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The Legend of Zelda series turns 40 years old this month. Let's look at the two distinct eras of the franchise, ask why Nintendo made the shift, and look at what might come next.

=== Sources ===

[1] Zelda Wii U to rethink conventions of Zelda - will it be multiplayer? | Official Nintendo Magazine
https://web.archive.org/web/20130623184640/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/46062/zelda-Wii-u-to-rethink-conventions-of-zelda-will-it-be-multiplayer/

[2] Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | Nintendo
https://www.nintendo.com/us/whatsnew/ask-the-developer-vol-13-the-legend-of-zelda-echoes-of-wisdom-part-1/

[3] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion
Dark Horse Comics

[4] The Making of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Video – The Beginning | Nintendo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30jGWna4-Ns

[5] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Master Works
Tokuma Shoten

[6] The Dazzling Reinvention of Zelda | The New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/the-dazzling-reinvention-of-zelda

[7] How Nintendo Solved Zelda's Open World Problem | GMTK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZzcVs8tNfE

[8] Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | GDC Vault
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc

[9] ‘Freedom’ at the core of Breath of the Wild | Medium
https://medium.com/@rolfvenema/freedom-at-the-core-of-breath-of-the-wild-b34fbdc6da8f

[10] The big Zelda: Breath of the Wild interview | Eurogamer
https://www.eurogamer.net/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-boss-eiji-aonuma-on-the-large-extra-burden-of-moving-to-nintendo-switch

[11] How Skyrim Influenced Breath Of The Wild | Gamespot
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-skyrim-influenced-breath-of-the-wild/1100-6455780/

[12] A New Creative Force Brings a Vast New World to Zelda | Wired
https://www.wired.com/2016/06/zelda-breath-wild-aonuma-demo/

[13] Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma! The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild! | ZackScottGames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qH7DvSBlwk

[14] Why Nintendo Had to Destroy Tradition to Create the New Zelda | Time
https://time.com/4369527/zelda-breath-wild-open-world/

[15] Zelda: Breath of the Wild Director, Producer Discuss Speedruns, Shrine Skips | IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/12/27/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-director-producer-discuss-speedruns-shrine-skips

[16] Ask the Developer: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | Nintendo
https://www.nintendo.com/sg/interview/totk/index.html

[17] Developer interview for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | Famitsu
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202411/23485

[18] 'The Grass is Greener:' Tears of the Kingdom Developers Look Back While Responding to Classic Fans | IGN
https://www.ign.com/articles/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-interview-nintendo-eiji-aonuma-hidemaro-fujibayashi

[19] Nintendo Switch Year in Review | Nintendo Power Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJH4veOEr0U

[20] Metroid Prime 4 Nintendo Dream Interview | Shinesparkers
https://shinesparkers.net/features/metroid-prime-4-nintendo-dream-interview/

[21] Ask the Developer Vol. 19, Donkey Kong Bananza | Nintendo
https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/News/2025/July/Ask-the-Developer-Vol-19-Donkey-Kong-Bananza-Chapter-2-2871378.html

[22] Aonuma And Fujibayashi Talk Tears Of The Kingdom's Reception And Their Approach To The Timeline | Game Informer
https://gameinformer.com/interview/2023/12/07/aonuma-and-fujibayashi-talk-tears-of-the-kingdoms-reception-and-their-approach

[23] Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment May Inspire The Next Zelda Game, Says Eiji Aonuma | Zelda Dungeon
https://www.zeldadungeon.net/hyrule-warriors-age-of-imprisonment-may-inspire-the-next-zelda-game-says-eiji-aonuma/

=== Chapters ===

00:00 - Intro
00:58 - The Zelda Formula
03:26 - The 5 Changes
06:23 - Passive and Active
08:31 - Changing Aonuma
11:04 - The Other Active Zeldas
13:29 - What's Been Lost
17:38 - Beyond Hyrule
20:34 - The Future of Zelda

=== Credits ===

Music provided by Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/vtdu5y (Referral Link)

=== Subtitles ===

Contribute translated subtitles - https://gamemakerstoolkit.com/translation/

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