New Open-World Legend Of Zelda Game First Details Teased

Published Oct 25, 2026, 7:01 AM EDT Known as 'Cyberpunk 2077's' biggest fan, Angharad is a Welsh games writer who thrives in anything related to digital storytelling. If a video game explores the intricacies and horrors of womanhood, she is there. Thanks to previous work at GAMINGbible, GameByte, The Loadout, Game Luster, Angharad has built a strong understanding of both the digital world and what fans want from it and is eager to share her thoughts and expertise with readers. The Legend of Zelda has welcomed many iterations over the past forty years, ranging from different eras, artstyles, and game designs. In the early days, Link would traverse small, linear corridors, and fight bosses in claustrophobic dungeons, but in recent years, technology has allowed our favorite explorer to explore the expanses of Hyrule, with the most recent entries, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, being set across large open-worlds. Now, despite the fact that Nintendo has hinted at leaving the Wilds setting and moving on to even bigger plans, it seems as though that may not be the case, as recent rumors suggest that a third installment in the Wilds series may just be on the horizon. It is not common for Nintendo to work on direct sequels, let alone a three-part saga, but there is also no denying the commercial success of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and so it is unsurprising that the company does not want to change an award-winning formula. At the time of writing, the only Zelda project that has been confirmed is the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, which arrives on the Nintendo Switch on 5 November. However, what will be next for Nintendo, especially with the franchise celebrating a huge milestone this year? During Episode 294 of the Xbox Era Podcast which was posted back in December 2025, hosts Shpeshal Nick and Jeff Grubb discussed what the next mainline Zelda entry could be. It is here that the pair discussed rumors that it could feature dimension-hopping gameplay. This is not uncommon for the series, but we can only imagine that it will be paired with the ambition of the Wilds duology, and so we could see this dimension hopping play out on a much larger scale. The rumor has suggested that players will be able to transverse between dimensions via tears in reality. As such, using objects or changing things in one dimension, could affect another, with one rumor hinting at luring a charging bull toward a target in one dimension to open a door somewhere else. No doubt taking inspiration from the building mechanics in Tears of the Kingdom, another example is using water from one dimension to move objects in the other. It is worth mentioning that all of this information comes courtesy of rumors that have not been confirmed or acknowledged by Nintendo itself. However, it would not be unsurprising to see the company stick with the open-world formula that they have perfected over the past few years. That being said, with fans hoping for more remakes of some of the classic Zelda titles, it seems as though the fanbase is split right down the middle when it comes to the future of the franchise. In the meantime, we can all look forward to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake, which arrives in just a few weeks' time. Who knows? Maybe its success will change the trajectory of Nintendo's plans going forward. Released March 3, 2017 ESRB E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Havok Cross-Platform Play no Cross Save no Franchise The Legend of Zelda Steam Deck Compatibility yes