Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma just dropped a cryptic but exciting hint about the franchise’s future in an interview with Japanese news site 4Gamer. While discussing Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the Switch 2 launch title developed by Koei Tecmo, Aonuma suggested that elements from the musou spin-off could find their way into the next mainline Zelda game Nintendo is developing.
The quote has Zelda fans buzzing with speculation. Aonuma stated that the inspiration received from collaboration with Koei Tecmo may be reflected in the next Zelda his team creates, encouraging players to keep this in mind while playing Age of Imprisonment. But what could that actually mean for the future of Link and Zelda’s adventures?
What Makes Age of Imprisonment Special
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment isn’t your typical Zelda spin-off. Released exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6, 2025, it tells the canonical story of the Imprisoning War that was only briefly referenced in Tears of the Kingdom. Players control Princess Zelda, King Rauru, Sonia, and other legendary heroes as they battle massive hordes of enemies in classic musou fashion.
The key innovation comes from how Age of Imprisonment blends traditional Dynasty Warriors-style combat with Zelda-specific mechanics. Zonai devices from Tears of the Kingdom play a major role, letting players equip flame emitters, fans, time bombs, and other ancient tech directly to action buttons. These devices share a battery pool, creating tactical decisions about when to deploy offensive versus defensive tools during massive battles.
According to AAA Games Studio head Yusuke Hayashi, the team aimed to combine Zelda-like strategic gameplay using Zonai gear and varied techniques against powerful foes with the exhilarating feeling of musou games where you cut down waves of weaker enemies. The result is combat that requires more thought than typical musou button-mashing while maintaining that power fantasy.
Boss encounters now feature special moves that require pausing time to select the correct counter for big payoffs. Knocking bosses out of the air or breaking their shields adds worthwhile contemplation to combat. Team-up attacks called Sync Strikes let paired warriors employ unique tactics together, like Zelda and Rauru firing a devastating beam of pure light or Zelda summoning Mineru’s massive construct as a battlemech.
Potential Elements for Mainline Zelda
So what could Nintendo’s internal Zelda team take from Age of Imprisonment? The most obvious possibility involves the strategic deployment of Zonai devices in combat scenarios. Tears of the Kingdom already featured Zonai tech extensively for exploration and puzzle-solving, but Age of Imprisonment refined these tools specifically for combat encounters with cooldowns, resource management, and tactical counters.
Imagine future Zelda games featuring more elaborate boss battles where you must strategically counter specific attacks using the right Zonai device or tool at the perfect moment. The time-pause counter system from Age of Imprisonment could translate beautifully to mainline Zelda combat, adding strategic depth without abandoning the action-focused gameplay Breath of the Wild established.
The team-up mechanics also present intriguing possibilities. While Link traditionally adventures alone, Tears of the Kingdom featured Sage abilities that companions could trigger. Age of Imprisonment’s Sync Strike concept could evolve into more elaborate cooperative maneuvers where Link and AI companions execute devastating combination attacks against major threats.
Combat variety represents another potential takeaway. Age of Imprisonment gives each character unique fighting styles, abilities, and special moves with distinct cooldowns. The next Zelda could expand Link’s combat repertoire beyond basic sword swinging and arrow shooting, introducing multiple stance systems or weapon-specific special abilities that refresh the familiar formula.
Nintendo Wanted Switch 2 First
In the same 4Gamer interview, Aonuma revealed something Nintendo fans suspected all along. His team wanted to bring the first Zelda title to Switch 2, but Koei Tecmo beat them to it with Age of Imprisonment. Aonuma laughed about the situation, showing good humor about the friendly competition.
This admission confirms Nintendo is actively developing a mainline Zelda game for Switch 2, though they’re clearly not rushing it. Given Nintendo announced in September 2023 that they had no DLC plans for Tears of the Kingdom and were moving straight to a brand new game, development has been underway for over two years now.
Aonuma hasn’t ruled out returning to the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom version of Hyrule either. In a previous statement, he explained the reason for making Tears of the Kingdom a sequel was because he thought there was value in experiencing a new game in that Hyrule. If a new reason arises, they might return to the same world again, though whether it’s a sequel or new work, it will be a completely new game.
The Open-Air Formula Stays
Before anyone gets their hopes up for a return to linear, dungeon-focused Zelda games, Aonuma and director Hidemaro Fujibayashi have repeatedly confirmed that the open-world format pioneered by Breath of the Wild is here to stay. In a 2023 Game Informer interview, Aonuma called the open world the new format to proceed from for future entries.
The team wants to move away from puzzles with only one correct answer toward giving players lots of options where multiple solutions can work. This philosophy permeates modern Zelda design and won’t be abandoned just because some fans miss traditional dungeons.
That said, Tears of the Kingdom did attempt to address dungeon criticism by creating larger, more distinct temples compared to Breath of the Wild’s similar-looking Divine Beasts. The next game will likely continue refining this balance between open exploration and memorable set-piece dungeons that feel unique from each other.
Reading Between the Lines
Aonuma’s comment is deliberately vague, using the phrase may be reflected rather than making concrete promises. This gives Nintendo maximum flexibility. The inspiration from Age of Imprisonment might manifest as subtle combat refinements, or it could mean something more dramatic that fundamentally changes how Zelda games handle large-scale battles.
Reddit users discussing the announcement remain skeptical about significant genre shifts. Age of Imprisonment is a musou game at its core, and mainline Zelda will never become a horde-slaying action game. But selective borrowing of specific mechanics, particularly around strategic combat depth and boss encounter design, seems entirely plausible.
The collaborative process between Nintendo’s Zelda team and Koei Tecmo appears to have been genuinely fruitful. Director Fujibayashi noted that even when Nintendo gave feedback on points of concern, Koei Tecmo would return with proposals that elevated ideas into something even better. That kind of creative cross-pollination often leads to unexpected innovations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Eiji Aonuma say about the next Zelda game?
In an interview with Japanese news site 4Gamer, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma stated that the inspiration received from collaborating with Koei Tecmo on Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment may be reflected in the next mainline Zelda game Nintendo creates. He encouraged players to keep this in mind while playing Age of Imprisonment.
What is Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment?
Age of Imprisonment is a musou-style action game developed by Koei Tecmo exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2. It tells the canonical story of the Imprisoning War from Tears of the Kingdom, featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other heroes battling massive enemy hordes using Zonai devices and special abilities. The game launched November 6, 2025.
Will the next Zelda game be a musou game?
Almost certainly not. Aonuma’s comments suggest selective inspiration rather than wholesale genre changes. The next mainline Zelda will likely remain an open-world action-adventure game in the style of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, potentially incorporating specific combat mechanics or boss design elements from Age of Imprisonment.
When will the next mainline Zelda game release?
Nintendo hasn’t announced a release date or even officially revealed the next Zelda game yet. Development has been underway since at least September 2023 when Nintendo confirmed they weren’t making DLC for Tears of the Kingdom. Based on typical development cycles, a 2027 or 2028 release seems most likely, though Nintendo could reveal it earlier.
Will the next Zelda return to linear dungeons?
Unlikely. Aonuma and director Hidemaro Fujibayashi have repeatedly confirmed that the open-world format from Breath of the Wild represents the new direction for the franchise. Future games will continue emphasizing player freedom and multiple solutions to problems rather than returning to the linear, puzzle-focused structure of older entries.
Could the next Zelda revisit the Tears of the Kingdom version of Hyrule?
Possibly. Aonuma hasn’t ruled out returning to the same world if a new reason arises. He made Tears of the Kingdom a sequel because he saw value in experiencing a new game in that Hyrule. Whether the next game is set in the same world or features a brand new setting, Aonuma promises it will be a completely new experience.
What makes Age of Imprisonment’s combat different from typical musou games?
Age of Imprisonment integrates Zonai devices from Tears of the Kingdom directly into combat, creating tactical decisions about resource management and strategic deployment. Boss fights require pausing time to select correct counters, and Sync Strike team-up attacks feature unique combinations between paired characters. This adds strategic depth while maintaining the satisfying power fantasy of cutting down enemy hordes.
The Future Looks Mysterious
Aonuma’s hint about Age of Imprisonment influencing the next Zelda raises more questions than answers, which is probably exactly what Nintendo intended. The collaboration clearly produced creative sparks, and seeing how Koei Tecmo adapted Tears of the Kingdom mechanics for large-scale combat could inspire Nintendo’s team to think differently about how Link fights in future adventures.
Whether that means refined Zonai device usage in combat, strategic boss counter systems, elaborate team-up mechanics, or something completely unexpected remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Nintendo continues experimenting with the Zelda formula, taking inspiration from unexpected places while maintaining the core identity that made the franchise legendary. Fans will just have to wait and see what surprises Aonuma and his team have in store when they finally reveal what comes after Tears of the Kingdom.