The Game Awards is just around the corner and a number of Nintendo titles across multiple categories are in the running to win awards. Perhaps the highlight of the lot is Metroid Dread, which is up for Game of the Year.
The show isn't just about awards, though. It's also about the announcements and once again, host and organiser Geoff Keighley is drumming up excitement on social media. In his latest post on Twitter, he teases a "world premiere" the team has been working on with a developer for 2.5 years.

As can be seen below, some Zelda fans have convinced themselves it could be for the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - announced around 2.5 years ago. While there are also doubts about it being Zelda, as it's titled "world premiere" - others have pointed out how The Game Awards has done world premieres for games that have already been revealed.
Keep in mind, there's still no official title for this new Zelda game. Earlier this year, Nintendo even said it was holding back on the name - to avoid revealing too much, and told fans to "stay tuned".
2021 marks The Legend of Zelda series' 35th anniversary. So far, Nintendo has shared a teaser trailer of the new game at this year's E3 (above), so there's still technically time to add to the celebrations. There have also been rumours about the return of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.
This year's Game Awards show will air on December 9th - streaming live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles. There'll be awards, "world premieres", musical performances and more. Voting is still open, and you can see all of the games up for nomination in our previous post.
What do you think this big reveal might be? Even if this isn't Zelda-related, do you think we'll see the Breath of the Wild sequel or other Zelda news at this year's show? Leave your own thoughts and theories down below.
Comments 142
Just don't get your hopes up.
I wish Indie games could win such a big award. I found many them truly better than some of the AAA titles that win.
I guess an official name reveal for the sequel to Breath of the Wild could maybe count as a "world premiere", but I'm not getting my hopes up. I personally doubt this will be Nintendo-related.
Now imagine the freak out if it was F Zero...
...but that's for another universe.
Geoff is such a clown and his show has been getting progressively worse every year with dud announcements and celebrities that nobody wants to see.
Have the people in gaming be part of these shows.
@Vexx234 IKR? I wish hades would have won last year.
Edit: Spelling.
I actually believe it’s MP4
A new fast and furious game. lol
People setting expectations way too high and it's probably gonna be another elder scrolls 6 trailer or something with no gameplay that reaffirms it's coming eventually
I shall open my ears to the word of our Lord, whomst speaketh through the leader of our DEWmocracy, His Holiness Dorito Pope Jeff Keighley. Praise be to Cool Ranch, please Xtreme Flavour Blast Zelda into existence. Amen.
Omg ya’ll gonna try to tease me like this… but still honestly ill be floored if it happens… obviously ill be watching it so this viral ad campaign is absolutely working 😱
BOTW2 will probably be there since this show has a good history with BOTW1, but I don't think that's what Geoff's teasing here. He's making it sound like a heavily anticipated game that hasn't been announced yet or that's seen radio silence for at least a couple years. Personally, my guess would be Silksong, but my heart wants it to be Half-Life 3 or something else by Valve. Half-Life Alyx was supposed to get a big preview at TGA 2019 before Valve pulled out of the deal, but Geoff's always been close friends with Gabe Newell and has a lot of insight on Valve's projects. I think if they have anything to show, this would be the place to reveal it.
I'm not expecting Zelda. It'd be nice, but ultimately this could be legit anything. Premiers usually just show off brand new reveals as well.
I won't get excited unless Nintendo confirms something themselves.
@Vexx234 and the same can be said about AAA games. Well you said it, you wish.
The Last of Us 1+2 Ultra HD collection. :/
@Rpg-lover I agree. Bland open world games like Ghost of Tsushima was robbed of that trophy from the other bland Last of US 2.
I'm calling it now, easily has to be Pikmin 4 since it has been ready since 2015.
🙄
@Freek At this point, I'd give up hope on Pikmin 4. It's either been canned behind the scenes, or it's in development hell.
Can anyone say switch pro?
@Vexx234
Which Indie games (and year) make your recommendations?
I dont think its a nintendo game
If my sources are correct, it should be Dark Souls 2 on the Switch.
Ok I know whenever this is brought up it is immediately cursed to be wrong but with all the leaks recently....
I genuinely think it's the full release date reveal of Hollow Knight: Silksong.
@msvt This year alone, I played Death's Door, Loop Hero, and Eastward. Eastward however might be hard to get into for some. It's very much story over gameplay. There is alot of dialogue.
It would be so cool to see a big announcement that Kid Icarus Uprising HD or sequel being made but of course Nintendo just hates that franchise so much.
It will most likely be underwhelming show as usual. I’ll read summary instead when the show is over.
@Zeldinion I think you’re right; I was about to post the same. Silksong was announced Feb 2019.
Don't get any... big ideas... They're not... gonna happen...
No. Probably something else, as Nintendo will have a blow-out at their own, focused event/Direct.
We've already had a look at BotW2. Not convinced it would be a Premiere. Metroid Prime 4 on the other hand...
Certainly more appropriate to be featured in a western show. Zelda is maybe too global.
If it is Nintendo related at all, it's either Metroid Prime 4 or something new.
It is not Zelda. Zelda still may get a new trailer there but this sounds like a new game.
I came here just to speculate that could be Prime 4, but I was beaten to the punch. 🥲Regardless, it would be perfect timing because Dread just came out and reignited the Metroid flame for a lot of people. BOTW2 could also be it, but I'm hoping that it's both of them.
It's obviously a hint to Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMIX coming to PS5 and XS. As cloud versions
Half-Life.
It’s Cranky Kong
I think we will get Zelda but this is not that tease.
MAYBE it's Metroid Prime 4. MAYBE it's that remake of Prime 1 we keep hearing about... Maybe it's something totally random.
I would love it to play out with Zelda as it did for Bayonetta in 2019. A big blow out of BOTW2, and also the reveal of the two originals for early next year
Not a chance, it'll be some new indie dev with some quirky fps game.
There’s 3 hopes of Zelda:
Bob Hope
No Hope
Stanford-Le-Hope
Game announcements are the only reason to watch! ...after the live stream so you can skip 80% of the crap in the middle!
World premiere, so it can't be Zelda BotW2, unless Zelda GO is announced. MP4 could. Also could: GTA VI, new Quake, Witcher 4, Uncharted 5, etc.
Prime? My guess.
Hmmm don’t think they’d use the word premiere for something that’s already been announced and shown. May not even be nintendo at all
@Falien Especially with the leak suggesting that it will release Feb next year too.
could Geoff Keighly be refering to more information regarding Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2?problaby not, problaby is a PlayStation 4/5 or Xbox Series X/S game
2.5 years would mean E3 2019 so I'm guessing Elden Ring. It was revealed at the Xbox E3 2019 conference and Geoff made a big deal about its presence at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
@Crockin "World Premiere" is used for any new trailer for upcoming content like in 2019 the Game Awards even used it for the already known at the time MUA3 DLC.
If its Nintendo related, then I guess it will be Prime 4.
Not expecting it, tbh.
When it says world premier doesn't that mean it's first showing to the public? If so then it can't be zelda
The next zelda.... I seriously cant wait to play this game.
Super Mario Odyssey 2 confirmed!
Probably Kojima's latest schlock
Links Crossbow Training 2. I’d put money on it.
How can it be a 'world premiere' when Zelda BOTW2 has already been announced and shown twice?
Internet trying to wish things into reality again.
@WaffleRaptor01 GoT and TLOUP2 bland? Good joke.
With the success of Streets Of Rage 4 announced many years ago. I’m calling it now an updated Version of Capcom Final Fight!!!!! Think about it last year was Capcom Ghosts ‘N Goblins. Another Capcom announcement awaits………maybe announce Capcom Arcade Stadium DLC pack 4.
@WallyWest Hey, lots of people enjoy bland. There's nothing wrong with a little bland in your life.
@Vexx234
Thanks! I'd try Eastward at some point. For Indie's, Hades makes the list for games I can play on Switch. Is Tetris Effect indie? Golf Story made the list but I was so bored in the winter area I quit. Maybe Monster's Expedition (though I got stuck and quit). In Other Waters. Talos Principle. Alba, Abzu.... I liked the Touryst but the boss battle (with the stupid ball jumping thing) ended the game for me. I am not sure if Geometry Wars is Indie game, but I love the series -in fact -Galaxies for Wii (DS version good too) is the best entry. I wish a collection would come to Switch.
Bad North is really cool... but not AAA either.
But they are also much shorter and often hit a wall towards the later areas of gameplay that do not match AAA games, especially Nintendo games, usually. I've also noticed Indie's have a slow start sometimes which is a pacing issue probably, that I find hard to get past. Sakuna was great until I got a repetition issue with no proress forward (15 hours in). Was Muramasa (wii and others) an Indie?
@Sam_TSM People put Kojima up as this grand visionary storyteller. I just see him as a guy who just writes the first "cool" idea that pops in his head. He now wants to make movies which is weird. He should be careful moving into the movie genre as movies critics are not as kind as game critics.
do not expect Zelda BOTW 2 at the game awards
It wont have anything to do with Nintendo.
Mark my words, most likely a "AAA-game" with lots of microtransactions, GAS and all the other things you hate from one of the big three (EA, Activision, Ubisoft) and most likely will be skipping the Switch.
@msvt AAA games suffer imo from safe sequels, and copy and pasted ideas. Rather than try to be innovative or atleast somewhat original they are just there. Right now open world games are hugely popular but many of them are just plain boring. It's the same fetch quests, the same go here do x. It's open world for open world sake.
Someone here mentioned ghosts of tsushima which is a good example of devs having a unique setting yet not doing anything unique with it. It's the same boring repetitiveness seen in other boring open world games. The same cookie cutter play it safe plotline seen a 100 times over.
Something is wrong when fans of a game have to tell you to just focus on story and skip side quests. That's just a failure on the devs part.
it can't be a world premiere for Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2, since the game was anounced at E3 2019, maybe a reveal of Metroid Prime 4?
@Bratwurst35
I agree the open world genre needs an enima!
BoTW was certainly refreshing.
Given Geoff's Track Record on "Big Announcements", I wouldn't go into this with any expectations.
Dood loves to try and hook people in only for them to be underwhelmed.
It’s a premiere. BotW 2 has already had a premiere. Look elsewhere, it’s likely a entire unannounced title. Hence “premiere.”
Zelda or not, I wonder what their work with the Developer for the past 2.5 years actually means... And how devs feel about this statement.
Hoping for Metroid Prime 4 but I'll be keeping my hopes low.
@Hwatt this is semantically correct but you can't rely on this guy semantics though.
@msvt For what it's worth I don't have a problem with all AAA games. Growing up I played every single Assassin's creed games and that killed my enjoyment of the genre. Ubisoft ran that series into the ground.
I actually played BOTW and had the most fun I've had in years. So my original comment was not meant to say none of them are deserving of any award. I actually think BOTW deserved all the awards and praise it received. Looking forward to BOTW2
@Vexx234
All good with me! I support a lot of indies, and half way agree with you, however I always love suggestions on new games, especially since so many are on sale often.
I enjoyed the show in previous years, but last year was VERY underwhelming in my book. I may tune in, but I'm seriously debating about merely catching the news after the fact.
I don't know, this Geoff guy is sort of exaggerated. He says he has the most amazing surprise for Nintendo fans and then it was a very, very regular game.
@Fededx Well you can't get people interested with honesty. Best way is to hype it things up as far as it can go and then let everyone come crashing down with disappointment.
@SpacedDuck Totally disagree. Geoff works so hard to bring the hype and celebrate gaming. He hasn’t had the clout to do everything he wants, but in retrospect, he put on the best show this summer (save Nintendo).
I think the actual awards of the Game Awards are a bit of a joke, but it could reach a tipping point where he has the clout to secure great trailers and then make a stronger awards show around it.
@Snatcher I'm getting my hopes up...!!!
This is it, don't get scared now.
@Spiders I'm sure the Oscars wasn't as renowned in its infancy as well. It took many years to build its reputation into a cornerstone of media celebration. And today's streaming wars causing the Oscars' clout and viewership to wane goes to show just how fluid cultural relevance can be.
It will take many years for the Game Awards to demonstrate enough consistency to build relevance. That is a very hard thing to do over the longterm honestly, so I respect Geoff in at least trying to put the work in for his baby.
I don't see why anybody thinks this would be a Switch game. If it's been in the works for 2 1/2 years already and only getting a world premiere now it's almost certainly either XSX or PS5. If it's on a Nintendo console it would be Switch 2, b/c at this late date Switch Pro ain't happening, Switch is 5 years old in March.
I do think Zelda BotW2 will be at the show, possibly w/ a name, but that's not what he's referring too here. It's probably Kojima's next game, a dating sim starring Geoff. 😝
@Ulysses Games have a long way to go be taken seriously. Til then Game Awards will be mocked. Doesn't help when gamers argue over silly things on a daily basis. Hard to take game awards seriously when you have people throwing a hissy fit over The last of us 2 winning GOTY.
Considering it roughly takes 5 years or more for a game to come to fruition that not surprising they announce something that early to get developers and hardware makers gearing for products for the game. Game Development isn't a over night creation to retail - anyone working in Computer Programming or work in that field knows this far to well.
What happened to the superb box art brawl?!
The possibilities are endless, but that also means BotW2 isn't outside of the realm of possibilities.
A game like Elden Ring would clearly not appear as a World Premiere because the game is releasing very soon (January) and betas of the game were already given out. There's not much else they could show.
A game like Metroid Prime 4 is possible, but also very uncertain. Retro Studios is only 3 years into development (and I'm doubtful that development from 2017 and 2018 contributed enough). However, it's the upcoming game we have the least amount of info on.
Can no one remember Hollow Knight Silksong? Announced in 2019 e3, timing lines up perfectly. Been no news. cmon
The Game Awards is so desperate to be the BAFTA's of the gaming world, focussing on gritty story and atmosphere instead of the fun and joy of gaming. All these Last of Us musical performances and so on will probably bore a lot of the audience. People want trailers, some awards here and there, and some light-hearted fun. This is gaming, not the oscars. Stop trying to be something you aren't.
@Hwatt the 2017 awards had a 'premiere' of Breath of the Wild despite having a previous reveal at E3. TGA was the 'premiere' of the name and story.
@Giancarlothomaz see above
It just says "a developer". Not even nintendo, so chances are it is not one of the biggest developers either, else it would not need to be quite so vague to try to drum up the hype. We're it Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft, probably even Ubisoft, EA or Rockstar then they would have likely got even more hype if they mentioned the developer by name.
I suspect it will be something multiplatform, aimed mostly at the Western PC crowd with a large cult following where they might want people to focus more on the game itself than the studio... Overwatch 2?
Thats the sort of game that the game awards organisers cream themselves over, while they tend to not care much for Nintendo.
Didn't they show off BotW2 at E3? I don't see a how new Zelda trailer would make for a "World Premiere."
I think BotW2 is holidays 2022 so Nintendo will wait for E3 to next show it, reveal title, and confirm release date.
I don't think Nintendo will show anything at the game awards. Their next big announcement is very likely to be a 2D Mario (it's "due" and the movie next year already confirmed) but they'll announce that themselves in the next Direct (Jan/Feb).
Metroid Prime 4, anyone?
It could be BotW2, but thanks to all the COVID delays that set development back on major releases across the entire industry (think how XBOX Series X is just now seeing its first wave of true blockbuster exclusives hit after a full year and the PS5 is still waiting on its first with Horizon Forbidden West), it could be any number of other projects as well. Even some Indie projects like the Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course DLC have been in the works about that long.
It’s probably the long rumored Silent Hill game. BOTW2 doesn’t make any sense so people shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Who knows. Whether it is or isn't, we're bound to see Zelda by next e3 at the latest.
Could not care less about the Game Awards, so I won't be getting excited for anything being revealed at that sham show.
Better to just wait for the aftermath news, to see if any hype reveals were made.
It's going to be Metroid Prime 4.
"Released in 2024 on the Switch 2"
Zelda has long been my favorite series, but after BoTW I am not super excited for the next one. All aboard the hype train for the NEXT next one! And Prime 4. That's my most anticipated
It's hard not to get your hopes up even though you should know better by now. A new trailer for BOTW2 and at the end they show the Twilight Princess and Wind Waker HD Collection for Switch, coming end of this year. I don't know if Nintendo announces new games during an awards show but I would be so happy.
Cuphead DLC possiby?
@Bentendo1609 but we had a gameplay trailer for Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 at E3 2021, this game Geoff Keighly is hyping us is problaby a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S exclusive, Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 is not a new game.
@jorel262 well during the 2017 Game Awards, Nintendo anounced Bayonetta 3.
@msvt Hollow Knight Silksong Fall 2022.
Botw 2 already had a world premiere tho
@Giancarlothomaz perhaps the highly rumored and heavily anticipated WW/TP HD collection
Breath of the Wild 2: A Link in Time. (Directly connecting those games canonically, since Lynel only appear in that timeline and was in BoTW and the blue cyclop statues and tech seen in trailers.).
Realistically it's gonna be a game that has not been announced yet.
I'm really hoping it's the new bioshock 🤞🏻
At this point I'm 100% sure BOTW is showing up, but I'd be just as hype for a new Metroid and/or Monolithsoft project announcement, which are also likely. I just hope Nintendo has a reveal early in the show or multiple reveals spread out, the Game Awards are such a drag to watch.
Something Something Metroid....Something Something Reggie Metroid pin....
Silksong would come to my mind - which I would definitely like
If it's about BOTW2, that would be neat.
But I'd rather have a world premier of Metroid Prime 4....or, even better, a NEW DONKEY KONG GAME! =D
Yeah I know the latter one is a pipe dream -_-
That's assuming is Nintendo related.
Interesting. Now to hurry up and wait. I hope rideable Loftwings.
@Giancarlothomaz That's what I thought at first too, but then I read the whole article in full before commenting.
Metroid Prime 4 restarted development around 2.5 years ago. Here's hoping!
Botw2 is in development since 2017
@Snatcher
I dig the festive new avatar! 🎅🏼
Also I agree it’s probably best we Nintendo fans don’t get too hyped over Geoff’s hint.
Still, people saying Silksong or the Cuphead DLC could be on to something!
@Bentendo1609 They’re trying to “elevate” the medium, and, unfortunately that’s the playbook. But let’s be honest: that is the playbook in all gaming media and even among it’s fans. Just look at the reaction to Metroid Dread as a GOTY nominee. How many people don’t think it’s worth the price because it’s “2D”?
The hobby has a rift in it around AAA and “cinematic games”. I think it’s rooted in a deep insecurity in the medium. The Last Of Us II “makes sense” as an example of a great game, ironically, because people who don’t play games can wrap their heads around the appeal of it.
How do you make sense of truly sublime gaming experiences like for example Downwell, that eschews the visual cortex almost altogether and downloads itself into the parietal lobe?
Or the game that should have won last year, Hades? There’s a reason TLOU can translate to an HBO show, while Hades innovated with a beautiful narrative trick that could only work in gaming.
This year, Metroid Dread, Death’s Door, Returnal or Forza should probably get most if not all the accolades, but they are all too unapologetically games for the mainstream.
@Teksetter Why thank you for noticing!
Cuphead and silksong is way more likely, not saying BOTW2 can't be there, Because it can 100%, its just nintendo fans can get, A little to hyped for something, Not calling any names!
They are aiming for 2022, so this makes sense. Also I hope for a 1st January 2022 release. It woulnd't make any sense from a commercial point of view, but it would mean we get to play it earlier than a november-ish release.
Well excuse me princess
I doubt this being true. If it would be, it wouldn't be a surprise now because we already knew about it being "rumoured". This is why I (try) and not read anything regarding rumors. But it's part the internet nowadays right?
Coming soon... on the Super Nintendo Switch GameCube VI
@Angelic_Lapras_King This is the problem - there really wouldn't be any except by die hard fans because the franchise has never generated sufficient interest amongst casuals.
@EvrgrnCmln Its a name that has passed along over the years that even some casuals that may have never played a game have heard of it. Even without that, Cap Falcon is a more than recognizable character thanks to Smash Bros that all you need is to start the trailer with him and everyone would get it. Its him and the series he came from.
World premiere could be anything new.
Games I doubt it will be but forever on my mind:
Kojima's new game
BotW sequel
Beyond Good & Evil 2
Dead Island 2
I think we'll get new botw 2 footage, which will include the main new feature, (which they've been hiding), but I think we'll only get the title reveal in a direct early next year. I think they'll show the game at this event just because the game awards have a significantly larger audience watching compared to a regular direct.
Game Awards have a tradition of really barely touching on the Nintendo fanbase. I hardly doubt Nintendo would be so interested in a western event to show off Zelda there, after already revealing it at E3 anyways.
They will most likely just use their own Direct format at some point.
@valcoholic Bayonetta 3? Joker/Sephiroth Smash reveals? Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3? Literally the first gameplay of BotW we ever saw was at The Game Awards and they revealed The Champion’s Ballad at them. What are you talking about.
Fifa 23 confirmed!!
I'm rooting for Deathloop this year and Metroid.
Am I the only one disappointed by the fact the monsters are all the same in the second trailer?
@Angelic_Lapras_King my brain would short-circuit and catch fire
@Meteoroid I wouldn't agree that it's a zero percent chance, but I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't show up. I really hope it does but I could see why it wouldn't be Zelda.
I really hope this is true and we get Botw 2 news at the game awards. I could also see Metroid Prime 4 fitting that but I feel like that would very less likely.
@Meteoroid You're most likely right, it will probably show up but I can see why it's not a Zelda announcement that Geoff Keighley is talking about.
@BloodNinja
I would pay my soul for DS2 on Switch.
@Cia But would you pay your dark soul? Heh.
It won't be Zelda. And that Stealth40k guy analyses and reads into things waaaaay too much by the way.
Who else will he be working with - besides Kojima? It must be the announcement of his next long winded game.
It’s Prime 4 100%
I have a bad feeling it's not gonna be Zelda. Maybe Prime 4 or some or other new Mario game?
(coughs quietly) maybe we could hear a bit more splat 3 news as well?
...crud now I’m gonna have to watch the game awards again. And I thought I was done when the fighters pass is finished.
@Qwertyninty I thought you meant Mario party 4. Though your probably talking about Metroid prime.
Oops.😅
Metroid 4? It's going to be Among Us 2 or some crap like that I bet.
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