It's unclear what the future of The Legend of Zelda will look like on the Nintendo Switch 2. With the series having just recently brought new major 3D and 2D entries to the Switch, there will likely be a bit of a wait for future Zelda games. Not only that, but the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its possible enhancements in power and performance provide a wealth of opportunities for the series to embark in an even more ambitious direction than before, potentially resulting in Zelda games that are far beyond what fans could possibly come to expect.

That being said, the imminent launch of the Switch 2 provides the Zelda series with an opportunity to revive a canceled sequel to a beloved entry in the franchise. While the Zelda series is no stranger to game cancellations, this one title was particularly crushing, as it possessed a tremendous amount of potential. Not only could this game finally receive the treatment it deserves, but its release on Nintendo's latest hardware could expand this Zelda title far beyond what was originally envisioned for the project.

What Happened To The Cancelled Zelda Game?

A Wind Waker Sequel Was Abandoned In Favor Of Twilight Princess

At one point, a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker was in development at Nintendo. This was discussed during an interview in 2016 with Wind Waker's design manager, Satoru Takizawa, that was translated by Nintendo Everything. According to Takizawa, the Wind Waker sequel would have included some pretty considerable changes to the original, such as the game having "...a more land-based setting" while reintroducing the ability to ride a horse from Ocarina of Time.

A Wind Waker sequel was initially discussed years before the Takizawa interview. Eiji Aonuma confirmed it during the 2004 Game Developer's Conference before the first trailer for Twilight Princess was shown at E3 later in the year.

Unfortunately, the project never came to fruition for a multitude of reasons. Takizawa mentioned a major issue during development with the implementation of horse riding, as "...Link's proportions in Wind Waker weren't very well-suited" for the feature. Furthermore, Takizawa noted the "...demand for a more Ocarina-like game" at the time, alongside the popularity of fantasy movies that resulted in the development team refocusing their efforts on a new project altogether, resulting in the release of Twilight Princess in 2006.

While this news would have been disappointing to many fans, it's not all too surprising. Wind Waker was met with controversy during its initial release, as many fans took issue with the lighter tone and cartoonish art direction that contradicted the more mature elements seen in Ocarina of Time or promised through the Zelda tech demo that was showcased at SpaceWorld 2000. Twilight Princess was a necessary course correction for the Zelda series, putting the franchise back on track while sealing the fate of the Wind Waker sequel.

Fans Are Desperate For Wind Waker On Switch - But A Sequel Could Be Better

The Timeline In Which Wind Waker Resides Deserves More Attention

Thankfully, the general opinion on Wind Waker has changed over the years, becoming one of the most beloved games in the Zelda series. This was most evident during the Switch era, with Wind Waker and Twilight Princess being some of the most highly requested ports for the console. The massive demand for the game during this time shows Wind Waker's impact on the Zelda series and the importance of putting the title on the same pedestal as other classic entries.

However, as beneficial as a more accessible version of Wind Waker would be, reviving the previously canceled sequel to the game might benefit the Zelda series overall. This is mainly due to the severely underutilized branch of the Zelda timeline in which Wind Waker resides. The few games that make up this branch mean that many of the unique ideas of Wind Waker, from its entirely new world to its original characters and stories, have yet to be fully expanded upon despite the mountains of potential they possess.

The lack of truly ambitious titles in this particular branch has prevented the core ideas of Wind Waker from reaching their full potential.

Wind Waker eventually received two sequels, Phantom Hourglass, and Spirit Tracks, both of which served as entertaining follow-ups in their own right. However, their release on the DS limited the scale of both games overall, resulting in two generally engaging Zelda entries that failed to truly expand on what Wind Waker had previously established. The lack of truly ambitious titles in this particular branch has prevented the core ideas of Wind Waker from reaching their full potential, showing the need for the canceled sequel to be revived, as it could have achieved this on more powerful hardware.

Switch 2 Would Be The Perfect Home For This Zelda Game

The Console's Improved Power And Performance Would Be Hugely Beneficial

With that in mind, there are several reasons why the Switch 2 would be the perfect place to revive the canceled Wind Waker sequel. Of course, Nintendo's latest console will likely have much stronger power and performance capabilities than previous consoles, including the Switch itself. This gives the canceled sequel huge potential to rapidly expand on the world and gameplay of Wind Waker, which was initially intended by Nintendo, in a way that the DS simply couldn't provide for Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks.

Furthermore, the Zelda series has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, which a Wind Waker sequel could take advantage of. For example, it's no secret that the Zelda series has adopted a more open, non-linear approach with titles like Breath of the Wild. This emphasis on player freedom could be used for the canceled sequel to expand on Wind Waker's focus on exploration demonstrated through the many islands of the Great Sea, showing how a potential sequel could take inspiration from the series overall to expand on the original's best aspects.

Of course, there's no way of telling whether the canceled Wind Waker sequel could see a revival on Switch 2. Despite this, it's something Nintendo should definitely consider for its latest console, thanks to the rejuvenated popularity of Wind Waker and the possibilities that a direct sequel possesses. While it's important for the Zelda series to continue in an original, ambitious direction, that doesn't deny the huge amount of potential and creativity within previous titles that can still be utilized, and in no other game is this more apparent than with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

Source: Nintendo Everything