Rumours have been circulating for a while now as to when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will finally be released. Estimates have ranged from the Switch launch, to 'Spring' and also 'Summer'.
Fans have been wishing for Zelda will be part of the Switch launch lineup, of course, and now Japanese magazine CoroCoro has apparently pitched in. The image below, seemingly taken directly from the magazine, reads that the game will be released in the Spring of this year. It's worth noting that no official confirmation has yet been given by Nintendo; there's no indication yet that this is a fake scan either, but as we're in the pre-Switch event madness it's worth remaining slightly cautious.
Ultimately a 'Spring' claim joins the list of indicators that the title is nevertheless on track to arrive relatively soon. Retail marketing listing March has been doing to rounds in recent weeks, while art from the game is also prominent in broader Switch displays. Nothing will be 100% clear until Nintendo clarifies, of course.
Whatever the case, we are nearing the Switch presentation due to take place on January 12th / 13th (11pm Eastern / 4am UK time), where there is a high probability an official date will be given.
If Breath of the Wild does make it to the Switch for day one or the longer 'launch window', it would certainly be a high profile arrival.
[source nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 64
Spring starts around the end of March so if this is a launch title then Switch would come out after March 20
So, does this mean 2017 WILL be a better year then (I mean that because this would mean Zelda will be out by my birthday)?
It would be a killer launch game. I really hope they're not tempted to hold the game back for the holiday season... I want it now.
Just give me the game already. I think I could honestly do with just that game next year and be all set.....unless EO5 also releases....😃
I can't see those Furigana words...
Btw....I have feeling the game will be released on April 2017...
Just my prediction.
I've received this email from amazon.com back in November about my preorder made in June:
The release date for the video game listed below has been changed by the publisher, and we want to provide you with a new delivery estimate based on the new release date:
"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild"
Estimated arrival date: March 31, 2017
This rumor is fake!!! Laura Kate Dale said the game is coming to the switch and wii u at MARCH 2017.
ALSO Laura Kate Dale is lying the game is coming at August 2017
Speaking as a hardcore Zelda fan myself, I just want them to release this game already. I've never really been one to complain about the hype dying before, and don't get me wrong, it hasn't for me. But dang Nintendo, you've shown us just about anything and everything we'd want to see from BotW at this point. All that's left for us fans now is to actually PLAY the game...
The only thing I'd like to see before the game's release is a more concrete lore focused trailer, then I'm good.
Funny thing is that Spring is considered late March - late June, so both of the rumored releases would fit that timeframe lol.
@abraxas13
Wow, almost April 2017. Just like my prediction. But better wait from Nintendo confirmation.
On a side note, do we have confirmation that this is a legit CoroCoro scan?
It seems awfully early for those to be leaking - they always leak around the 12th of the month.
@Spoony_Tech Persona 5, too. Atlus and Nintendo are the only two developers I really need in my life.
Keep in mind that spring ends on June 20th. If this is true, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a launch title. It could be up to 3 months after launch.
@Ralizah I'm just relieved Breath of The Wild is still coming to Wii U; give the Wii U a good send-off.
Hm... let's see on calendar 2017.
Usually Nintendo games released on Friday (Except Miitopia on Thursday).
If during April 2017, probably 14 or 28.
In a way I hope it doesn't launch with the Switch, simply because it would eat into Skyrim potential sales - and Nintendo really needs that third party support.
@Ralizah I second this
@Ed_Fairway I just hope the game performs well on Wii U. Recent footage at The Game Awards was unacceptably choppy, imo.
@FragRed Nah. Nintendo tried giving third parties some space for the Wii U's launch, and that strategy failed spectacularly. Switch needs a killer game day one to push sales and, sorry, but Skyrim, even if it sells well, is not going to be that game.
Apparently there are localization problems; Nintendo now has to decide whether to launch at the same time worldwide or launch it as a multi- stage rocket, with Europe getting the game in the holiday season of this year.
I don't think launching it in the festive season would be a bad idea, if they also have a big Mario game at launch that is. Although Nintendo games always have legs, with launchgames selling throughout a concole's lifetime, bringing Zelda in October or November would probably mean a huge boost for Switch sales; for a console that doesn't launch in the biggest month of the year sales wise, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the limelight all for yourselve with a true open world Zelda game.
@Ralizah I am not going to get Switch day 1 but I'm definitely not getting BoTW for my Wii U, I want the version with solid 30fps not 20-30fps
@Boerewors The rumour is summer, not Christmas.
@Boerewors Zelda should come out before June ends, the new Mario should come out in November just in time for the holidays
Breath of the Wild along with Skyrim would be amazing. Not only would BoTW be a huge system seller, but Skyrim being on there would help sell the impression that this is a serious console, and not just a "kiddy system" like the Wii U. If they have games like Mario Kart and Splatoon on there as well, I can't see the Switch launch not being at least a modest success.
@the-madprofessor
I'm saying a launch in October/ November might not be a bad idea. With the right marketing push it would be kinda like launching the Switch all over again, especially if they'll also have a Pokémon game ready for those months.
@hieveryone It depends on a few things for me. If I get the Switch at launch, there's no reason to not get BOTW on that platform. If I don't (because of pricing/terrible launch library/whatever), then I'll wait and see how the game performs on Wii U. If Nintendo manages to keep it at a mostly steady 30 fps, I'll probably pick it up for Wii U at that point. If it's not, I'll just wait to buy it on the Switch.
I'll probably make my decision after that Switch event this month (the wait for that is killing me).
Laura Kate Dale just said on Twitter that Breath of the Wild is 100% going to be a Switch launch title in North America. Fingers crossed.
I need confirmation on the WiiU release date. The rumors of it being canceled needs to be debunked with 100% certainty.
That would be great but then you think of how Nintendo have stretched seasons before. Spring has been June before with them.
If you post enough rumours in a day, something is sure to be right!
I got a feeling they're gonna cancel the Wii U version...
Not that I care. But you people better brace yourselves for it. Just... prepare yourselves, that's all I'm saying. That way when it happens you won't be schitzing out.
Thrusday next week... can't wait! 🙂
@JaxonH I had that feeling as soon as Playtonic cancelled Yooka-Laylee for Wii U.
@hieveryone They probably don't mean meteorological spring (almost no one ever does).
It's probably just colloquial spring where March, April, May = spring.
@Grumblevolcano
Ya, me too. Especially with the rumors circulating.
Honestly, ever since they removed the dual screen gameplay I haven't much cared about the Wii U version. I'll buy it if they do a dual release, just for the sake of completing my Wii U collection, but it's going to offer no advantages over Switch, it will look worse and run poorer.
I know a lot of people want to cling to their Wii U and not let go... but I think it's time people realize Wii U is gone. Shantae was probably the last physical release it will ever see. Time to move on to Switch, or get left behind.
I think it has to be a launch title if they want to really shift many millions of units as soon as possible. Saying that, who knows what they will announce next Thursday! A Mario game would certainly also be a system seller!
Either way, I think they will certainly cancel the Wii U version.
The Wii U is dead, long live the Switch!
On one hand it would be good if they cancelled the Switch version, since that would mean a lot more Switch sales, but on the other hand, people would be very, very angry. I know people who bought a Wii U just for Breath of the Wild, and Nintendo has been advertising it as a Wii U title for so long now, most notably at E3 and at The Game Awards, complete with gameplay footage and everything. If it did end up being cancelled, it would absolutely hurt Nintendo's image.
But if the Wii U version is unplayable, or borderline unplayable, due to the framerate, maybe cancelling it is the best option.
Isn't March in the spring?
@therealgamer Please, PLEASE stop. I feel embarrassed for you.
@whanvee Yup.
@whanvee Yes, but spring technically goes until mid-June. However, Laura Kate Dale just said that BoTW will 100% be a launch title. That isn't confirmed by Nintendo, but it's sounding more and more likely, especially with LKD's track record. I guess we'll just have to see on the 12th, but I think we can be cautiously optimistic for Zelda at launch.
I think it will be a launch title. One thing that seems to have been missed on this website is that the game received a rating in Australia. Surely it can only be rated if it's complete otherwise how do they know there's not some hidden drug/violence/language issue that would affect the rating? http://www.kotaku.com.au/2016/11/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-has-been-rated-in-australia/
Fingers crossed anyway
I keep thinking the conflicting rumours over the launch date of Zelda Breath of the Wild, could be down to different release dates for Wii U and Switch. Will they release the Switch version in March, and then the Wii U version in the Summer?
@Dev Seems a bit unwise to release Mario right beside Zelda. They should be released with a few months in between so that they both have their chance to shine. Zelda at launch and Mario in the summer would be preferable IMO. Let's hope Nintendo has another heavy hitter for the summer if Mario launches alongside Zelda.
Spring isn't a new rumour, most of the dates being talked about are in that spring period.
Also, how are people excited about skyrim? Because of the rumoured data size of the carts, it's going to be a horribly cut down version of Skyrim.
Well considering Mario Kart 8 came out May 30th, and Splatoon came out May 29th. It's plausible Nintendo decides to do another summer release for a major game.
@FragRed
I will definitely buy both, but you are right, if Zelda came out a month later it would give skyrim a chance. Then again it takes time for any new console to build a decent size user base. And besides we are all dying inside from waiting so long already! I still hold on tight to any small ray of hope that Zelda will make launch.
I'll believe it when an official announcement is made with an exact date.
I've pre-ordered my Switch from EB with the hopes that Zelda is a launch title though if it isn't I will probably cancel it till an inevitable bundle comes out. It's all about BOTW for me!
Some advice from a long time gamer:
Buying consoles, pre-ordering consoles, canceling console orders, selling consoles, and re-buying consoles based on rumors, a single game, some arbitrary point of contention, or out of spite is a
BAD LIFE STRATEGY!
You should buy a console based on really looking forward to playing it regardless of what neckbeards on Youtube say, or what some click-bait writer for some website reports about a rumor says.
In the long run, you won't suffer buyer's or seller's remorse or feel like you've thrown good money after bad if you exercise some rational, clear-headed, decision making based on weighing the pros and cons.
I don't want to hear any whining about the Wii U either. Nobody forced you to buy it on release day, the issues with third party were not new to Nintendo, and if you still couldn't enjoy the console for what it was, then it was just unfortunate luck or unrealistic expectations.
The same will hold true for the Nintendo Switch - know what you're getting into before you spend money, do some research, and don't rush out to be an early adopter of any new device if you aren't prepared for the possibility of disappointment.
Rumors, and fake news everywhere? 2016 is doomed to repeat itself.
Give me an open world, console Zelda on a portable screen, plus a mini-fridge, and I'll never leave the bathroom.
BotW Is set for launch for both Japan and North America while Europe will get it at a later time.
@Jimmy_G_Buckets The guy who came up with the article already stated he was trolling, and it was fake.
@ss3_kakarot
Honestly if there was hidden drugs, violence or something of that sort I'd be willing to wait longer. I really cant wait for a day that Miyamoto is willing to make a mature game. Don't really care what it is, I'd just like to see what he could come up with.
Could be launch for the States only cuz mixed rumours on Zelda being a UK n Europe launch release but hopefully Mario could be at launch and Zelda for the summer.
I think they release it to wiiu first that way they can sell the last wiiu consoles to make some more money.
I think it's worth mentioning that the rumor of a delay came about due to localization, so japan will probably get the game at launch. Corocoro is japanese, so...
Will it come out in time for my birthday? I can hope.
@Ichiyama
Bathroom ? XD
Wow...what are you doing inside bathroom ?
Now just waiting for the article about Laura Kate Dale and Emily Rogers retracting their claims that it won't make a March release... which was pretty much inevitable considering that the reasoning behind their assumption was flawed from the start, but no-one seemed to listen to me when I pointed that out at the time.
Just don't rush it Nintendo...Make sure it's everything you want it to be
Bring it on!
Switch needs many great games at launch to sell the system.
@Ralizah so true. Besides Skyrim being available on other systems for a much lower price on other consoles won't make it sell well on the Switch.
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