Few franchises can get the entire internet talking with even the smallest rumors. The Legend of Zelda is one of them.
One of the oldest and best-selling video game franchises, Nintendo has done a great job reintroducing older titles while adding new entries in the franchise that started with Shigeru Miyamoto’s adventures as a young child in Sonobe, Japan. Now, sources indicate that the esteemed Japanese game company might be planning a shadow drop of a Zelda remake at The Game Awards 2023, slated for December 7.
The seed of this rumor was planted by a cryptic tweet from Serkan Toto, a highly regarded industry analyst known for a series of accurate predictions. Toto’s post, which read “ZR 2023,” fueled speculation among Zelda fans. Its significance is magnified when considering Toto’s track record, which includes a previous hint in 2021 with “Z2 2022,” alluding to the launch date of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Although the game eventually released in May, Nintendo’s original intention was a 2022 launch. This pattern has led many to believe that Toto’s latest tweet signals another Zelda remake or remaster slated for this year.
Industry analyst Serkan Toto seems to be hinting at a Zelda remake by the end of the year
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Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Toto’s mysterious tweet has since been deleted, along with his older “Z2 2022” post. This action has done little to quell the rumors. If anything, it has reinforced the belief that a Zelda remake or remaster is indeed on the horizon, and Toto’s deletion might be an attempt to retract a premature revelation, perhaps under pressure from Nintendo itself.
Nintendo’s history of unexpected announcements and releases lends credibility to these speculations. The company has a penchant for shadow dropping games, as demonstrated by the digital release of the Metroid Prime remaster on the very day it was announced. This practice has become a part of Nintendo’s strategy, particularly for ports and remasters, which have often been released with minimal advertising cycles.
The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, two revered entries in the Zelda franchise, have been frequently mentioned since the announcement of the Skyward Sword remaster for the Switch. Other candidates include Link’s Awakening or the first two The Legend of Zelda games, similar to the treatment the Advance Wars series received.
Supporting these theories, whispers from industry insiders like Jeff Grubb hint at “something Zelda happening later this year, not related to TotK.” This aligns with the notion that Nintendo may be seeking to maximize the Nintendo Switch’s potential in its twilight years, possibly as a prelude to shifting focus to new hardware. A Zelda remake or remaster could be a strategic move to bolster the console’s holiday season offerings, alongside other potential releases like the Super Mario RPG remake and the next Pokemon Violet and Scarlet DLC.
Furthermore, The Game Awards provides a fitting stage for the remaster’s announcement. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a likely candidate for multiple nominations, specifically the Game of the Year award. Nintendo could be looking at using this chance to capitalize on the spotlight and use the event’s platform to surprise fans with a shadow drop of the rumored Zelda remake on the eShop.
While nothing is confirmed and Nintendo remains characteristically tight-lipped, the pieces of the puzzle seem to align. Should the rumors prove true, a Zelda remake or remaster would not only satiate the appetite of long-time fans but it will also serve as a strategic move by Nintendo to maintain the Switch’s relevance and momentum as the industry looks toward the future. The Game Awards 2023 may very well hold the key to unlocking this mystery, and until then, the anticipation will continue to build.
Nintendo is currently enjoying a banner quarter with Super Mario Bros. Wonder getting GOTY consideration all while setting a new sales record in Japan, both in terms of unit sales and Switch units moved. A new Nintendo Switch OLED bundle is coming in time for Black Friday in late November.
