Back when the Nintendo Switch first hit the market, it only brought a handful of games alongside it, just ten in total. But what could have been a disappointing lineup was completely overshadowed by the standout title, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This game was a labor of love for years, initially planned as a marquee game for the Wii U. However, due to multiple delays and reworkings, its release was strategically timed to coincide with the launch of the Switch. Debuting on both the Wii U and Switch in 2017, Breath of the Wild was the catalyst that propelled Nintendo into one of its most successful console eras.
Breath of the Wild smashed sales records, shifting over 30 million copies globally and taking its place as the most popular Zelda game ever, by a wide margin. The game was praised universally, landing near-perfect scores across major gaming platforms and securing the second spot on OpenCritic’s list of the greatest games ever. With achievements like these, it’s hard to challenge the claim that Breath of the Wild ranks among the best console launch titles, standing shoulder to shoulder with legends like Halo: Combat Evolved and Super Mario 64. Rumor has it that Nintendo is eyeing a remaster of Breath of the Wild for their next-gen console.
Buzz about a remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo’s next console successor has been swirling since late 2023. The first to hint at this was the gaming site Eurogamer. They reported that not long after Gamescom 2023, the Switch 2 was sneak-peeked to developers behind closed doors. Among the demo titles was a “souped-up” version of Breath of the Wild. However, Eurogamer noted that this improved version was more of a tech-demo, with no promises of it hitting the public as a remaster.
The conversation about this alleged Switch 2 port picked up again in mid-2024, thanks to well-known insider Midori, who now goes by RyanFromTheBronx. On Twitter, Midori revealed that Nintendo had a new project underway, code-named “U-King-O.” Initially overlooked, savvy netizens noticed “U-King” was the code name for Breath of the Wild during its development. The addition of “-O” set off speculation about an updated version. Fellow insider Samus Hunter lent more credibility to these rumors in December 2024.
A potential remaster of Breath of the Wild could be a goldmine, given the limitations of the original hardware’s performance. Nintendo could sweeten the deal by bundling this remastered jewel with its anticipated sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, for the Switch 2. Offering these two games as a package deal, especially if they run at a crisp 1440p 60 FPS, would likely ignite sales and interest.
Though enticing, such a bundle might hit a snag in pricing. Nintendo isn’t exactly known for generous discounts; first-party Switch titles consistently remain in the $30-$40 range, even as titles on PS4 and Xbox One have dipped. If Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom do arrive as remasters on the new system, they’ll probably be packaged expensively or sold as separate items.
Forget everything you thought you knew about Zelda games. Breath of the Wild invites you into a stunning world of exploration and adventure, breaking boundaries as you uncover the mysteries of the kingdom of Hyrule in this Open-Air Adventure. Now available on the Switch, the ways to adventure are limitless – take your system anywhere and play as Link in countless new ways.
