Update: GameStop appears to have made this promotion official - if you spend $30 or more on Zelda products or trade towards a Switch, you'll get receive this double-sided poster.
The Legend of Zelda turns 35 this year, so where are all Zelda-related announcements from Nintendo? Right now, there's the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity DLC Season Pass and Skyward Sword HD to look forward to, but beyond this not much else.
Industry Insider and VentureBeat journalist Jeff Grubb previously explained how Nintendo wanted Skyward Sword HD to be the sole focus in the lead-up to its release and would then reveal more later on in the year, which connects back to a rumour about the return of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. VGC's Andy Robinson also previously said these older 3D entries are "100% coming this year".
With all of this in mind, there's now a Zelda poster that is apparently being handed out in GameStops across the US. The promotion is due to start next week, but according to insider NateDrake, it'll begin on Sunday this week (and you might have to spend a certain amount on certain products to get it). Here's how ResetEra user Rareware was able to get their hands on one early:
"So I just went to GameStop to pick up Ratchet & Clank and asked the manager while I was there if they “started the Zelda promotion yet where you get a free Zelda poster when purchase Zelda merchandise”. He says it “probably won’t start until sometime next week”. But then he reaches into drawer and gives me the Zelda poster anyway along with my Ratchet game!"
As can be seen above, it's double-sided and features all sorts of artwork from different Zelda games. Notably, Windwaker and Twilight Princess both feature. It's of course raised speculation about the classic Zelda games on these posters returning. In saying this, it appears at least one side of the graphic has been recycled from the 30th anniversary celebrations of Zelda, as highlighted by ResetEra user GJ. Others have also noted similarities to the banner featured on the official Zelda website.
Please note, we're not suggesting anything here ourselves - at the very least, consider this a heads up that GameStop might be handing out free Zelda posters over the coming weeks. What we will also say is that it is interesting timing ahead of Nintendo's E3 Direct next week and nice to know Nintendo hasn't completely forgotten about Link's big year.
[source resetera.com]
Comments 47
It could mean everything, it could mean nothing. While the biggest takeaway from this would be that the HD versions of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker will come to Switch, I'm not going to believe anything real concrete until we hear it straight from Nintendo themselves.
I am wondering if Nintendo is gonna do much, if anything, for the series anniversary, but I'm just gonna wait til they decide they wanna share it.
I really hope we get Xenoblade Chronicles X, Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD announced at E3. While there are other Wii U ports I'd like to see, those 3 are my top 3 most wanted Wii U games on the Switch that aren't already on the Switch.
It means one thing: Nintendo are acknowledging that it’s Legend of Zelda’s 35 anniversary.
Which implies they’ll be showing more than just Skyward Sword.
And they said GameStop was useless...
so this mean that Nintendo is knowledging Legend of Zelda 35th anniversary?
@Grumblevolcano Agreed, Grumble! Just out of interest, about XCX, are you hoping they redo the faces like they did with XC?
Reaching a lot about this meaning game releases are certain. The posters also firmly show OOT and other Zelda games just as much as TP and WW.
Also "free" and having to spend so much to get the poster don't add up. Either way I assume we won't see anything like this over in our neck of the woods
GameStop, please stop leaking stuff!
Likely to be free with every Skyward Sword purchase.
Give me Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, (Majora's Mask I guess) and Twilight Princess. All on one cart. £35. Done.
Even more interesting, I've come across a rumour that Gamestop is doubling staff on the 15th. If this is true, they're expecting a big increase in footfall on that day, for some kind of launch of something or maybe next gen console restocks? I guess we'll find out if there's anything to this soon enough.
Nintendo should scrap any 35th anniversary plans they have and make it the year of Tingle instead.
Twilight Princess and Wind Waker need to be released on the Switch, otherwise those remasters will stay trapped on the Wii U, which nobody has.
They better have BOTW2 news at e3 or riots
Id rather new versions than once again ports!! I have them already on 3DS, wii and WiiU..... be nice to see something new alongside botw2 rather than ports
This just made me realize how much I prefer Link's traditional outfit to his Champion's outfit in BoTW.
I can't blame Nintendo for being so secretive about the anniversary. Skyward Sword split the fans, even today, and it doesn't seem like everyone wants to give the game a second chance. It's the one time that a frame rate upgrade has failed, ironically.
I DO need to pick up a pre-order in a couple weeks....Might check for the poster then. I'm always up for Zelda swag when it's available.
@Grumblevolcano Same here, especially with XCX. Whereas the others appeared on previous consoles, XCX deserves another chance. It's an amazing game that got me interested in the other Xenoblade entries.
Wait what about Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask?
Gamestop management sucks, this will probably get the person who gave away the poster in trouble. If an employee does a nice thing for you dont repay them by exposing them like this
OoT, MM, & Link Between Worlds 3 pack coming soon for a limited time.
Aw, now I'm sad because both my nearby local Gamestops have closed down.
Welp guess I will have to find a GameStop...
Weren't they supposed to be for pre-ordering Skyward Sword HD?
@GrailUK I mean the faces in XCX are kind of "doll like" for a reason..
Well hope this means we get more Zelda games announced!
Not proud of it, really, but I'm going to be virtually helpless if they have some sort of all-inclusive wide-reaching sets of Zelda collections. Some of them will be quadruple dips at this point... maybe more?
Zelda Game & Watch would be how they could really extract some frivolous spending from me.
Which reminds me that as much as I enjoy that Nintendo can focus on one hybrid, I miss the days of new 3D games on the TV console, and new 2D games on the handhelds. I always preferred playing the handheld games on larger screens, but it was twice the games, and one held you over to the other.
@Lifeis2-D Tbh, I can't see Elma any other way myself.
No 35th logo, triangle design is the same as the fan made box cover that everyone uses to talk about any Zelda collection. Calling bull.
make it the year of Tingle instead
@LXP8 Moderators, how do I formally request that <------- this person
be banned? We don't give in to evil on this site, do we? 😁
Give me windwaker hd pleaseeeeeeeeeee.
Please, Zelda 2 HD remake!
Hmm, is this new Twilight princess artwork? I mean, its a 3D model I don't think I have ever seen before.
@Grumblevolcano Xenoblade X is amazing! I hope for you and all of us who enjoy Xenoblade that, that wish comes to fruition.
Just give me OoT remade with HD visuals. That is seriously all I want.
Currently the bar is low, set at "WW and TP:HD getting a switch release" and "the Mario Game and Watch getting a Zelda version"
@aaronsullivan I feel the same way.
Over the past 3 years, Nintendo claimed it would merge its handheld and console divisions with the Switch, but instead, it feels more like the console division simply absorbed the handheld devs. The Switch really just has $60 console games that can also be played in handheld mode.
I miss all of those old handheld games that were clearly made for GBA/DS. They were also more affordable at $30-$40 back in the day, which helped you dip into a lot more titles. It seems Indies have taken their place, but honestly, 80% of Indies just feel amateurish compared to the old handheld games from Nintendo and third-party publishers.
I want to know how a promotional poster can cause cancer or reproductive harm…
Okay my hype level just got from 10 to 1000.
What will they show at their direct!?
@Nontendo_4DS same here, it’s just a poster, albeit a nice one but as a 45 year old the days of putting one on my wall are long gone! Stuff like this used to be free every month with gaming magazines back in the 90s.
I’m on the fence about Skyward Sword, gave it a miss on the Wii and I’m thinking it may just be a little dated nowadays. I’m hoping we’ll get Wind Waker as well which I think will suit Switch better.
That is not a poster, that is a leaflet
To the reviewer they are not to give it out only first to preorders. I've asked and that's what I was told. So you got yours by cheating.
@Ulysses Funny thing is, I rarely enjoyed the form factor of the handhelds, my hands are just too big for them and I stopped playing several games I loved because the hand fatigue, cramping, and soreness, and the horrible screens (compared to full-size contemporaries) on most of them. I felt that otherwise truly great games were trapped on devices that I didn't want to play on.
I just wish they continued to make these smaller-scoped companion games. I also have far less time to spend playing games so I like a shorter game and 20-30 hours for a "big" game is about my limit — which I make exceptions for in the big franchises or games I fall in love with like Hollow Knight.
Which brings me to the other side of this. Some of my best experiences have been from more indie-leaning games like Stardew Valley and Hollow Knight. As for the percentage of good/bad indie games, I don't know how much a difference that makes to me. Games that don't interest me or are easily dismissed are just that. A little subtle background noise. For my personal tastes, I'm not sure the ratio is much better for the multi-million dollar games.
But we all want different things from games. With such diverse and numerous options, I think it's harder and harder for a company like Nintendo, that tries to make games "for everyone", to find a balance.
Just received a GameStop email. You can get the 2-sided poster when you spend $30 or more on Zelda products.
I'm looking forward to Nintendo's E3 presentation. That's all I can say at this point.
Hope to don't do the same mistake with the super mario 35th anniversary collection they didn't include the Mario Galaxy 2 and some extras like development backstages and extra content to justify the 60 bucks. I'm glad i didn't care.
I'm more interested in Nintendo's Ripley rip-off who's also turning 35 this year.
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