A new Nintendo Direct is due to take place on February 8, and if there's one game on everyone's lips, it's the still-unnamed sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Everyone is excited to see more of the game, especially given the tantalizing glimpses seen so far, but will Nintendo finally announce a release date for Link's next adventure, or will it be the next title to be delayed into 2023?
The The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel was revealed during Nintendo's E3 2019 Direct with a brief teaser trailer that hinted at the new direction the story will take. The narrative follows on from the events of the original game and it involves Hyrule Castle being sent into the sky by some incredibly powerful foe (most likely a revived Ganon), with Link now exploring floating islands as part of his quest. The fans had to endure a lengthy period of silence after that reveal, as the game's next showing happened during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct, where fans were given an extended look at its gameplay and world. There's still a lot that isn't known about the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Nintendo is dedicated to maintaining its mystique, at least for the time being.
It was revealed during the September 2021 Nintendo Direct that the so-called BOTW 2 will launch in 2022, but the game has yet to receive a concrete release date or a true title. The time for more information may be at hand, as Nintendo has announced that the next Nintendo Direct will take place on February 9. The Silksong fans of the world will continue their candlelight vigil for more information about the game, but it's more likely that the Breath of the Wild sequel will receive a showing during the event. The game has a huge role to play in Nintendo's upcoming plans for 2022, and the next Nintendo Direct seems the natural place to reveal them.
All Known Information About The February 2022 Nintendo Direct
The February 2022 Nintendo Direct will happen on February 8 at 2 PM PT/5 PM ET/10 PM GMT. All that Nintendo has said about its contents is that the show will run for forty minutes and that it will focus on games that are releasing in the first half of the year. This means that the games that are likely to appear are Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, Chocobo GP, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Rune Factory 5, and Triangle Strategy. It's highly likely that new games will be announced, along with brand new ports of existing titles, like the recently leaked Batman Arkham series for the Switch. There's a good chance that announcements will also be made about the games on Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pack.
While Nintendo's language only mentions the first half of the year, the company will likely give release dates for the second half of the year. The second half of the Nintendo Switch games 2022 release schedule is dry across the board and the company will need to start giving release dates soon. The Nintendo Switch has several games with loose 2022 release dates that will likely make an appearance during the Direct, including Bayonetta 3, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and Splatoon 3. The game that fans are expecting to see during the Direct is Breath of the Wild 2, as it's easily the biggest Switch exclusive that is set to launch in 2022.
The Upcoming 2022 Holiday Season & BOTW 2's Importance
The holiday season is the most important time of the year for any console maker, as it's the time when the mainstream fans are most likely to splurge on a new system as a gift for a loved one. It's for this reason that the console makers need a killer app to sell their system during this period. For 2021, the Switch had Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, which have already sold nearly 14 million copies around the world. It's the appeal of games like this that has led the Switch to outsell the Wii.
BOTW 2 is said to be launching in 2022. It's possible that a delay could be announced during the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, but the more likely outcome is that Nintendo finally announces the release date for the game. This will hopefully come alongside a reveal of the game's name, so everyone can stop referring to it as "the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." The Nintendo Direct doesn't require a full feature presentation to cover the game, as that will overshadow the games the event is meant to focus on. What the Nintendo Direct does need is a release date, with the promise of more information to come.
The most likely outcome is that the Nintendo Direct will give a release date for the Breath of the Wild sequel and that it will be the Switch's big 2022 holiday season game. The other titles with 2022 titles with no set release date (like Splatoon 3) don't have the same level of star power as BOTW 2, so it's likely that Nintendo will want the game ready for launch in November. This means that the E3 Direct (assuming E3 2022 isn't cancelled) can be the one that focuses on the game and help get people hyped up for its release.
If the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is delayed, then it's possible that the rumored Mario Kart 9 for Nintendo Switch could be the big 2022 holiday season game. As it stands, BOTW 2 was announced three years ago and it already has the framework of the original game to build on. It's likely that the development of the game was impacted by the pandemic, but it still has had years in the oven, and Nintendo will want the game out of the door this year. The latest Legend of Zelda game skipped The Game Awards, so the time is right for a new reveal.
The next Nintendo Direct will take place on February 9 at 2 PM PT/5 PM ET/10 PM GMT.
Source: Nintendo