Following the delay of The Legend of Zelda out of 2015, Nintendo reported the expected release as “TBD.” At the time, that didn’t raise eyebrows as no Wii U titles in its roster carried release windows later than 2015.

That has now changed, with games now carrying anticipated 2016 releases as part of a quarterly financial update. Genei Ibun Roku #FE (formerly Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem) and Project Guard (a temporary title) are expected next year. The Legend of Zelda is still listed as “TBD.”

It was unclear at the time of delay just how much more time The Legend of Zelda team needed to get the game ready. However, given the previous expectation of a late 2015 release, the absence of a 2016 release window does appear curious.

On the 3DS side, fans can expect Hyrule Warriors Legends, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest, Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, Bravely Second: End Layer, Metroid Prime: Federation Force, and Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

[Source: Nintendo]

Our Take

While there is plenty of time for Nintendo to pin a 2016 release on The Legend of Zelda, the lack of confidence at this point is surprising. This could mean the game needs that much more time in development or is being held back for the Twilight Princess treatment on NX. Both are possibilities, but the situation has me quite curious.