Nintendo recently announced Breath of the Wild 2 would be delayed until Spring 2023, which could indicate a new Switch console is releasing next year. Nintendo has historically released new consoles every few years, with the Nintendo Switch releasing in 2017, five years after the Wii U. While the Switch's popularity is massive, and the Nintendo Switch OLED was only recently released, Nintendo could be developing a new console generation. Given just how anticipated BOTW 2 actually is, it could be a marquee game to launch Nintendo's next console with.
Fans have speculated about Legend of Zelda's BOTW 2 since its trailer dropped at E3 2019. According to information slowly released over the past few years, BOTW 2 is a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild but continues Link's story in that timeline. Details surrounding its story and mechanics are still vastly unknown, and many fans likely expected its delay to Spring 2023. Nintendo hasn't specified how far into development Breath of the Wild 2 is, but developers could have initiated a soft reboot during early designs to compensate for a new platform and updated technology. Unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly possible that Legend of Zelda fans could be forced to invest far more money for BOTW's sequel than first believed.
It's not unusual for Nintendo to pair new console releases alongside highly anticipated games. Platforms like the Nintendo DS and the Nintendo 3DS launched with Pokémon and Mario titles, two of Nintendo's most popular franchises, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild arguably attracted more interest. Soon after release, BOTW became an open-world benchmark for most AAA adventures titles developed in the past few years. The beautiful landscape combined with entertaining activities, charming puzzles, and unique characters made it a definitive Legend of Zelda title. As its popularity and renown increased, anticipation and expectations for the sequel swiftly rose. However, the years-long excitement surrounding BOTW 2 isn't the only sign that Nintendo could be pairing the sequel with a new handheld console launch.
Most gaming companies in the industry follow a loose timeline for releasing consoles, both to keep up with competitors and to implement new hardware released during the past console's lifetime. Nintendo follows a similar rule, releasing a new console generation once every five or six years. While Nintendo released the Switch Lite and OLED recently, it's been five years since the original console launched. The time frame for Breath of the Wild 2's release brings the Switch's lifespan up to six years, which would be more than enough time for Nintendo to develop and release a new generation. Additionally, as reported by Business Insider, Nintendo announced its work on a "20xx" gaming console several years ago. The process of building a new gaming console can take approximately four to five years, but each console's lifecycle is carefully monitored and balanced by large companies like Sony and Microsoft, which aim to make the most profits on each console with longer lifespans.
When gaming companies move development to the next console, there's always liable to be push-back from the respective community. Nintendo has wasted many opportunities with games and updates, but thankfully the company's track record with handheld consoles is reassuring. New Nintendo Switch competitors like Valve's Steam Deck are sure to have encouraged more improvements for Nintendo's next console generation. Improved memory, graphics, and new games could pave the way forwards for Nintendo's upcoming years of new games. Fans can likely expect a rundown of the upcoming console at a Nintendo Direct event or other gaming events, but the timetable for potential console announcements is currently unknown.
The Nintendo Switch and Breath of the Wild both released on March 3, 2017. The game and system were an immediate hit, with BOTW acting as a draw for Nintendo fans to pick up a Switch. To this day, Breath of the Wild challenges and playthroughs still maintain significant popularity among content creators and fans. In addition, Nintendo launched another Legend of Zelda game with the Switch Lite called Link's Awakening. While this title wasn't as popular as BOTW, it was the second Zelda game to accompany the launch of a Switch console. Unfortunately, the pattern broke with the Nintendo Switch OLED, as no major releases from the Legend of Zelda franchise accompanied the larger screen and memory. As a result, it can be challenging to gauge what other franchises Nintendo may utilize for a console release, but Breath of the Wild 2 is one of the most promising.
Since Breath of the Wild 2 suffered another delay that pushed the project back by a year, it's possible that Nintendo planned to mirror the Nintendo Switch's release style. The greatest difficulty of marketing new platforms comes with the limited library of exclusives, especially considering Nintendo has a rather restricted selection compared to consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Debuting the latest handheld Nintendo system with Breath of the Wild 2 would be an impressive pairing, assuming the sequel lives up to the hefty reputation of the first game.
The reasons for Breath of the Wild 2's delay are likely numerous, but Nintendo is sure to be taking its time with the sequel to ensure it's a worthy follow-up. Nintendo could utilize new technology and console improvements to develop a smoother, more entertaining experience to accomplish that goal. Judging from early BOTW 2 trailers, it appears the art style is remaining largely the same but could provide an improvement for other mechanics. More responsible controls (such as avoiding the Nintendo Switch's dreaded Joycon drift) or implementing more puzzle mechanics with more effective motion sensors would be great additions. BOTW's characters and storyline provide an opportunity for Nintendo to expand on successful in-game and technical systems, ensuring fans can get a product (and console) worth their money. It's unknown what the future of Nintendo handhelds or Legend of Zelda could hold, but the development timeline is promising.
While outsider reports confirm Nintendo is working on another handheld gaming console, its release date and features are largely unknown. However, given previous patterns in the Legend of Zelda franchise's releases, it's possible that BOTW 2 could accompany the Nintendo Switch's successor. Little information has been revealed about Breath of the Wild 2 and the next handheld console, but hopefully both will be worthy successors to the Switch and BOTW.
Source: Business Insider
