Zelda Series Producer Says Its Open-World Format Is Here To Stay

With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now available, fans are already wondering what’s next for the series. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are considered to be series-defining entries alongside classic Zelda games such as Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, and in the future, you can likely expect even more open-world Zelda games according to producer Eiji Aonuma.

Speaking to Game Informer, Aonuma explained that Breath of the Wild set a new precedent for Zelda games, in much the same way that Ocarina of Time did when it was first released in 1998. While there were some limitations to just how much freedom players were able to experience in that game, Ocarina’s influence would be felt in core entries like Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword.

“Of course, the series continued to evolve after Ocarina of Time, but I think it’s also fair to say now that we’ve arrived at Breath of the Wild and the new type of more open play and freedom that it affords,” Aonuma said. “Yeah, I think it’s correct to say that it has created a new kind of format for the series to proceed from.”

Breath of the Wild’s open-world format was a critical and commercial success for Nintendo, and so far, Tears of the Kingdom appears to be following in those footsteps. Critics from dozens of outlets have praised the game, it got one of GameSpot’s rare 10/10 scores, and in the UK alone, it has become the second-biggest Nintendo launch in the UK and the biggest retail launch in Zelda history.

For more on the new Zelda adventure, check out GameSpot’s Tears of the Kingdom guides hub and take a look at all the terrible things that players are doing to Koroks right now.