The Next Legend Of Zelda: 5 Facts And Rumors You Need To Know After Tears Of The Kingdom

The question on every fan’s mind since the release of Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) is simple: Are they making a new Zelda game? As of December 2025, the answer is a resounding and almost certain "Yes," but with massive changes. The development cycle for a mainline Zelda title is one of the longest and most secretive in the industry, often beginning the moment the previous game ships. While no official title or release date has been announced by Nintendo, concrete evidence and statements from the series' top brass confirm that a new era of Hyrule is already in the works, and it will be fundamentally different from the one we just left.

This upcoming project is arguably the most anticipated in Nintendo’s pipeline, expected to not only continue the legacy of the franchise but also to serve as a launchpad for the company's next-generation console, widely referred to as the Nintendo Switch 2. The development team, Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3, is already ramping up hiring, signaling that the project is moving past the conceptual phase and into full production.

The New Blueprint: What Nintendo’s Developers Have Confirmed

The development of a new Legend of Zelda game is handled by Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3, a dedicated internal team led by series producer Eiji Aonuma and director Hidemaro Fujibayashi. Their comments in post-Tears of the Kingdom interviews provide the clearest roadmap for the franchise's future.

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• Eiji Aonuma (Series Producer): The creative force behind the modern 3D Zelda titles, Aonuma has been instrumental in steering the franchise since taking over from Shigeru Miyamoto. He confirmed the intention to continue experimenting with the series' format.
• Hidemaro Fujibayashi (Director): The director of both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, Fujibayashi is expected to take on a key role in the next installment, maintaining creative consistency for the 3D mainline games.
• Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3: This is the core development group responsible for the last two blockbuster titles. Their recent job postings are the most tangible evidence of a new project's existence.

Here are the five most critical facts and rumors shaping the next chapter of the *Legend of Zelda* saga.

1. The Next Game Will NOT Be a Direct Sequel

This is perhaps the most significant piece of information confirmed by Nintendo itself. Producer Eiji Aonuma has been explicit: the story of the Link and Zelda from the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom duology is complete, and the next mainline 3D game will not be a direct continuation of that narrative.

The development team spent nearly seven years in the same Hyrule, first with BotW and then with its direct sequel, TotK. This marks the first time in the franchise's history that a mainline 3D game has received a direct sequel using the same map. Moving forward, the developers are keen to explore entirely new settings, characters, and lore, potentially taking the series to a different point in the convoluted Zelda timeline or even a completely new iteration of the legendary Triforce holders.

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2. The Open-World Formula is the New Blueprint

While the story and setting will change, the fundamental structure of the game will not. Aonuma confirmed that the open-air, player-driven freedom pioneered by Breath of the Wild is now the "new format" for the 3D *Zelda* series. This is a monumental shift, comparable to when Ocarina of Time established the 3D action-adventure template that defined the series for two decades.

The next game will almost certainly feature:

• Unrestricted Exploration: A massive, new world that encourages players to tackle objectives in any order.
• Physics-Based Puzzles: Mechanics similar to the Ultrahand and Ascend abilities, focusing on player creativity and emergent gameplay.
• Non-Linear Progression: An emphasis on player choice over a strictly linear dungeon path.

This means fans of the classic, linear dungeon formula from games like Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword should temper their expectations for the next major 3D installment, as the focus is firmly on the expansive, open-ended structure.

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3. Development is Underway, Confirmed by Job Postings

Tangible evidence of a new project comes directly from Nintendo's career portal. Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 has been actively posting job listings related to the Zelda series. Crucially, they have been seeking a 3DCG Artist, a role vital for creating the new world, characters, and visual style of the next game.

This hiring push indicates that the team is moving past the initial planning and conceptual stages and is now building out the core assets for the game. For a project of this scale, a full development cycle typically takes between four to six years, suggesting a potential release window in the late 2020s, but this timeline is heavily influenced by the launch of new hardware.

4. The Next Zelda is Tied to the Nintendo Switch 2

The biggest factor influencing the next Zelda game’s release date and visual fidelity is the expected launch of Nintendo’s next-generation console, widely speculated to be the "Nintendo Switch 2." Industry analysts and persistent rumors strongly suggest that the next mainline Zelda title is being developed as a potential launch or early-window showcase for the new hardware.

The timeline is compelling: Breath of the Wild was a launch title for the original Nintendo Switch, demonstrating the console’s capabilities. Nintendo is highly likely to repeat this strategy, using one of its most powerful and critically acclaimed franchises—*The Legend of Zelda*—to drive the adoption of the new system. Unverified rumors have even pointed to a placeholder title of "Zelda 2025" in connection with a new console event, though fans should treat these with caution. What is certain is that the new game will push the technological boundaries far beyond the limits of the current Nintendo Switch.

5. Speculation: New Art Style and Potential Spin-offs

With a new world and new hardware, a fresh art style is highly probable. While both *BotW* and *TotK* shared a similar cel-shaded aesthetic, the next game could adopt a completely different look, perhaps a more realistic, darker tone, or something entirely new to differentiate it from the Hyrule we know.

Beyond the main 3D title, there is also hope for the return of the classic Zelda formula in a different form. Eiji Aonuma has expressed a desire to continue making top-down, classic-style Zelda games, a format that could be perfectly suited for a spin-off or a smaller project to bridge the gap between major releases, similar to the critically acclaimed Link’s Awakening remake. Other fan speculation includes a more challenging, "Soulslike" take on the franchise, though this remains an outside possibility.

The next Legend of Zelda is not just a sequel; it’s a total reinvention. It will be a new world, a new story, and a new technical benchmark, cementing the open-world foundation laid by its predecessors while simultaneously ushering in the next generation of Nintendo hardware.