Breath of the Wild changed things. A lot of things. It finally brought Zelda back to an open world formula. It used modern video game technology to let us seamlessly explore a massive overworld, to let us climb over every mountain and to let us play with physics. It hid over a hundred mini dungeons in that world and turned normal dungeons into gigantic mechanic beasts. It introduced the Sheikah Technology in a far future of Hyrule, where we fight living ancient machines with ancient weapons. So much has changed, but it's still undeniably Zelda. The Modern Zelda.
Series produces Eiji Aonuma already stated in April in an interview with Famitsu (source) that "open air" will most likely become the new standard for the series. But does that mean classic Zelda will be gone? The Zelda with a clear course, traditional dungeons, weapons that don't break and walls that are actual obstacles? Not every part of Breath of the Wild received pure praise, where some Zelda fans seem to miss the old times already.
I think, Nintendo will continue to produce both, but there will be a clear split in design:
Modern Zelda
- 3rd Person Perspective
- Open World Climb'n'Glide Gameplay
- Age of Ancient Technology
Classic Zelda
- Top Down or Side Scrolling Perspective
- Traditional Zelda Gameplay
- Takes Place in Old Timelines
So, essentially the big 3D Zelda games will continue to evolve the "open air" formula, while smaller 2D Zelda games will provide the classic formula. With the success of Breath of the Wild, next big game will most likely be developed for Nintendo Switch and based on the open world engine. It would be weird, if it suddenly became a sequel to Twilight Princess, following its approach. It will most likely become a true sequel to Breath of the Wild, where the game continues to explore the setting of ancient technology, far in the distant future.
In the meantime we might see Zelda on Smartphones and even on the Switch with side projects, where Grezzo currently seems to be developing something. And here it would be weird, if a new topdown Zelda game suddenly lets you climb all the walls and has Guardians chasing you down with laser beams... With the classic perspectives comes the classic experience, where the games will also most likely continue the stories somewhere in the old timelines.
This doesn't mean that both classic and modern Zelda won't be brought closer together potentially. A Link Between Worlds already experimented with an open order of dungeons and the ability to move along worlds for more freedom. At the same time a sequel to Breath of the Wild might offer more traditional dungeons. So, it won't just be all black and white.
About Zelda multiplayer... This can go any way. Aonuma already stated at E3 last year (source) that he would like to create a multiplayer experience based on Breath of the Wild, where something like a MMORPG comes to mind. But if they do another level based game in the style of Four Swords or Tri Force Heroes, it will most likely follow the classic concept.
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