and Xbox Series X/S

Grand Theft Auto 5 has been one of the most popular games for a long time now, and even after 8 years since its initial release – its online component is growing stronger than ever. Rockstar is hard at work on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game, and while we don’t know if we can expect any version-specific new content or the like – the game is set to be one of the biggest releases of the year nevertheless.

Elden Ring

The latest in From Software’s offerings of Souls games will see players venturing across the perilous world of The Lands Between. Set in a vast open world which is a first for the series, Elden Ring will feature horse-riding, summoning NPCs to fight alongside you, optional dungeons and questlines, new builds to try out, and so much more. Given the gameplay showcased in the recent beta, Elden Ring is already set to be a massive hit from the get go. After a long and arduous journey of delays and countless rumors, Elden Ring will finally be releasing on February 25th, 2022 for all major platforms.

It seems, however, that there’s no reason to be worried just yet. At least according to IGN’s long-time editor-in-chief Peer Schneider, who recently said in a recent podcast that Breath of the Wild 2 not being at The Game Awards isn’t indication of the game getting delayed, and that it’s still targeting a 2022 launch. Schneider says Nintendo is “very excited about 2022”- which makes sense, when you consider the lineup of games scheduled for 2022.

Other than the sequel to Breath of the Wild, several major Switch exclusives are currently scheduled for 2022, including the likes of Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Bayonetta 3, Splatoon 3, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Triangle Strategy, Chocobo GP, and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope.

As for Breath of the Wild 2, a recent report claimed that the next time we see the game will probably be at E3 2022, with the game probably not launching until at least late in the year, if not later. Recently filed Nintendo patents may also have revealed new gameplay details on it- read more on that through here.

The three patents detail mechanics for phasing upwards through lofted terrain, a rewind mechanic, and expanded free-falling. The first describes the ability to free travel upwards from the ground and phase through a lofted platform or suspended terrain directly above, as seen in the E3 trailer. The second patent a rewind function, which allows players to target specific objects and reverse their motion backwards through time- we saw Link doing this to a big, spiky ball rolling down a hill in the trailer as well.

Meanwhile, the third patent focuses on free-falling, which was another mechanic that the E3 trailer focused on quite a bit. If the patent is anything to go by, there will be several kinds of free-fall, including normal falls, diving, low-velocity falls, and high-velocity falls. Interestingly, the diagram also shows the player jumping backward through the air, facing upward. Meanwhile, it also looks like shooting your bow while you fall through the air will also be possible, in several different positions.

You can check out diagrams from each of the three patents below.

These all largely fall in line with what brief glimpses we saw of Breath of the Wild 2 in its E3 trailer, and if these mechanics are in the game as their patents describe them, we’ll probably be looking at some pretty interesting new twists in terms of both traversal and puzzle design, among other things- and that, after all, is something Nintendo has said it is aiming to do with the sequel.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s sequel is currently targeting a 2022 launch. As for when we’ll be seeing the game next, rumours have suggested that that won’t happen until at least E3 2022.

Well, it might be a while longer. Known Nintendo insider Nate the Hate and journalist Jeff Grubb both said during a recent episode of the former’s podcast that Breath of the Wild’s sequel is unlikely to show up at The Game Awards. In fact, according to them, it might not show up until E3 2022, or, as Grubb speculates, perhaps a Zelda-focused Nintendo Direct around that same time.

Both of them say that, most likely, the next trailer for Breath of the Wild 2 will end up confirming the game’s official name, and with Nintendo previously having said that the same is being kept under wraps because it contains hints about the story, they speculate that that reveal won’t arrive until we’re closer to launch- which, of course, isn’t guarantee to be in 2022, given the way things have gone with game development and delays in general of late.

Of course, we’ll be keeping an eye out for more rumblings and details, so stay tuned for further updates.

Next Mass Effect – New Trailer

On N7 Day, BioWare revealed a new teaser image for the next Mass Effect, which featured a massive crater in the shape of the Geth. The developer has had a pretty steady presence at The Game Awards for years now, dropping trailers for the next Dragon Age and even confirming the next Mass Effect’s development. Would it be too predictable to have a follow-up trailer for this year? Probably but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Next Dragon Age – New Trailer, Possible Title Reveal

What seems even more predictable is the next Dragon Age receiving a new trailer. EA CFO Blake Jorgensen said in October 2019 that it could potentially release before fiscal year 2023. So it makes sense to ever so slightly ramp up promotion around now. Perhaps an official title reveal? The first gameplay trailer? Anything is possible but this may also be a good opportunity for both EA and BioWare to reassure fans that development is progressing smoothly, especially with the recent departure of the project’s senior creative director.

Silent Hill

The saga around the rumored Silent Hill reboot has been going on for almost two years now and shows no signs of letting up. Its “reveal” has been hyped for a number of different occasions including last year’s TGA show but nothing thus far. And while Bloober Team may be working on something Silent Hill-related with Konami, Sony is apparently working on its own title – VGC still claims a “prominent Japanese developer” to be on the project while Gematsu claimed it was Kojima Productions. Given the history surrounding Kojima, Keighley and The Game Awards, a reveal for a new Silent Hill would seem obvious but there’s too much in flux to really be sure. Either way, if it is announced – and exclusive to the PS5 – then it’s a strong set-up for Sony’s 2022 first party line-up.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land Release Date Announcement

Nintendo hasn’t shied away from appearing and making an impact at The Game Awards, whether it’s unveiling Persona 5’s Joker for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or the reveal of Bayonetta 3. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was recently rated by the ESRB – this seems to indicate that development is close to completion. As one of the major upcoming exclusives for the Switch in 2022, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to expect a release date announcement at TGA 2021. Perhaps it may even be the release month which will be narrowed down as we get further into the new year.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel Trailer

The Game Awards also happens to be where Champion’s Ballad, the second and final DLC for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, was announced. So it doesn’t seem too impossible that a new trailer for the sequel could suddenly drop, especially since there’s been little to no new information since E3 2021 (and it’s still set to release in 2022). We have pretty much no idea about the state of development or how much progress has been made in the past few months. It’s a coin-toss, for sure, but one that we really hope ends up happening.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Trailer

According to VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb in October, the original plan was to showcase Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 at E3 2021. However, because of all the other announcements, Microsoft decided to do “something” later in the year. While Grubb believed that those plans could change, Jez Corden of Windows Central later reported on sources that claimed it could be shown off at the end of the year (which points to The Game Awards). Again, while it’s not exactly set in stone, this would be a fairly big stage to showcase its progress.

Avowed Trailer

What seems a bit more unsure is Avowed. Several new details were reported by Corden in October like the presence of various classes, a two-handed combat system, weapon enhancements and much more. However, it was noted to be in pre-production at the time and approaching its alpha state (some environments like caves didn’t even have lighting and textures applied). Both Grubb and Corden felt that it could be present at The Game Awards but that it may also be too early.

Mortal Kombat 12 Announcement

With MultiVersus finally revealed and being developed by Player First Games, all attention has shifted back to what NetherRealm Studios is working on. The safe bet was on Injustice 3 since the studio has alternated between it and Mortal Kombat for the past several years. Rumors had also claimed a Marvel vs. DC game to be in the works. However, Jeff Grubb reported in August that based on what he’s heard, it’s actually Mortal Kombat 12 that’s in development. The reasons for this are manifold – WB Games has a very ominous future following the merger of Discovery and AT&T and various internal studios like NetherRealm could be sold (though Warner Bros. previously denied rumors of the same).

As such, it would make more sense to develop a title that doesn’t primarily need licensed characters, making Mortal Kombat a good option (and one that WB Games is confident about). If Mortal Kombat 12 actually ends up being real, then an announcement at The Game Awards sounds about right given the series’ history.

God of War Ragnarok – New Trailer

With the Xbox announcement (or announcements) that are rumored to happen, it wouldn’t be too odd for Sony to reveal something in response. Silent Hill sounds nice, if unreasonable, so there are many other things it could go with like dropping a new trailer for Horizon Forbidden West or just throwing caution to the wind and confirming that long-rumored Bloodborne remaster. But it seems far more likely that a new trailer for God of War Ragnarok could be showcased since it helps sustain hype, provides another update for fans and maybe offers a hint at the release window. It may be a long shot and not as “safe” as simply releasing a new trailer for Forbidden West. But it also depends on just how comfortable the SIE Santa Monica is to showcase new things. Either way, here’s hoping.

Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake Announcement

Silent Hill already feels like a stretch – mainly due to how long it’s been rumored – but Metal Gear Solid on top of this? That too the rumored Metal Gear Solid 3 remake from Virtuous? As out of left field as it sounds, there could be some solid basis for Konami to at least announce that the project is in development. After a report from VGC that Virtuous was developing the remake, a LinkedIn page for a former lead software engineer from the studio revealed that he had worked on an “unannounced triple A action adventure game remake” from October 2018 to June 2019.

If this is indeed MGS 3 Remake, this could possibly mean it’s been in development for some time and not just pre-production (judging from various other things that were accomplished). Even if the reported original plan was for Konami to announce it in 2022, it could very well move up its schedule and make an impact early.

Gotham Knights – New Gameplay and Release Date Announcement

Also slightly out of left field is that Gotham Knights could have some new gameplay (especially since the last trailer at DC FanDome was mostly story-focused). It kind of makes sense when you consider that its release window – which is apparently Spring 2022 – was leaked in some recent marketing concept art. If Warner Bros. ends up not showcasing Mortal Kombat 12 or any other major titles, perhaps it could opt for Gotham Knights instead. Who knows? The Spring 2022 release window may even be made official at the awards.