Nintendo Announces New Legend of Zelda Game Coming in 2025

In a surprise announcement during today’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo revealed a brand-new installment in the beloved Legend of Zelda franchise, slated for release in 2025. While details remain scarce, the teaser trailer showcased fresh visuals, a mysterious new protagonist, and hints at a storyline that could take the series in a bold new direction.

The reveal trailer, clocking in at just under two minutes, opened with sweeping shots of an uncharted region of Hyrule — a landscape that feels both familiar and oddly alien. Gone are the lush greens and blue skies of Breath of the Wild; in their place, misty valleys, crumbling architecture, and ominous twilight hues set a darker tone. Perhaps most shocking of all: Link is nowhere in sight. Instead, fans were introduced to a new character — cloaked and silent — wielding a blade that pulsed with magical energy and bore an insignia never before seen in the franchise.

Longtime Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma briefly appeared during the Direct to confirm the game is a “new chapter, not a direct sequel,” and that the development team is “exploring new gameplay possibilities while respecting the traditions of the series.” He also teased that the mysterious new protagonist has a “deep connection to the legacy of the Hero of Time,” sparking waves of speculation across social media.

While it’s unclear whether this will be a Nintendo Switch 2 launch title or a late-era Switch swan song, industry pundits are already predicting it will be one of the most anticipated releases of next year. The Legend of Zelda franchise has enjoyed consistent critical acclaim, and last year’s Tears of the Kingdom sold over 20 million copies, reinforcing Nintendo’s staying power in the AAA game space.

For now, Zelda fans will have to speculate and wait patiently. But if history is any indication, Nintendo isn’t done surprising us. As Aonuma himself said with a smile, “This is only the beginning of the story.”