​Possibilities Part 2: What Else Could Nintendo Have in Store for the Zelda Series at E3 2015?

In the first editorial I had written on the subject, I talked about how Zelda U not being at E3 is a strange move on Nintendo’s part. Something else Zelda must be replacing it. Why else would they go ahead and cancel their star header for E3?

The replacement possibilities we talked about previously were Twilight Princess HD, a Princess Zelda/Sheik spin-off, a Hyrule Warriors sequel, and Zelda Maker. In this second installment, I will be talking about four more possibilities that Nintendo might unveil at E3.

So, let’s explore some more possibilities.

A Zelda-Themed Mobile Game

We all saw it coming. It was inevitably going to happen. Nintendo recently announced they would be releasing games on smart devices for their flagship characters such as Mario, Link, et cetera.

What would a mobile Zelda game be like? Direct ports? A traditional mobile-style game such as a Candy Crush or Temple Run rip-off? A completely new type of mobile game?

In my very humble opinion, I would like direct ports of older Zelda games like The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (as explained in a previous editorial of mine.) I could see those making big bucks for Nintendo, as hundreds of thousands of people would download out of pure nostalgia.

It could be that Nintendo will go the get rich quick route, and create some sort of mobile game rip-off from games such as Candy Crush, Temple Run, or… ech… Flappy Bird. I highly doubt Nintendo is going to go down that avenue, but time will tell.

I mentioned they might decide to make a new type of mobile game. What would such a game be like? I have no idea. I play games, I don’t make them (outside of messing around in Game Maker Studio).

If mobile games aren’t what Nintendo will be announcing in place of Zelda U, what else could it be?

A New Type of Rewards System Featuring Zelda Merchandise

There’s not much to say about this one. Club Nintendo’s lifespan is coming to an end this summer, so what better time to announce a new rewards system than E3? Nintendo would practically have the whole gaming world watching them, and they would shout, “HEY! We reward our customers! No, really! We’re an awesome company! Here’s a new rewards program to prove it!”

Nintendo may feel that a way to fill in the Zelda gap would be to feature a whole slew of Zelda-themed merchandise, from new Virtual Console titles to 3DS clip armor and accessories.

Speaking of Virtual Consoles…

A New Wave of Virtual Console Games From the Wii and DS Come to Wii U and 3DS

We are nearing the end of the second half of the 3DS and Wii U’s life span. What better way to boost sales than by pulling out the nostalgia gun?

Depending on which age group you were born into, you may have started playing video games during the first year of the DS and Wii release. Releasing new Virtual Console titles such as Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Twilight Princess for the Wii U and 3DS would make money, money, money!

Think of how many fans would be eager to download Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks on their current Wii U. Think of the success of Majora’s Mask on the Wii Virtual Console. It all adds up.

Porting five to ten year old games to the current generation of consoles gives a chance for fans who missed out on them to play them for the first time. Fans who loved playing those games will jump at the chance to replay them. After all, they sold their Wii, DS, and all of their Wii/DS games on eBay to get that shiny new Wii U on release day.

Pipe dream or not, lets move on to the fourth and final possibility of what Nintendo could be showing off at E3 in place of Zelda U.

Nothing

As much as it pains me to say this, maybe nothing Zelda-related will be shown off at E3. Maybe they will be trying to hype up some other new titles like Star Fox Wii U, Xenoblade Chronicles X, and Splatoon.

Nintendo could be saving Zelda U as a 30th anniversary title. After all, the big three-oh birthday of the Zelda series is next year: February 21, 2016. Whatever the case, don’t get your hopes up too high for some Zelda news. It is possible we could not receive any Zelda tidbits during E3 2015.

Closing

Do you think that Nintendo will be replacing Zelda U news with something else Zelda-related? Do you think we won’t have any Zelda news this at this year’s E3? Share what you think in the comments below.

Fan art by: Coffee, Zelda Informer Photoshop Contest