Today Nintendo revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 and we had a LOT of Zelda content in the Direct. We’ve got enhanced Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 editions, a brand new Hyrule Warriors game Age of Imprisonment, plus Wind Waker via Gamecube and a brand new feature in the app called Zelda notes. Today I’m going to recap everything we saw from The Legend of Zelda featured in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct.

BOTW and TOTK Switch 2 Editions

Selected Nintendo Switch games are getting an upgrade to take advantage of the Switch 2 capabilities, and that includes both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom at launch on 5th June. That means enhanced resolution and framerates, HDR support and smoother, higher defintion graphics plus faster loading times. If you already own the games then you save data can be carried over plus we get a brand new save slot in both games. If you already own the games you can buy the upgrade packs individually, or you can get them for no additional cost through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

Zelda notes

Zelda notes is a new feature for the Nintendo Switch app on Android and iOS devices. The aim here is to provide a more streamlined gameplay experience, and there are a load of new features within Zelda notes to help us.

• Navigation – helps you find shrines and koroks. Provides a helpful voiced guide, like google maps but for Zelda
• Voice memories – When you visit places you can hear voice memories. Stories that were not in the original games. Voice memories can be found with Navigation. BOTW features stories from Zelda, but two more characters in TOTK
• Autobuild sharing – Share you creations through QR codes to share blueprints. Scan with the app to autobuild shared creations in-game
• Item Sharing – You can gift in-game items to other players. E.g. you can gift a sword or meat, and another player can receive it in Zelda notes
• Photo studio – Edit photos taken in-game by sending photos to Zelda Notes. Crop them or decorate with stamps, plus add a QR code to share
• My Play Data – Keeps track of records like number of enemies defeated. Earn in-app medals like total distance traveled or rupees collected
• Global play data – See where you rank against other players. See gameplay trends.
• Daily Bonus – Spin for a daily bonus
• Scan Amiibo – Zelda notes keeps track of Amiibo. Scan 5 times and get a bonus.
  New Amiibo available.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

We’re getting a brand new Hyrule Warriors game, this time called Age of Imprisonment. This is the story of the Imprisioning War, from Zelda’s perspective. While we learned much of the Imprisioning War in Tears of the Kingdom from Zelda’s memories, this time we get to play it by taking control of Zelda, Rauru and Mineru as we take on hordes of Ganondorf’s forces in classic Hyrule Warriors style. It’s coming this Winter to Nintendo Switch 2.

Gamecube Nintendo Switch Online

The big news is Wind Waker is coming to Nintendo Switch, finally, via Gamecube for Nintendo Switch Online. We’re getting a couple of games at launch including Wind Waker, F-Zero GX and Soul Calbur II. As a bonus, Link is appearing in Soul Calibur II, just as he did back on the original Gamecube! Nintendo are also selling a Gamecube Controller separately for that authetic experience.

My thoughts

I put out a video the other day predicting Zelda would be a part of the Switch 2 Direct; some of those predictions came true like upgraded Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, plus Wind Waker via Gamecube. Some of the predictions didn’t come true, like a Zelda Remake or a teaser for the new 3D Zelda game. Then there are some things that appeared here I didn’t predict at all including a brand new Hyrule Warriors and Zelda notes.

I am happy to see Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom get upgrades, the video Nintendo put out looked great, both games look incredible, plus putting the upgrades behind Nintendo Switch Online makes sense from a business POV to drive up the subscription numbers. I’m happy because I have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, so I am going to be playing both games on day 1. It’s been a while since I played Breath of the Wild, so I am looking forward to getting back to that.

I’m happy for the fans of Hyrule Warriors, they are getting a new game they love, but personally I’m not a fan of the genre. However, I don’t want to take away from the excitement, so I will be cheering on from the sidelines for this one.

I am very excited to see Gamecube games come to Nintendo Switch Online, and I look forward to playing Wind Waker again, plus we are sure to get Twilight Princess somewhere down the road too added to the service.

With hindsight I am not surprised we didn’t see a teaser for the next 3D Zelda game. I would imagine the team are busy working on that and there is no way that is ready to show to fans yet. I doubt we’re going to see that before 2028 or 2029. I would have loved to see a remake, but maybe that’s being saved for another year. The Zelda team likes to release something new from Zeldqa every year and it looks like 2025 is going to belong to Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment, so I am going to keep hoping for next year.

The Switch 2 is due for release on 5th June, and it’s a very exicting time to be a Nintendo fan. Let me know in the comments what you thought of the Switch 2 Direct, plus how you are feeling about the amount of Zelda content we are getting. What are you excited for, and what did you really want to see that wasn’t shown.