It’s been about three years since we first heard word about a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild back in 2019. Fans have been excited for this game since even before its official announcement, which only makes sense after the first game was such a massive success. When first announced, fans were hoping for a quick release sometime in 2020. However, even though we’ve been drip fed information about the game over the years, its release continues to be pushed back, currently slated to be released in 2023.

So what’s taking so long?

In May of 2022, Eiji Aonuma, producer of the Legend of Zelda series, announced in a video posted by Nintendo that the sequel to Breath of the Wild would be delayed to spring of 2023. The video below contains the official announcement of the delay, though also shows off a few more seconds of footage from the game.

We know that the first game took quite a long time to develop, so the idea that the sequel should take a long time is expected. However, with the game being this highly anticipated and not even having a solid release date (or an official title for that matter), it’s causing some of us Zelda fans some concern.

One possible reason is simply that this game is larger than anything Nintendo’s attempted. While the game seems to be building off of the first Breath of the Wild, that doesn’t mean they’re simply adding on a few dungeons and items. This may have been the case initially, but there’s a good chance that this game is an entirely new game from the ground up, which could explain the multiple delays of the game.

Another reason could be that Nintendo wants to wait until they’ve released everything else they plan to release. The back half of 2022 is loaded with games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Bayonetta 3, and Splatoon 3, and it could be that Nintendo wants to make sure that fans don’t have to sacrifice their time away from other titles. Aside from the sequel to Breath of the Wild, Nintendo hasn’t announced any big projects for 2023, so it could be that they want to make sure us fans have plenty of time to get lost in Hyrule.

The last reason I can think of, and one that’s scary, is that something is wrong with the game. Either the development, the creators, or the game itself has a fundamental flaw that will continue to push the game back. While there’s no evidence of this, there is cause for suspicion with how many delays the game has received.

Why do you think the sequel to Breath of the Wild keeps being delayed? Do you think we’ll actually see the game in Spring of 2023? Let us know in a comment, or join the conversation over at the Boss Rush Discord.

Featured Image: Nintendo