The The Legend of Zelda franchise is in a dynamic transitional phase at the end of 2025. Following the massive success of Tears of the Kingdom (ToTK) and the surprise release of a unique new title, the focus has shifted towards the launch of the Nintendo Switch successor console and the highly anticipated future of the mainline 3D series.
Here is a breakdown of the current state of the franchise.
1. Latest Releases: The End of the Switch Cycle
The last two major releases in the franchise wrapped up the content cycle for the original Nintendo Switch:
🎮 The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Mid-2025)
This major 2D-style release, which featured Princess Zelda as the primary playable character, was a significant event.
- Key Feature: The game introduced a unique gameplay mechanic centered on copying and creating in-game objects ("echoes") rather than traditional sword combat, marking a major departure from the series' norms.
- Timeline Placement: Its placement in the official Zelda timeline (after A Link Between Worlds) solidified its status as a mainline, canonical entry.
⚔️ Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Nov 2025)
The latest spin-off was released in November 2025.
- Genre: A Musou/hack-and-slash game developed by Omega Force.
- Narrative: It is explicitly framed as a canonical prequel to Tears of the Kingdom, detailing the events of the ancient Imprisoning War and allowing players to control figures like Princess Zelda (with new Sage-like powers) and the ancient Sage Rauru in combat.
2. The Next Mainline Game: Switch 2 Development
Following the unprecedented success of Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom, development on the next major 3D Zelda title is confirmed to be underway for Nintendo's next-generation console (often referred to as the "Switch 2").
Prediction PointDetails/Speculation (from late 2025)Release WindowLikely positioned for a late 2027 or 2028 release, based on Nintendo's typical long development cycles for flagship 3D games.Map ReuseDirector Eiji Aonuma stated that the team has "exhausted the possibilities" of the BotW/ToTK version of Hyrule. The next game is strongly expected to feature a completely new setting and map.Gameplay StyleIt will likely maintain the "open-air" physics-based, non-linear open-world philosophy established by BotW, but will introduce a new core mechanic that is as transformative as Fusion or Ultrahand.Setting/Art StyleSpeculation points to a new art style to break away from the visual identity of the previous two games, possibly a return to the Toon Link aesthetic on a massive scale (like The Wind Waker), or a more realistic style made possible by the new console's hardware.
3. The Legend of Zelda Live-Action Movie
The franchise is expanding into major cinematic production, with confirmed details about the upcoming live-action film.
- Director: Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes).
- Release Date: The movie is officially scheduled for release on March 26, 2027.
- Tone: Ball has expressed a desire for a "grounded" fantasy aesthetic that evokes the feeling of a live-action Miyazaki film, suggesting a balance between serious adventure and whimsical fantasy.
4. New Collectibles and Remasters
The franchise has a strong presence in collectibles, and rumors continue regarding remasters for the new console.
New Tears of the Kingdom amiibo
A final wave of Tears of the Kingdom amiibo figures was released in mid-2025, largely coinciding with the launch of the Switch 2:
- Released Figures (June 5, 2025): Sidon, Riju, Tulin, and Yunobo.
- Upcoming Figure: Mineru's Construct is announced with an unconfirmed future release date.
Remaster Speculation
With the launch of the new hardware, speculation is rampant that Nintendo will use the 40th Anniversary of the franchise in 2026 to announce a major classic remake or remaster for the Switch 2. Candidates include a collection of 3D games (like the Mario collection) or remasters of Twilight Princess or The Wind Waker.
