The long-delayed Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stunned gamers when it was fully revealed earlier this year. And though Nintendo revealed the game wouldn't be arriving in 2016, news that it would arrive in 2017, presumably alongside Nintendo's new console, didn't seem like such bad news.
Another Delay For 'Legend Of Zelda'
Unfortunately, reports are begining to trickle in that indicate Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may undergo yet another delay, one that would cause it to miss the release of the Nintendo Switch in March.
Blogger Emily Rogers, who regularly reports on various insider Nintendo info and has proven to be accurate numerous times in the past, first reported the news citing multiple sources who say the localization process for the game is "more work" than Nintendo initially anticipated.
Rogers goes on to write that the game is expected to be finished sometime in December, but that it will still need to undergo several months of extensive playtesting before being cleared for launch.
In addition to Rogers, Eurogamer is also reporting via their own sources that Nintendo's highly anticipated game won't be arriving early next year.
It's a major blow for those planning on picking up the Nintendo Switch with Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as a launch title.
Mario Instead Of Zelda?
Though Nintendo never went so far as to confirm the game was indeed launching alongside the Switch, earlier reports appeared to confirm the idea that the new Zelda would be launching for the Wii U and the Switch (then referred to as the NX) simultaneously.
It's unclear if that will still be the case. Amiibo for Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild also looked to be arriving in March, lending even more evidence that the game would be launching alongside the new console. Instead of Zelda, Eurogamer reports a new Mario game will be ready for the Switch at launch.
So when would Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild release? Judging from the reports, a mid to fall 2017 release date seems likely, as Rogers reports that playtesting for the game could last as long as four to six months after its December completion date in order to ensure the quality of the game is as perfect as possible.
In related Nintendo news, various leaks regarding the Nintendo Switch's price have also begun to appear online. According to the U.K. video game store chain GAME, a base unit of the console will sell for £199.99 (roughly $250). Another model of the console will sell for £249.99 (roughly $312) and is said to come with greater internal storage and an unknown game (possibly the new Mario).
Alas, fans won't know anything official until Nintendo speaks up about the Switch in January. Until then, fans will have to continue speculating and absorbing all the leaked information they can as they look to decide whether or not Nintendo's new machine will be worth getting come March.
