Overview
- Series producer Eiji Aonuma said he had hoped a Nintendo-made Zelda would debut on Switch 2 before confirming Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was first.
- He noted the Koei Tecmo partnership provided inspiration that might be reflected in future Zelda titles and encouraged players to consider that while playing the spin-off.
- During development, Nintendo shared extensive story notes and unused lore with Koei Tecmo, prompting the in-house team to revisit ideas for what comes next.
- Nintendo has not announced a new mainline Zelda game, and coverage advises caution because Aonuma’s remarks were translated from a 4Gamer interview.
- Age of Imprisonment launched as the series’ Switch 2 opener with a Metacritic score around 79, drawing mixed fan reactions over its potential influence on core entries.