
A couple of job listings have appeared on Nintendo's Japanese website, revealing that the gaming development giant is looking for staff to help work on a new 3D The Legend of Zelda title.
At the time of writing, two job listings have been posted online - one for a 3D computer graphics designer, and one for a level designer. As well as needing to be able to communicate in Japanese (the jobs are based at Nintendo's Kyoto headquarters), the listings show that staff will need to work on terrain design for dungeons, level design, concept art, world visualisation, game events, enemy planning, and more.
If you're nosey like us, you might also be interested to know that the hiring process consists of interviews, portfolios, and exams, and each applicant can earn between 3.8 to 8.1 million yen a year depending on experience (which equates to roughly £25,000 / $33,000 - £54,000 / $71,000 without thinking about differences in cost of living).
Of course, we've known that a new Zelda game has been in the works for some time, and it would be safe to assume that future titles for the series are likely being thought about at all times. With The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild going on to be such a raging success last year, it would also be safe to assume that a new game could follow suit with a similar design, but the series has often tended to shift direction regardless of its current popularity so it would be impossible to know for sure.
What would you like to see from the next Legend of Zelda game? A Breath of the Wild 2, or something completely different? Let us know down below.
[source nintendo.co.jp]
Comments 85
Awesome news.
I would be more worried to hear they're not hiring, in other news water is wet! That's been used a lot here lately. 😉
Hopefully a new Zelda will make it here sooner rather than later. I'd take a BOTW 2 or something new. As long as it has the feel and the quality of a Zelda game, I'm all for it.
@Spoony_Tech,
Are you sure it's wet?.
Am I mistaken to say that Nintendo already confirmed they have been working on a new Zelda game for a while?
I just hope they will improve the dungeons, that is the only way I can think off they will be able to "beat" the last game.
Also a better story telling game wouldn't hurt anyone.
I wish I had the credentials to at least try for a position like this...
A direct sequel to BOTW would be awesome, with the world all rebuilt and everything
Hmmm, see y'all in five years when the game actually comes out.
change nothing save for ONE thing......
get rid of the destructible weapons thing, I mean seriously, Or add some blacksmiths to towns so you can do repair/maintenance on them and avoid all the B.S.
So another new 3DS Legend of Zelda title? That's awesome I did enjoy A Link Between Worlds so looking forward to this one. I guess one last swansong to utilize that 3D feature of the 3DS one last time. Now how bout an original console Zelda for Switch after this new 3D Zelda.
I definitely want to see something like a Breath of the Wild 2. Definitely. However, I wouldn't mind a reversion to the more traditional 3D metroidvania format for the next one, using the same engine, during the Switch's lifetime, then getting a Breath of the Wild 2 as a bridge title between the Switch and whatever console Nintendo produces next. And then everyone can complain that the simultaneously released BOTW2 is just a port, and the new console has no original games...
If they use they same engine devolpment ccould take half as long as BOTW. They could make the game linear with more dungeons to appease the people who perfered the old style, or more like the current BOTW style to appeal to people who liked that more.
@retro_player_22 I guess they mean not 2D Zelda and I wanted to joke about a 3DS entry like you did (or maybe you weren't joking), but it would be great if it really was a new and main entry on 3DS with stereoscopic 3D. It certainly would be a great swansong.
I want to see a Zelda like BotW with many (not just 4) dungeons as good as Wind Waker, time travel mechanics like a link to the past and a few more items but it doesn't need to be as many as classic Zelda. Also I love upgradable items, so that as well. And a possibility to repair or enchant some weapons if they are breakable as in BotW.
@johnvboy I believe so, just don't ask the Spider-Man devs though. Their water for some reason is less wet then most. 😉
Initially read it as recruiting for a new 3ds game. That would have been a big shock. This is no shock.
Was there any doubt Nintendo wouldn't be working on a new Zelda game? The real question is, will this come exclusively to the Switch or will it be like Breath of the Wild?
My favorite game of all time was BOTW
I would either like to see a breath of the wild in the art style of windwaker or a full 3D remake of the oracle games or links awakening
I thought too that it said 3ds game but after reading the rather positive comments i knew i misread 😅
I'd like to see them pull a Majora's Mask, in a few ways. It'd be fun to bring the mask mechanic back, and if they re-use BOTW assets they can speed up turn around time. Maybe it could take place in BOTW's future, so there could be more buildings and cities.
Also agree that the broken weapon mechanic could be improved. I mostly didn't care, but it always hurt to use up a weapon I loved. A repair mechanic would fix that.
That's not a lot of money for the job
"but the series has often tended to shift direction regardless of its current popularity so it would be impossible to know for sure."
Ocarina of Time spawned what most consider to be a sequel in the form of Majora's Mask. In my opinion, that is the last time the series was on a popularity level as high as it is today following Breath of the Wild, so I would go out on a limb to suggest that it'll be a "sequel of sorts" and it's coming to Switch in 2020.
Link’s Awakening remake would be nice. Since its clearly a sequel to Breath of The Wild, how about some actual dungeons and more enemies, too many were extinct. Some enemies haven’t been seen since Zelda 1 and 2. It wouldn’t hurt to borrow a little more from Twilight Princess. Fishing, swimming, actual swordplay... as good as BOTW was, it made me miss other Zelda titles.
@jockmahon It's not too bad... if you were in your mid-30's and had been in the industry say 10 years with a solid portfolio and have at least one big name/franchise under your belt then the £50K+ salary would be in reach. That's a solid salary. Then there's the added bonus of doing a job you presumably love. And the added bonus of having Zelda on your CV!
@jockmahon I think that depends on cost of living. Here in Nebraska, were cost of living is relatively low, $33,000 would be liveable while $71,000 would make for a pretty comfortable life. Of course, I don't know what the cost of living would be in Japan, so I have no idea if this is a good amount or not.
Hell yeah!!! I know it's wishful thinking, but I would love a new game that let us play as Zelda. Even if it's just one portion of the game.
They should focus more on the history as well, Breath Of The Wild was an amazing game but the history was weak, to small for a Zelda game. Zelda games needs a more robust campaing.
I'm pretty hyped for this new project.
@Spectra @VR32X Assuming it is a sequel, then I'm pretty sure you'll both get what you asked for... Making a Zelda game when you already have BotW as your base could be something phenomenal.
I'm of the opinion that the same will be true of Super Mario Odyssey too. A solid foundation, but far from flawless. A sequel on the other hand could be spectacular!
I would love to see a brand new adventure, incorporating some of the things BoTW did like non linear open world, a (improved) weapon system At the same time, bringing back some elements from past games. Dungeons (though a tad bit more organic), item upgrades like Skyward Sword.
Twilight Princess 3D, for the 3DS. That, or that mobile mainline Zelda game.
Just kidding
I'm hoping that it's another top down zelda. Been too long since a traditional top down. A Link Between Worlds was amazing, but was borderline a remake.
Also 3D designer does not mean it won't be top down. I'd love a top down zelda where you can rotate the camera (from the same top down perspective) to see hidden things.
A full 3D remake of Link’s Awakening with one huge Koholint to explore using the Sheikah slate alongside 8-9 proper dungeons and some decent bosses. Environmental puzzles strewn across the island to replace shrines. Same Link as BotW.
Smaller in scope, out in 2020
Can I state a conjecture?
We know by previous general statements from Nintendo that after each Zelda game the next one starts developing immediately.
Also, we have specific statements from Aonuma that they have started working on the next Zelda. From BOTW we do know already that it is going to be a sequel.
My full conjecture: They want more people because they want to work both on the new sequel of BOTW and on a third (at least) DLC of BOTW.
They still owe us 8 shrines for full stamina and health. After the president's comments on DLC in existing big games I think that a 3rd DLC in E3 2019 will fall like a nuclear bomb! I cross my fingers. For the ones who talk about milking BOTW: PLEASE Nintendo! MILK IT!
Now I'm imagining a ROMhacker applying for a job and Nintendo being impressed with their work, but calling the cops on them anyway.
Open World from BOTW + Full-Scale Dungeons + Music from OOT = please
@Spoony_Tech,
It's all that web fluid mixed in with it,Spidey uses it to go swinging with.
I just want the game to be released in a quicker time frame,assuming they use the BOTW game engine this should be possible.
Hey, lets have big caves, proper dungeons and underwater sections this time, and a deeper story. Ta.
Two words: top down
As long as it takes them at least another five years or so. I'm content to wait a long while for a good game.
Plus I still need to play BotW to death.
as much as I would LOVE to see a continuation of BoTW, I would really love to see a port of Link Between Worlds and reboots of all previous 2D Zelda games using the ALBW engine
on a separate a cart some other time, a "Zelda Maker" would be great, no breath holding though
a "Legend of Zelda: All Stars" (Super Mario All Stars)
a bonus of converting "Zelda II: Adventure of Link" to an overhead game
How do you top BotW? I like the do what you want when you want feel of the game so I hope they don't drop that but maybe remove shrines and add in dungeons you have to find instead..
It just needs to be different enough so it doesn't feel like just more of the same. There's already hundreds of hours of stuff to do and dlc for the BotW.. the
Keep a similar style but add some dungeons and treasure to find, not just and endless supply of weapons which are gonna break
Please be 10000 years ago story please...
I'm calling it now — it's going to be for mobile platforms.
So another 4 year wait. 🙄
I just want to specify, that you can create 3D assets, and still create a 2D game (2.5D). Zelda a link between world is good example. Saying a new 3D zelda is coming is fake news (or speculation).
Here it comes. BotW: Battle Royale Edition.
(with loot boxes and micro-transactions!)
That’s great and all, but I see nothing about them hiring someone to account for STABILITY. That’s VERY important to Nintendo I thought......
“Zelda BOTW2. Now with more stables.” Eh, close enough
@johnvboy don't event start that debate..... I don't want more Americans posting out of focus poorly shot YouTube videos
if they do keep BOTW style i just have four little wishes:
1 - No more breakable weapons and if possible, upgradable ones instead (or at least).
2 - More dungeons.Better in size and diversity.
3 - Let us imbue a costume with the others special abilities after said costumes are at max level. That way we can use our favorite costume for 100% of the time instead of having to switch it every 5 minutes.
4 - Playable Zelda or Linkle.
Actual, completely real, footage from the new game:
@zool yeah I'm glad they are hiring but the attention to detail in these games is why it takes so long. I feel like the next game will be at the end of the switch, the beginning of the new Nintendo or both
Just give me any zelda as fast as possible. Except triforce hero's, you can keep that..
How about a remake of A Link to the Past in 3D?
If BotW was a port of a game built from the ground up for Wii U, I can't imagine how good Zelda would be built from the ground up on Switch. I'm predicting that it will be an end of life product for Switch, so we likely won't see it until at the earliest 2022 (Unless it was already secretly started and coming along nicely)...
SS, OOT & MM collection
Ocarina of time remastered. Make that boss battle in the Wii U tech demo real!.
I hope that alongside the major open-world releases we also get more traditional Zelda titles in between, maybe more inspired by the handheld titles? Would be a nice way to fill the gap and also let us classic Zelda fans enjoy what we love about the old stuff while also enjoying the new direction
@tourjeff I would add an improved weapon durability system, better written characters (I like the champions as much as the next person but they're pretty flat in the main game), as well as more enemy variety to that list.
@Spectra - "Anything but another BOTW please. Or if they must, it'd be nice if they remembered to actually put something in their open world this time..."
I didn't have that feeling at all, quite the opposite (though of course your opinion is just as valid as mine).
A lot of words have been said about the 'triangle' system they developed in the game design, where you can always see three points of interest wherever you are.
I'd come home from work some days with a little plan of what I wanted to achieve in my little slice of free time, but instead spent time just exploring the world, just looking around, just because.
I found it a little brain cleaner, a reset if you will, a chance to chill.
Having said that, I've spent four times the amount of hours in Skyrim on Switch that I spent in BotW, and I can see how Skyrim is more packed with things to do, but it doesn't have the beauty and vibe of Zelda.
@Spoony_Tech If there's one thing that's always true in the comments section of Nintendo Life, it's that water is wet and everything should be taken with a grain of salt. All this saltwater is making me a bit dehydrated, though.
I want a new 2D Zelda game announced for Switch next year.
@bones I personally would love for the next 3D Zelda game to have a more dark/realistic art direction like Twilight Princess and the Wii U tech demo. I don't really see it happening, though.
@Not_Soos I hear bananas work well for that sort of thing. 😉
Ditch the weapons breaking, remove the cooking, simplify the controls (the number of times I crouched when trying to run, or threw my weapon instead of aiming...!)
I wouldn't mind a sequel to BotW. Maybe Zelda finds a way to send them back in time to try and stop Gannon before he destroys the kingdom.
BotW is my favorite Zelda behind OoT and I could definitely find the time to re save it's beautiful world.
Considering the development times of zelda games, we probably won't see it until the switch's successor
As much as I loved BoTW, it just didn't live up to my expectations. OoT and TP remain my favorites. I really hope there's real dungeons in the next Zelda.
@jockmahon The pay does not include overtime pay and also does not include bonuses (which make up a big part of your annual salary in Japan unlike the US where you typically don't get paid overtime) or other non-taxable perqs.
@Gerbwmu What do you mean you wouldn't mind a sequel? We know already that the next one will be a sequel. Or at least, reason says so. In the end of BOTW it is 100% clear that BOTW will have a continuation (in contrast to any other Zelda game to date).
Hopefully they'll ditch that awful "weapons can break" crap.
What if we had a game from Zelda s point of view? I mean, all she's really down up until now is sit around and wait for a skinny elf to save her. But a breath of the wild 2 sounds okay too.
@Hannibalmath - BotW seems set for a sequel, but this is Nintendo we are talking about........you never know what they will do.......at least I never know.....if you have an uncle whose friend is a brother of an aunt that works at Nintendo then you should be leaking more info to me.
@Nemodius
Odd, I often have to many weapons, so I have to get rid of them on purpose. What I would like them to change though, is the possibility to repair special weapons (and they should also get much more durability).
@VR32X
Are you saying Link's Awakening is a sequel to BotW?🤨 I'm pretty sure you're wrong, if you think so.
I still maintain they will make traditional top down zelda games and that is likely what this is. Since the Switch has to sort of be the combo home and portable system now, they can't do 'big game on home console once per generation'. They always did that and had a gameboy game to go along with it, and even spin offs like 4-swords. I'm pretty sure the A-team that did BoTW started working on a follow up as soon as the game launched. This could be adding new people into the mix, but I can forsee looking for people to work on expanding the handheld friendly zelda game. Of my favorites were the DS titles for just how inventive and fresh they were(and still are the most unique titles in the series to date IMO). Since the Switch is kind of a different beast I imagine they are looking for unique new perspectives for the new title that would be the continuation of the handheld style zelda game. So yes, I'm saying that toon link will be that style of game and be solidified there even more from when he made the jump there in minish cap and the DS games stylistically.
I would definitely want a Zelda that improved on BotW mechanics (like mounted combat, especially when using a spear) and also provided an interesting world, but maybe one that doesn't feel as empty. With maybe fewer, but bigger dungeons and mini-dungeons. And definitely fewer Koroks, they get old before you even meet Hestu for the second time.
If it was set in the same timeline as BotW, it could be about rebuilding Hyrule after the 100 years of decline. That would add another common Open World element to the game: base building.
@subpopz So do A link to the past, Oracle of age and skyward sword to an extend.
I am referring to the way it works in ALTTP, which is a bit the same in OOA, OOT (oracle, not ocarina) and ALBW. It is way more flexible than Ocarina of time since you have portals to the other world. The 2 parallel worlds and the repercussion on one or the other is some of my favourite game mechanics.
@tourjeff I believe they confirmed they were working on another Zelda before the release of the 2nd BotW DLC.
I would love if they used BotW's type of overworld, added dungeons (I'd say 13 sounds about right) and cave systems, got rid of stamina/durability, streamlined the clunky menu system, (its called item stacking nintendo) and ditched the horrendous knock-back.
Oh and tweak the horse system so that horses with better stats are randomized, instead of by coat pattern.
@MrBlacky Heavens no! I was saying I’d rather see a Link’s Awakening remake. That’s clearly not happening, so I moved on to talk about Breath of the Wild stuff.
Breath of the wild was great but I didn’t like the breakable weapons and the hyrulian shield was breakable to and it’s supposed to be best shield I want the next game to be similar but also bring back some classic from the old games also is there any chance for old Zelda games to be remastered for the Nintendo switch
BOTW plays as if the timelines merged at some point. I'd love to play that story...
Like an OOT/BOTW mix
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...