The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s crown jewels — a series so ambitious that every mainline entry takes six years or more to create. That means with every masterpiece, comes a long silence… a wait that feels endless for fans craving their next journey through Hyrule. But Zelda has never truly disappeared in those gaps. Over the years, Nintendo has trusted outside studios — Capcom with Oracle of Ages and The Minish Cap, Grezzo with Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom — to keep the series alive in new and surprising ways. Which leads us to the big question: if we’re facing another long wait for the next epic adventure, which third-party developer could Nintendo call on to create the next great Zelda game?

A Look Back at Past Collaborations

Back in the early 2000s, Nintendo surprised fans by handing Zelda development to Capcom’s Flagship team. The result was Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons on the Game Boy Color — two interlinked adventures that pushed the boundaries of what handheld Zelda could be. These weren’t just side projects; they were full, original entries with unique mechanics and even a connected storyline that unlocked a true final boss when both games were completed. Capcom later followed up with The Minish Cap on the Game Boy Advance, which introduced the shrinking mechanic and gave players a world-within-a-world to explore. These games showed that an external studio could bring new energy to Zelda while staying faithful to its roots.

Years later, another studio stepped in to leave its mark on the series: Grezzo. Beginning with their 3DS remakes of Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask, they established themselves as reliable guardians of Zelda’s legacy. That trust led to their remake of Link’s Awakening on Switch, which transformed a beloved Game Boy title into a visually stunning diorama-style adventure. Most recently, Grezzo took on something entirely new with Echoes of Wisdom, pushing the series in bold directions. Over time, they’ve gone from being a studio focused on preservation to one capable of genuine innovation, proving they can be trusted with both the past and future of Zelda.

Nintendo has also looked outside the traditional Zelda mold for collaborations. With Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force, they created Hyrule Warriors, a Musou-style spin-off that reimagined Zelda as a large-scale action battlefield. While not a mainline adventure, it offered fans a fresh and unexpected way to experience the world of Hyrule, and its success showed Nintendo was open to experimentation when the right partner was involved.

Looking back, a clear pattern emerges. Every time Nintendo has entrusted Zelda to an external studio, the results have been surprising, experimental, and memorable. Whether it was Capcom’s inventive handheld adventures, Grezzo’s faithful remakes with creative twists, or Koei Tecmo’s bold genre mashups, these partnerships kept Zelda alive between mainline releases. And with another long wait ahead, history suggests that Nintendo may once again look beyond its own walls for help.

The Present Challenge

The biggest challenge facing Zelda today is time. Each mainline entry is a monumental project that often takes six years or more to complete. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are proof of that scale — games that redefined open-world design and set a new standard for the series. But that level of ambition comes with a cost: long stretches of silence where no new Zelda releases appear. For fans, that wait can feel endless.

Nintendo knows it can’t let such a vital series disappear for half a decade at a time. Zelda isn’t just a beloved franchise; it’s one of the company’s crown jewels, a series that defines hardware generations and captures imaginations worldwide. To keep that momentum alive, Nintendo needs smaller projects to fill the gaps — games that may not rival the scope of a mainline adventure but still give players a reason to return to Hyrule.

This is where the idea of partnerships becomes so important. In the past, Nintendo has used remakes, spin-offs, and collaborations as a way to bridge the gap between mainline releases. Whether it was Capcom creating entirely new handheld adventures or Grezzo refreshing older classics, these smaller-scale projects helped maintain excitement for Zelda even when the next big game was years away.

Now, with another long development cycle already underway for whatever the next 3D Zelda might be, the question becomes urgent once again: who can Nintendo trust to keep the flame burning? Should they play it safe with familiar partners like Grezzo, or take risks with bold new collaborations that could redefine what a Zelda side project looks like? The answer to that challenge could shape the series’ future in surprising ways.

Safe Hands – The Likely Candidates

When looking at which studios Nintendo could turn to, the safest and most reliable option is Grezzo. Over the past decade, they’ve quietly become the trusted caretakers of the Zelda franchise. Their work on Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D showed they could faithfully preserve the classics, while the remake of Link’s Awakening demonstrated their ability to reimagine a beloved game with bold new visuals. Most recently, Echoes of Wisdom has proven that Grezzo isn’t limited to remakes — they can create fresh mechanics and expand Zelda in entirely new directions. With that track record, it’s no surprise many see Grezzo as the natural choice to bridge the gap between mainline titles.

Another studio that deserves mention is Capcom. Their history with Zelda may be older, but it’s just as important. The Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons duology was ambitious, innovative, and is still remembered fondly by fans for its interconnected design. The Minish Cap further cemented Capcom’s ability to bring unique ideas to the series while staying true to Zelda’s heart. While it’s been many years since they last worked on the franchise, a revived partnership could generate huge excitement, especially if Nintendo wanted to revisit the Oracle concept or bring those games back in a modern form.

Finally, there’s Monolith Soft, best known for creating the Xenoblade Chronicles series. What many fans may not realize is just how instrumental Monolith has been in supporting Zelda’s modern evolution. Their expertise with open-world design directly contributed to both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. While they remain busy with their own projects, the idea of Monolith leading a smaller Zelda project — perhaps one that blends their RPG strengths with Zelda’s core identity — feels both plausible and exciting.

Taken together, these studios represent Nintendo’s most dependable allies. Grezzo has become the modern steward of Zelda, Capcom carries a legacy that fans still celebrate, and Monolith Soft has already proven they can shape the series’ future. If Nintendo wants to play it safe while still delivering something worthwhile, these are the partners most likely to carry Zelda forward until the next epic adventure is ready.

Bold New Directions – Wildcard Picks

While safe hands are reassuring, part of Zelda’s history has always been about taking risks, and some of the most exciting possibilities come from less obvious partners. One intriguing option is Square Enix’s HD-2D team, the developers behind Octopath Traveler and Live A Live. Their distinctive art style blends nostalgic pixel art with modern lighting and depth, creating worlds that feel both retro and brand new. Imagine a classic Zelda adventure reimagined in HD-2D — it could deliver the charm of the series’ roots while giving fans a completely fresh aesthetic.

Another bold candidate is WayForward, the studio behind the Shantae series. They’ve built a reputation for colorful, personality-driven 2D games filled with clever design and tight platforming. A Zelda spin-off in their hands could embrace a playful tone, pushing the series toward something lighter and more experimental. It wouldn’t be a replacement for the mainline entries, but it could stand as a memorable side project that shows a different face of Hyrule.

Then there’s PlatinumGames, known for high-octane action titles like Bayonetta and Astral Chain. While their style is very different from traditional Zelda, that’s exactly what makes the idea interesting. A Platinum-led spin-off could take Zelda combat to new extremes, giving players fluid, stylish battles while still anchoring the experience in familiar characters and lore. It would be risky, but the results could be unlike anything the series has seen before.

Nintendo could also look toward indie studios that specialize in retro-inspired experiences. Developers like Yacht Club Games, creators of Shovel Knight, or Sabotage Studio, the team behind Sea of Stars, have already proven they can craft games that feel like lost classics while still pushing modern design. Collaborating with one of these studios could result in a smaller, passion-driven Zelda project that resonates deeply with fans who grew up on the series’ 2D roots.

Even Intelligent Systems, Nintendo’s own Fire Emblem studio, presents a fascinating wildcard. They’ve mastered tactical RPG gameplay, and while it might sound strange at first, a strategy-focused Zelda spin-off could breathe life into the series in completely new ways. The idea of commanding Hyrule’s champions in a grid-based battlefield is unconventional, but it’s exactly the kind of creative gamble that keeps a franchise vibrant.

What unites all these wildcard picks is the willingness to let Zelda stretch beyond its comfort zone. They wouldn’t replace the grandeur of the mainline series, but they could expand what Zelda can be, offering fans bold experiments to enjoy while waiting for the next epic adventure.

The Big What Ifs

When looking at Zelda’s future, it’s hard not to wonder about the possibilities that go beyond safe or even bold partnerships. One of the biggest “what ifs” is the revival of the Oracle trilogy. Originally planned as three interconnected games, only Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons ever made it to release. A modern reimagining of that concept, whether handled by Grezzo, Capcom, or a new partner, could finally deliver on the vision of a multi-game Zelda saga where choices and links between titles create something truly unique. It’s the kind of project that would thrill longtime fans while introducing a younger generation to a piece of Zelda history that was never fully realized.

Another possibility is a radical genre shift. While Zelda has always been rooted in action-adventure gameplay, spin-offs like Hyrule Warriors and Cadence of Hyrule have proven the series can thrive when transplanted into new formats. Could there one day be a tactical Zelda, a full-fledged RPG, or even a smaller pixel-art experiment? The idea of Link’s world being explored through completely different lenses is exciting — and it fits with Nintendo’s willingness to experiment when the timing is right.

There’s also the question of whether Zelda could one day branch into an “alternate universe” series. Just as Metroid Prime carved out its own identity alongside 2D Metroid, Zelda might benefit from a parallel line of games distinct from the mainline entries. This would give outside developers more freedom to innovate without being tied to the expectations of a core Zelda release. It could be a top-down series running alongside the big 3D titles, or something even stranger that pushes the boundaries of the franchise.

Ultimately, these “what ifs” speak to the power of Zelda as a series. It’s a franchise flexible enough to support remakes, reinventions, and bold new experiments — yet strong enough that no matter the format, it still feels like Zelda. The future may hold surprises we can’t predict, but history suggests that the most unexpected directions are often the most memorable.

Zelda is in a unique position. Every mainline game is a monumental event, but the series can’t simply vanish for half a decade at a time. That’s why these collaborations matter so much — they give fans something to hold onto, something to get excited about, while the next epic adventure slowly takes shape. Whether it’s Grezzo delivering another inventive project, Capcom returning for a long-overdue reunion, or a bold new partner bringing fresh energy, the possibilities are as vast as Hyrule itself.

What makes this so exciting is that Zelda has never been afraid of reinvention. From 2D classics to sprawling 3D worlds, from rhythm spin-offs to massive hack-and-slash battles, the series has proven it can thrive in forms we never expected. That’s why the idea of a new partnership feels less like a risk and more like an opportunity — an opportunity to surprise fans and keep Zelda alive in between the bigger adventures.

In the end, the question isn’t if Nintendo will work with another studio, but who. And that’s where the speculation comes in. Will they play it safe with trusted hands, or take a gamble on something entirely new? For fans, the wait for the next mainline Zelda may feel long, but that just means there’s room for something unexpected to fill the gap — a project that could become the next beloved part of Zelda history.

So the question now passes to you: if Nintendo could choose any partner to create the next Zelda game, who would you want to see take the reins, and what kind of game would you want them to make?