Zelda Developer Confirms Classic Games Aren't Coming To Switch
Rumours that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are coming to Nintendo Switch have been debunked by their potential developer.
16th May 2022 12:14
Nintendo
Zelda Developer Confirms Classic Games Aren't Coming To Switch
Rumours that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are coming to Nintendo Switch have been debunked by their potential developer.
16th May 2022 12:14
Nintendo
Sorry to break it to you, but it doesn't sound like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess are coming to the Nintendo Switch. Much like those continued reports that a Silent Hill revival is in the works, one of the most prevalent video game rumours is that more classic Zelda games are getting the new-gen treatment.
2021 was a bit of a washout when it comes to Zelda news, and it was hardly the 35th anniversary celebration we were hoping for. There was the release of Skyward Sword HD, but as one of the lesser Zelda outings (sorry, it's true), Hyrule wasn't exactly sounding the trumpets. Many hoped that Nintendo could follow in Capcom's footsteps with Resident Evil and release remasters on a regular basis, but sadly, it's looking like a bust.
Are More Zelda Games Getting A Remaster?
Earlier this year, insider Jeff Grubb claimed the 2002 and 2006 legends would be remastered as a bundle for the Switch and even gave a potential release window. Although it all sounded pretty logical and like it would coin Nintendo a small fortune, the bundle's presumed developer has sent our hopes hurling into the fires of Death Mountain.
Twilight Princess developer Tantalus Media has said it's not been approached about a Switch port, which pretty much stops the notion dead in its tracks. Speaking to the Fragments of Silicon podcast, Tantalus CEO Tom Crago said, "We'd obviously love to do that, but that hasn't been a priority for Nintendo – or at least not in conversations that they've had with us. The way it works with our friends over there is we'll jump at any opportunity we can to work on one of their titles. There’s a constant dialogue between our two companies."
Crago continued: "Often there’s a little bit of time that passes between titles, and there might be other ideas that are kicked around, but in the case of Skyward Sword, some time passed, and then the email comes: 'Would you be interested in considering bringing Skyward Sword on to Switch?' To which the answer is of course, 'Yes we would.' And then we enter into the conversations with Nintendo around what that might look like, and eventually we get underway."
Will We Ever See More Zelda Remasters?
As Crago reminds us, the two sides are in constant conversation, suggesting that at least Nintendo has a good working relationship with Tantalus. If you don't know Tantalus' credentials, the team previously worked on Twilight Princess HD for the Wii U in 2016. It's also not unheard of for publishers to go for different developers, but given the company's CV, we'd be surprised if someone else took up the challenge of a new-gen Twilight Princess.
It's a sad state of affairs that there's still no sign of Wind Waker or Twilight Princess on the Switch. Now that Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are playable via the Switch Online library, there's an ever-decreasing number of Zelda games that aren't on the Switch. Maybe it's because both Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have had HD remakes that Nintendo is dragging its heels, but either way, don't expect to see Link hopping in his boat or crossing paths with Midna anytime soon.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
