Nintendo is sitting on a lot of pretty quiet properties right now. Maybe the most anticipated of them all isBreath of the Wild 2,which players have been waiting for with bated breath ever since the game was announced. More than a year has gone by, and still nothing more has come out about it. Although that’s understandable – the short and cryptic trailer may have indicated the game was in early stages – fans are getting antsy nonetheless. How much longer will it be before the community learns more? Is development progressing well on the game? It’s impossible to know the answersif Nintendo doesn’t say anything.
This situation highlights a greater problem that Nintendo is facing right now. As a whole, the company hasn’t had a lot to say about new Nintendo games or any major releases for the Switch. In an environment where Microsoft and Sony are competing fiercely for consumers' attention to make their upcoming consoles a success, that’s a problem. Nintendo needs to step forward with something big to get attention back on the Switch. Although the game probably isn’t coming out in the near future, even just a little information aboutBreath of the Wild 2would be perfect.Zeldafans would be simply delighted to see a new trailer or get a first look at the next game in the franchise.
RELATED:Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 May Be Similar to Majora’s Mask in One Way
Radio Silence
Looking at the fall lineup of Switch releases is a good way to understand the difficulty Nintendo is facing recently. There really aren’t any major Nintendo franchises with anything coming out in the next few months. Some of the more high profile titles coming out soon are Square Enix’sBravely Defaultand the upcoming action-adventure franchise revivalNo More Heroes 3.There’s also the newShin Megami Tenseicoming to Switch, but one of them won’t be until next year.
Of course, it’s completely understandable if Nintendo has had a hard time making progress on its projects and making announcements. The coronavirus has impacted all corners of the economy and the video game industry is no exception. In fact, it’s well known that Nintendo hasn’t been able to do as many Nintendo Directs as usual because of the global situation. Content likethe Min Min DLC forSmashhad to be pushed back for more development time too. It’s been a tremendous struggle for everyone, and all kinds of industries have had to find creative solutions to stay afloat.
Unfortunately, Nintendo is going to have to adjust to the virus problem too, since the problem doesn’t look like it’s about to disappear.Microsoft and Sony have had a notable amount of successwith their conferences advertising new games for new consoles. Those companies have proven that good public events are possible in this very digital age. Nintendo has to find a way to adjust and do the same, or it’s going to continue to fall behind these companies that are demanding so much of the industry’s attention.
A Possible Source of Excitement
That isn’t to say that Nintendo has to come out with a tremendous game conference to get attention again. Instead, it might be better off focusing on a couple products that they’re confident will be a tremendous success.Breath of the Wild 2is a prime candidate for that kind of publicity. Eyes have been on the game for a very long time, everyone waiting with bated breath for even the tiniest tidbit of information about the sequel.If Nintendo suddenly comes forward with a new trailer, snippets of gameplay, or even screenshots, it’ll be a tremendous deal.
The Legend of Zeldahas always been one of Nintendo’s most successful products, butBreath of the Wildin particular was groundbreaking. It received accolades from critics across the board and constant recognition at award ceremonies between 2016 and 2018. Winning Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2017 is only the tip of the iceberg.Breath of the Wilddefined the age of the Switch and really helped make the console’s launch a tremendous success.
That’s whythe sequel toBreath of the Wildis so important. If it’s anything like the first game, it might be the catalyst for a revival of the Switch after this long swath of months where Nintendo struggled to roll out information and products. It’s not hard to imagine that the coronavirus has hampered the game’s development, which might result in a delayed release. Still, Nintendo needs to give fans something to hang onto. Even with plausible obstacles to development in place, if the game’s been in the works for more than a year now, surely Nintendo has at least a small announcement that they can share.
RELATED:Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 Needs to Explain the Leviathans' Extinction
Getting Back on Track
An announcement aboutBreath of the Wild 2also means a lot more than simply what fans would learn about that game. It would also be Nintendo showing signs of life, revealing that major projects aren’t being neglected and it still wants to deliver on its core franchises. For example, next February marksthe 35th anniversary of theMarioseries. Nintendo likes to acknowledge its anniversaries, so hopefully it’s still planning something for that date in spite of the challenges that the industry is facing. If Nintendo brings something to the table, the company’s loyal fans will surely come to celebrate. First, though, there needs to be some official information about what exactly is in the works.
The obvious starting point for rolling information out is a product that already demands attention. Even the slightest and most cryptic further reveals aboutBreath of the Wild 2would make headlines and spark all kinds of excited new speculation. No matter how much the community actually learns, it’s going to put Nintendo back on the map. Relevance is everything in an environment where Nintendo’s greatest competitors are ready to move to the next generation of everything. It doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant though, – it just needs to prove that it’s not falling behind.Breath of the Wild 2is hotly anticipated, even if the game is a mystery as a whole. Giving it the attention it deserves would be the best thing Nintendo could do for the game and for itself.
Breath of the Wild 2is in development for the Switch.
MORE:How Calamity Ganon May Be Involved in Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
