The Hyrule of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is expansive and beautiful. Unfortunately, it is also very empty. The low population density can quite obviously be attributed to the apocalyptic force of Calamity Ganon that has dominated the region for roughly 100 years. However, with Calamity Ganon defeated (for now), might the denizens of Hyrule start rebuilding, making BOTW 2's world one more full of people?
Each of the series' fictional races featured in Breath of the Wild - Gorons, Zora, Gerudo, and Rito - has its own settlement near its respective Divine Beast, and Hylians have a handful of villages, but most of the map is devoid of civilization. The game is called "Breath of the Wild," after all. But it would only make sense that, following the reclamation of Hyrule Castle, the citizens of Hyrule would expand their territory and take back land from the monsters that have plagued it for a century.
A Hyrule in the midst of reconstruction offers a lot of opportunity for side content in Breath of the Wild 2. It's also a good way to give narrative continuity to the lack of content in some areas of the first game. Although Hyrule is at times serene in the original Breath of the Wild, the people who live there are still just trying to survive in what is essentially an apocalyptic wasteland.
New Breath Of The Wild 2 Towns Can Fill Empty Areas Of Hyrule
Breath of the Wild is by no means lacking content - there are 900 Korok Seeds to collect and 120 Shrines to complete - but there are areas in the game that appear to have been intended for more. Lurelin Village, for example, is a small fishing town on the southeastern coast. In the final game, the main quest avoids Lurelin's corner of the map entirely, but perhaps it was meant to host one of 's unused Divine Beasts.
Places like Lurelin Village or the new Tarrey Town, which Link helps construct, are perfect candidates to have expanded roles in Breath of the Wild 2. There hasn't been any story details revealed about the sequel so far, beyond the hints of Ganon returning in the announcement trailer, but a recent BOTW 2 development update promised info at some point in the future. Although the trailer's levitating Hyrule Castle is sure to cause some destruction, a lot of the map will most likely remain familiar. Expanded interaction with the average Hyrulean citizen and promotion of cooperation between the secluded communities may be good opportunities to flesh out the world in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's sequel.
