The release date for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 has potentially been revealed by a video games insider, giving fans an idea of when the title may launch. The highly-anticipated upcoming sequel to BOTW doesn't yet have an official title from Nintendo, reportedly due to potential spoilers, but the company has confirmed the game is targeting a 2022 release, with an exact month and date yet to be confirmed.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the Nintendo Switch's most popular games, and has also become one of the biggest names in the Zelda series. The title offers a new level of freedom within its gameplay, something that is likely to carry over into its sequel. Not much is known about the untitled successor, though trailers have revealed the style will be the same as BOTW, with what's believed to be a darker narrative tone. Nintendo has been relatively quiet on news of the game, though recently-revealed patents have given a look at the new combat and mechanics in BOTW 2.
Speaking on IGN Games podcast (via ComicBook), Peer Schneider, one of the IGN founders, stated that he'd recently been privy to some conversations with Nintendo employees, where Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 was discussed. According to Schneider, the lack of BOTW 2 at The Game Awards 2021 isn't indicative of any developmental problems at Nintendo, going on to claim that he expects that fans will have the game in their hands by November 2022. The comment, seemingly given off-hand, can be seen at around the 33:48 mark in the video below. Schneider speaks of a lack of large open-world games on Switch this year, adding this will: "probably change next November when we're playing Breath of the Wild 2."
Watch the video on YouTube here.
While Schneider didn't outright state that the game is launching in November, the comment claims that this is the latest players will have it by. A November release date for Breath of the Wild 2 isn't out of the realm of possibility, as the company is known for releasing a big game around the holiday season each year, bolstering interest and sales in both the title itself, and the Nintendo Switch console. This November, Nintendo launched the popular Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, offering nostalgic remakes in one of the company's biggest franchises just in time for the Christmas season.
Whether or not The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 will release in November remains to be seen, but with 2021 drawing to a close, the official release date announcement creeps ever closer. Hopes are high for the game, and while it missed out on scooping the Most Anticipated Game award at TGA 2021, with Elden Ring winning for the second year running, excitement for the next adventure of Link and Zelda has arguably never been higher.
Source: IGN Games/YouTube (via ComicBook)