The Legend of Zelda fans have a brand-new release to look forward to in October. 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda franchise. One of the reasons why the Zelda franchise has enjoyed such incredible longevity is how it has constantly reinvented itself, from its 2D beginnings to its critically-acclaimed 3D adventures to the open world “Wilds” era that the latest games represent.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took the Zelda series in some bold new directions to a great deal of success. Its sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, followed up on BOTW, expanding the experience with sky islands and a massive underground world to explore. Soon, Zelda fans will have a new way to enjoy Tears of the Kingdom thanks to the Secrets of the Zonai book that is set to launch in October.
Zelda: Secrets of the Zonai is Coming Soon
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Secrets of the Zonai is a new book from Dark Horse that features illustrations, character art, promotional images, sketches, behind-the-scenes notes, concept art, information about Hyrule’s history, and “insights into the mysterious past of the Zonai” that should provide background on the game’s story. The book also includes interviews with Zelda franchise developers Eiji Aonuma, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, and Satoru Takizawa from Nintendo. The 472-page book retails for $59.99 and can be pre-ordered from Dark Horse right now. A specific release date has not been announced, but it’s expected to ship in October.
Those looking to revisit The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom video game should note that an upgraded version is readily available on the Nintendo Switch 2. The special Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom features graphical and performance upgrades, plus achievements through the Zelda Notes feature in the Nintendo app. Those that already own Tears of the Kingdom for Switch 1 can upgrade for $9.99, or they can get access to the upgrade at no additional cost if they are signed up for the Expansion Pack tier of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.
What’s That Weapon?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
As far as new Zelda video game releases go, more information should come sooner rather than later. A Zelda-focused Nintendo Direct is scheduled to air on Tuesday, September 8 at 9am CST. The Direct will have about 30 minutes of news on the Zelda franchise, with the live-action movie and the Ocarina of Time remake expected to be featured prominently. It’s possible that the long-rumored Switch ports of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker will also be shown off, but fans should keep their expectations in check.
The next completely brand-new Zelda game has yet to be announced, but there are rumors about it. According to the leaks, the next Zelda game will feature a dimension-hopping gimmick and will effectively be the third installment in the “Wilds” era trilogy that features Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Whether there’s truth to those rumors or not remains to be seen, but Zelda fans should keep an eye out for more information.
- Released
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May 12, 2023
- ESRB
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Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo