According to IGN, in a recent interview with Japanese site 4Gamer, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma hinted that the next mainline Legend of Zelda game could be inspired by the spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Aonuma admitted his team wanted to release the first Zelda title on the Switch 2, but Koei Tecmo beat them to it with Age of Imprisonment. He specifically told players to “picture this while playing Age of Imprisonment, and look forward to our new Zelda game.” Directors Hidemaro Fujibayashi and Koki Aoyanagi praised the collaborative process, with Fujibayashi noting Koei Tecmo’s ideas were “stimulating” and often elevated Nintendo’s feedback. While there’s no official announcement for the next main game, Aonuma confirmed in September 2023 that the team had moved on from Tears of the Kingdom DLC to a brand new title.
What could this mean?
So, what does Aonuma’s cryptic hint actually point to? It’s fascinating. The core Zelda team, fresh off the massive open-world physics playgrounds of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, is openly admiring the work of a partner studio known for high-octane, crowd-combat gameplay. That’s a huge shift in tone. We’re not talking about a little graphical inspiration here. We’re talking about the potential fusion of two completely different game design philosophies.
Think about it. The “musou” genre is all about power fantasy—mowing down hundreds of enemies with flashy combos. Mainline 3D Zelda, especially recently, has been about thoughtful exploration, puzzle-solving, and strategic, often one-on-one combat. Aonuma’s comment suggests they might be looking to inject some of that raw, exhilarating “feeling mighty powerful” energy into Link’s next adventure. Maybe we’ll see larger-scale battles? Or new mechanics that let you clear out enemy camps in dramatically different ways? The collaboration clearly left a mark.
The future of Hyrule
Here’s the other big takeaway: Aonuma didn’t rule out a return to the version of Hyrule we’ve spent the last seven years in. He said if a “new reason arises,” they might go back. That’s not a confirmation of a trilogy, but it’s definitely not a door slam. Basically, they’re keeping all options open. The next game could be another direct sequel, or it could be a radical departure to a new land and story. His main point was that it will be “a completely new game” either way.
But the real story is the influence. For years, the Zelda series was a fortress of internal Nintendo development. Now, they’re not just outsourcing spin-offs—they’re letting those external collaborations directly feed back into the mothership. That’s a big deal. It shows a new level of creative flexibility. After redefining open-world games twice, maybe the team feels unchained and is willing to experiment with wilder, genre-blending ideas. I think that’s probably the most exciting part of all this.
