It might sound like stating the obvious, but The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Champions' Ballad DLC officially brings the game to a close - there will be no more content released from this point onwards, Nintendo has confirmed.
Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma delivered the news in an interview with Famitsu, stating that the release of the DLC means the game is now complete. There will be no further DLC expansions.
We already know that work has begun on the next Zelda outing, so it makes sense that the team at Nintendo has shifted its attention away from Breath of the Wild. However, given the incredible success of the game - and the fact that other publishers are supporting their big games for months (sometimes years) after release - one does wonder if it would have made more sense for Aonuma and his team to continue to expand the world of Hyrule with DLC packs throughout 2018.
What do you think? Were you expecting more DLC expansions for Breath of the Wild beyond Champions' Ballad, or did you always think it would be the final throw of the dice for the game? Let us know with a comment.
Thanks to SLIGEACH_EIRE for the tip!
[source japanesenintendo.com]
Comments (61)
Well that's disappointing... I was hoping for a surprise, but I assumed it would be the finale.
I'm kinda sad, though it makes sense that they'd want to focus on the next game. I can't help but feel there's so much more potential waiting in BotW though and I personally would have welcomed some extra content. Oh well - hopefully the next game will come sooner rather than later.
I was hoping for a final surprise but, hey, what a journey. The Season Pass wasn't brilliant but the main game was stellar. Now the long wait starts until the next game. They should use the same engine and maybe we'll get a second Zelda game on Switch, like Majora's Mask on the N64.
It's time to move on until the next
I think this is a good decision. The game was great and surpassed many people's expectations but I want the team to be working fully on the next game. A Majora's Mask like follow up would be great.
Good. I love BotW to death, but these games take years to make, and I'd much rather see a brand new adventure developed exclusively for the Switch than an endless stream of DLC for their last Zelda game.
It's a fitting, emotionally charged end for the game. I'm glad they don't feel the need to add any more DLC to BotW - it shows that they don't intend to milk the game pointlessly and that what they did release, they felt was truly relevant and worthwhile.
Huh. I really would've liked another pass with an actually new area, a few more shrines and such, but if it's for the sake of focusing and polishing a whole new Zelda, it's worth the trade-off.
The Youtuber Arlo has made an interesting video regarding the ongoing viability of BOTW for more Zelda titles- ie Majora's Mask using the same world and engine as Ocarina etc.
My guess is that they're going to do the Majora's Mask. Maybe using most of the BOTW assets and the game engine to create a game with a similar style but in a different location and some twists. Most people would like to have the dungeons back. I really loved how they built Hyrule Castle, and I would love to explore more places like that, with internals that you can access from different sides and environmental puzzles, that can be solved on different ways. And larger dungeons, caves, buildings or whatever. And i hope they ditch the divine beasts style of dungeons and make less "easy" shrines. I really think the potential of such a game engine is at the beginning.
@HappyMaskedGuy aaaaand... I didn't saw the video before posting my last message...
I’m not surprised.
I got tired of BotW long ago so I'm ready to see what they bring next.
Personally this is good news for me as someone with limited gaming time.
This is one of my all-time favourite games and to know I can experience in its entirety, with 100% not being out of my reach, is a pleasant feeling.
I can now relax finishing off the rest of the game without pressure to keep up.
I have had the opposite feeling on games like World of Warcraft, which I love, but just can’t keep up and know I won’t experience all that game has to offer as a result.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE that's exactly what I was hoping for too. Or if it's a longer wait, a 2D game would be good to tide us over, especially in a link between worlds style.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Agreed. I feel like they'd be insane not to do that with how well this game did.
I don't really know why anyone thought there would be more. They were pretty clear about the expansion pass right from the start. It's a stellar game, I don't see any need to wish for more DLC.
"stating that the release of the DLC means the game is now complete."
The game is now complete.
NOW complete.
Complete.
Now.
I wish they could’ve added at least one more page for armor.
Dang!! I could have happily thrown some money toward a couple more rounds of DLC. I was one of those people more than pleased with the two packs.
They could release a pack every six months and I would buy.
I'd love a traditional 2D game next.It would be the first 2D Zelda in HD and also the first one that's playable on the TV since Link to the Past, not including 4 Swords or VC. If they done that, they could probably get away with 3 Zelda games this gen. 2 in 3D and 1 in 2D. If not a new one, an HD remake of Link Between Worlds would be a great alternative. I've never played that but I'd love to.
Should we be sad and disappointed? The game won the hearts of many Nintendo fans, most anticipated game 2017 and won awards. Millions enjoyed the game and hey, it's from Nintendo! What more do we want?
The DLCs was a surprise already. So, it is time to move on. GG and WP, btw.
Only sad if it doesn't translate into a n64/wii situation with double zelda delight on one console.
The game was already so complete and perfect before the DLC, so the fact that it ends here isn’t too disappointing.
Shame I won't be experiencing Champion's Ballad. But figured they need to cut out eventually. Glad it was sooner and move to the next project and continue the Switch momentum in the future.
"No more content to follow, sadly"
Sadly??? No. Happily!!!
I would have preferred them to use these 9 months on the next game in the series, instead of adding mediocre content to a near-perfect game.
That's a shame I would have gladly thrown money as fleshing out the world and the inhabitants within it, or a more classical series of dungeons. great ride regardless.
I’m having a blast with this DLC. I missed the shrines. So I’m loving finding these new ones.
I prefer it this way, it started great and ended great.
Better than milking it till it's dead
This is good news. Tells me that they want another Zelda on Switch actually. If not, I think they'd milk this at least another year.
Very curious what they've been aiming at for a follow up so far. As much as a clever Majora's Mask style game changer would be welcomed by me... there is this problem of reputation, now. The next Legend of Zelda comes with high expectations from a bigger fan base than it probably has ever had.
Of course, they better! Another Majora's Mask case now, please!
And for 2020.
@BornInNorway81 Knowing how DLC works it would have been a smaller crew working on that for 9 months while the majoroty of the team jumped into the jext thing.
Just because its one studio doesnt mean its one thing at a time
Good thing this ENDLESS game let's you create your own Adventures & Goals! (;
I’m ok with this. The game is incredible, but it’s time to focus elsewhere.
Nintendo got the resources to assemble a talented team to work on new DLC with and move main team to the next project. Thats how big companies work. They could release some side stories free of charge as thank you to the fans. It wouldn't bankrupt them
I am gutted. Like, feeling a touch hollow right now. I wasn't done with these characters, I wasn't done with this world. There was such a story to tell here, and now we'll never know it. I mean, I get it, business sense and creative efforts and greener pastures and this that and the other. I could just really use a hug right now, and for someone to tell me they're gonna make a direct sequel with the same Link and Zelda trying to crack jokes while dying inside
I may be in the minority (haven't read the comments yet), but I would almost prefer that Nintendo focus more of its resources on the next Zelda game. For all we know, It'll trump Breath of the Wild.
@Ralizah I bet DLC is used as a way for the next game to be planned by some of the team while the rest creates the DLC.
This makes me really sad but it was expected.
I really love the characters in breath of the wild - Sidon, the cute lil sheikah (Impa and her sis), all the cute lil baby goron, zora and rito. And Especially all the female protagonists , they were bad*ss. Mipha, Zelda, Urbosa, Riju; they all fought for what they believed in, some gave their lives.
I'm not ready to let go of those characters. But i feel i have projected a lot more emotion and depth to the story and characters than was actually given 😅
I would love to see more of Urbosa. The maternal role she took in watching over Zelda was quiet special and watching her fight in one of the memory scenes really left me wanting more.
Anyways hopefully its not the end to such a beautiful cast.
They definitely should. They need to do a achievement based DLC. For the future, but again Nintendo is weird sometimes.
Nice to see Aonuma actually confirm that would be the last update. Last year they never actually stated of there being only 3 Updates of Additional Content in SMM, which resulted in a long time of waiting throughout the year for more new content to arrive, since they never said the Update in March would be the last one, but nothing came. Easier it is to explain which update would be the last for these games, like with Smash 4 and Splatoon.
Yeah I feel the game's done everything it was going to, without massively changing the formula.
Best just work on the next game.
@CuriousUserX90 I did try contacting those who have spoken with Game Developers in the past (Polygon, IGN, Gameinformer, Nintendo Life, those sorts of people) about future updates, but nothing. Same said for when I tried asking them to ask about a reason why particular objects had not been included in the game, as well as for some explanation for some updates which did not have new content. In addition to why they did a Pointless 3DS Port one year later which does not really have anything new to it, only losses. You know, like how they asked about the origin of the Amiibo Costumes: https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2015/11/super_mario_maker_developers_share_details_on_how_costumes_and_cursor_variations_came_about
Next Zelda game needs to have Link and Zelda both as playable characters. Would be amazing to see two player coop play too.
This actually makes me sad. I’ve spent so much time with this game and loved every minute of it. The Champions’ Ballad got me right back into it and somehow created a rather strong emotional attachment to these characters, leaving me wanting more. I’d love even more cut scenes and backstory with the Champions, and to really see what the world was like before the Calamity. I also wish there were scenes of the destruction actually happening, like at Hyrule Castle, and the Champions falling. Of course I was also hoping for new post game material to rebuild Hyrule. But alas, it’s not to be.
Was hoping for more shrines/dungeons to max out both Hearts and Stamina, but I get why you can't; Hearty Radishes and Endura Carrots would be useless for anything outside of full recovery.
Considering the last thing to come out of the game was a motor bike, thats just fine as an ending. They can focus on the next entry while we all 100% BOTW and make do with spin offs and HD Remasters for the next couple of years.
Nintendo re-used the same engine for some of the Zelda titles.
OoT - MM (N64)
PH - ST (DS)
ALBW - TFH (3DS)
It makes developing a new game quicker... hopefully we get to see a new Zelda next year with BotW engine. Please surprise us Nintendo, just like Mario... bring Zelda to the modern world through a time portal. Re-create all the hills and mountains into buildings and skyscrapers that Link can climb. Get Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed devs to help if you must.
I thought this was the last DLC but I was secretly hoping there'd be more content so that I could use the Master Cycle for something other than mundane traveling around Hyrule.
Good. Maybe Nintendo will make an actual Zelda game this time, lol.
@Sidon_ZoraPrince Someone else gets it! Just gonna sob uncontrollably at you, hope that's cool 😭
Had suspected it be the last dlc when they announced that they were working on a new Zelda
Wise decision imo - they better put all effort into the next zelda - botw is a great game - it doesnt need more of the same.
Just got the bike last night, controls for it is a bit sketchy, but fun running over moblins on it.
Shame it's over, still havent found a couple of shrines and a couple of koroks to get, but hey had a great blast!
The game doesn't need anything more. It's is as complete as it could be.
It's much better for the team to concentrate all their attention in to developing the new game.
It was good while it lasted but now it's time to let it go.
I am OK with this. The next game, I do want a few more "movement styles". How about a plane that I have to fix and repair? Motorcycle? Underwater elements? How about letting me play as a group online with the other Champions, to tackle missions in groups of 5, like a MMO? Other players can control different level Bokoblins! I want to play as the all mighty Daruk!
They shouldn't release more DLC, at least that's what I think. They released a complete game, and the 2 DLC complement nice.
Can they at least fix the max clothing inventory problem? Please
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I agree. That way we could see Link again very soon. I'm already sorely missing Zelda now that I completed it. Odyssey felt mediocre to me and so my Switch is there collecting dust.
@JarJarBlacks I'd love an MMO-esque Zelda. It'd be like MH but way better.
I say its good news! The game was already gigantic and is even more so with the dlc. Now they can focus entirely on new Zelda's!
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