Breath of the Wild 2: everything we know so far

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was one of the best video games to come out in 2017, and fans are clamoring for more adventures starring Link, Zelda, and Ganon. Here’s everything we know about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 so far! If you want to play all the other major Nintendo Switch games, here’s where to find them. Note that this story will be updated as new information becomes available!

Where will it take place?

While it’s still unclear where exactly Breath of the Wild 2 will take place, we do know that it’ll be set in Hyrule. The game will likely explore new areas of the kingdom that weren’t seen in the first game, as well as revisit some familiar locations. We’re also hoping to see a larger variety of enemies and wildlife than what was in the original game.
What will the story be about? (five sentences): While we don’t know much about the story, we do know that it’ll focus on Link and Zelda. It’s been speculated that Link will be trying to save Zelda from Ganon, but this has not been confirmed. What we do know is that Breath of the Wild 2 will have a darker tone than its predecessor.

What’s in-store gameplay-wise?

We can expect more of the same great gameplay that made the first game so special. That means an open world to explore, with plenty of side quests and secrets to discover. We’ll also be able to use the Wii U GamePad for off-TV play and other features. There have been some rumors about new gameplay mechanics, like being able to travel in time or play as Zelda, but nothing has been confirmed yet. What’s next?: It’s likely that Nintendo will hold a few surprises back until E3 2019 when they’ll show off the Switch’s upcoming lineup.

When will it release?

We don’t have an official release date for Breath of the Wild 2 yet, but we do know that it’s currently in development. The game was first teased at E3 2019, with a short trailer that showed Link and Zelda exploring a dark dungeon. Since then, we’ve seen very little of the game. However, recent rumors suggest that the game will release in 2020.
What will the story be about? (five sentences): We don’t know much about the story of Breath of the Wild 2, but we do know that it will pick up where the first game left off. Zelda will once again be a central character, and Link will set out on a new adventure to save Hyrule.
What new features can we expect?

Is there more DLC?

While Nintendo has not confirmed anything, there are rumors that more DLC is in the works for Breath of the Wild 2. These rumors come from a reliable source that has correctly predicted past DLC, so it’s possible that more content is on the way. However, until Nintendo makes an official announcement, we won’t know for sure.
What new features can we expect? (three sentences): While we don’t know much about the sequel, we can speculate that it will build on the success of the first game. We can expect more of an open world to explore, with new side quests and secrets to discover. Given how popular the first game was, it’s likely that Nintendo will try to make Breath of the Wild 2 even better than its predecessor.

Will it include voice acting?

We don’t know for sure if voice acting will be included in Breath of the Wild 2, but it’s a possibility. The original game had very little voice acting, with only a few key scenes featuring spoken dialogue. It’s possible that Nintendo could choose to include more voice acting in the sequel in order to make it more immersive. However, it’s also possible that they could stick with the minimal approach and not include any additional voice acting. Only time will tell! What is the release date?: As of right now, there isn’t an official release date. Nintendo has mentioned in interviews that they’re waiting until there’s enough new content before releasing it as a new title instead of an update.
Do you have to complete BotW first?: Nope! You can play through Breath of the Wild 2 without completing Breath of the Wild first (or without even playing BotW at all). All you need is access to a Nintendo Switch or Wii U console and enough money to buy Breath of the Wild 2 when it comes out on your chosen platform.

Will it be a mainline Zelda game or a spinoff?

We don’t know for sure yet, but all signs point to Breath of the Wild 2 being a mainline Zelda game. The first trailer showed us Link and Zelda exploring what looks like Hyrule Castle, which was featured prominently in past games. Plus, Eiji Aonuma, the series producer, has said that the game will be even more story-driven than the first. So it’s safe to say that we can expect a traditional Zelda experience with Breath of the Wild 2. In terms of gameplay features, Nintendo has hinted at new types of puzzles as well as dungeons with unique themes not seen before in other titles. They also teased some sort of exploration system involving caves or mineshafts that are linked together by passages under the earth; this could be either a single mechanic or something expanded on throughout the game. It might not be quite an open world like you see in Witcher 3 or Horizon Zero Dawn, but there should still be plenty to explore.