Nintendo-owned developer Monolith Soft has revealed more information about the team’s work on The Legend of Zelda series, while also hinting at plans for the future. Since 1986, The Legend of Zelda franchise has been second only to Mario in terms of its importance to Nintendo. For 40 years now, the series has played host to some of the most critically-acclaimed games ever made, from SNES classics like A Link to the Past, to modern masterpieces such as Breath of the Wild.
The future of Zelda has been a major question over the last few years. 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was the last open world installment in the series, followed by the top-down Echoes of Wisdom in 2024, and the spin-off Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment in 2025. A remake of Ocarina of Time is rumored for Nintendo Switch 2 this year, but Nintendo has yet to confirm the project’s existence.
“Absolutely Furious” Former Nintendo PR Manager Comments on Company Reaction to Latest Switch 2 Leaks
A former Nintendo employee claims the company is likely very upset about the Switch 2 game leaks, including the Ocarina of Time remake.
Monolith Soft’s Future With Zelda
In a new website, Monolith Soft has detailed its history working as a co-developer on The Legend of Zelda franchise. The team began working on Zelda starting with 2011’s Skyward Sword, alongside the primary development team at Nintendo EAD. This came a few years after Monolith Soft’s acquisition by Nintendo in 2007. Following that project’s conclusion, Monolith Soft continued to serve as a Zelda support studio, while also working on the Xenoblade series. The website details how the team was involved with A Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom.
Monolith Soft’s website makes it clear that the development team will continue to work as a support studio for future Zelda games. Unfortunately, it does not offer any details about what the team is working on exactly. It’s possible the studio could be helping out with the Ocarina of Time remake, if that project truly does exist. However, Nintendo has also leaned on Grezzo as a Zelda co-developer, and that team previously worked on the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time. It’s possible that Grezzo is working with members of Nintendo EAD on the remake, while Monolith Soft is working on the true follow-up to Tears of the Kingdom.
Nintendo has a tendency to keep its development teams under wraps as long as possible. Fans are often able to guess which studios are pitching in on projects, but there usually isn’t confirmation until players are able to roll credits on the game. Given that history, it’s possible fans won’t know what Zelda game Monolith Soft is working on until after it’s been released.
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)
While the future of Zelda is one of the most pressing questions in the Nintendo Switch 2 era, there are plenty of gamers eager to find out about Monolith Soft’s next RPG. The developer has been coy, but there have been hints about a new Xenoblade Chronicles for Nintendo Switch 2. The series has been a success story in the Switch era, with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 selling more than 2.7 million copies. Regardless of what Monolith Soft has been working on, there are a lot of people excited to see what’s next for the company.
- Released
-
November 21, 1998
- ESRB
-
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Engine
-
Zelda 64 Engine
