According to a new rumor circulating,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildmight be getting a remastered version to mark the start of the Nintendo Switch 2 announcements. Due to some recent leaks surfacing, a revitalized version of the acclaimed title is reportedly in development stages for the upcoming next-generation Nintendo console. There has been no actual confirmation of the return to Calamity Hyrule by Nintendo, but why is Nintendo choosing to spotlightBreath of the Wildcompared to a newZeldafranchise addition as they did with the Wii U and Switch?
Many people forget thatBreath of the Wilddebuted as a Nintendo Wii U release and was then announced for the Nintendo Switch a few years later. If theseBreath of the Wildleaksturn out to be true, then Nintendo seems to be relying too hard on the critical success ofBOTWinstead of exploring new avenues. Instead of continuing to use the story of the Calamity, it seems that Nintendo would be better off focusing entirely on creating a new world before or after that. A remaster ofBreath of the Wildseems unnecessary.
Breath Of The Wild Is Almost Perfect As-Is
A Critical & Commercial Success For Nintendo
Breath of the Wildhas continuously been one of the highest-performing gamesthat Nintendo has released for the Switch console. As of September 2024, over 32 million copies ofBOTWhave been sold, and it maintains a 4.8-5 star rating, still just short of a decade after its release. Years since launch,Breath of the Wildmaintains a near-perfect rating and provides a wholly unique take on theZeldafranchise (at least until its sequel,Tears of the Kingdom, was released).
After Nearly 8 Years, Breath Of The Wild Still Has The Best Version Of Zelda
Even with two mainline entries following it in the last eight years, Breath of the Wild has the best depiction of the eponymous Princess Zelda.
Breath of the Wildis a perfect example of developmental progression, as few flaws were ever truly critiqued outside some bugs and somewhat useless horses. Even theChampions' BalladDLCprogressed the story in a unique way that shouldn’t be replicated just for profit when there are new things that could be done to expand the franchise.The Switch 2 is a perfect opportunity to showcase a new foundation for theZeldafranchiseas Nintendo did with the Wii U. If anything, a different title should have been chosen for a Switch 2 remake or remaster.
Switch 2 Leaks: How Could The Hardware Improve BOTW?
BOTW In 60 FPS Could Be Great
There is very little officialnews about the Switch 2, so no one is sure what the console will be like. Although it was discussed officially and said that it would be confirmed in 2025, there probably won’t be any rollout of the console until at least late 2025. However, from current leaks, the new generation console isn’t up to the same power standards as even the PlayStation 4 Pro. The design and power spec leaks that have been announced don’t leave many players particularly hopeful for an ultra-powerful handheld console, either.
However, the elite graphics aren’t what many turn to the Nintendo Switch for, so why would the upgraded graphics affect whyBreath of the Wildshould be remade or remastered? 60 FPS would be great, but for a game likeBOTW,it is the storytelling, atmosphere, and nostalgia around the title that make it such a touchstone for the franchise. Perhaps if Nintendo considered more community feedback and chose another title likeZelda:Twilight Princessto remake, there would be a lot more interest in necessary graphics upgrades.
