No Zelda until April at earliest

By Tom Bramwell Published 17 August, 2005

But it's still a Cube game.

Following yesterday's revelation that Zelda: Twilight Princess has been slipped into 2006, Nintendo of America has elaborated on the game's new timing, and poured cold water on speculation that the game will now appear on Revolution instead.

Perrin Kaplan, Nintendo's veepee of corporate affairs, said that the new launch date would come "after the conclusion of this fiscal year," which means the game won't be released until April 2006 at the absolute earliest.

When asked about reports linking the game to Revolution, which is due to launch in the second half of 2006, Kaplan said, "In effect, because of the backward compatibility built into Revolution, every GameCube game also will be a Revolution title. But we feel a commitment to the GameCube owners who've been patiently awaiting this new Zelda title, and don't want to force them to wait and buy a brand new system in order to play the game."

The game's new April-or-later release date could mean that it arrives with Xbox 360 firmly embedded and PlayStation 3 on the verge of being released - at least in Japan - but Kaplan dismissed suggestions that it was playing into Microsoft's hands with the delay. "Those who love Zelda will be thrilled when it arrives, and we believe will still want to purchase it even though the wait might have been a disappointment."

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (35) Latest comment 7 years ago

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  • Blerk #1 7 years ago

    So it's likely to be next Summer for us at the earliest, then. Bah! :-(

  • Scimarad #2 7 years ago

    Damn, slipped into 2006 is a bit of an understatement :-(

  • Tiiti #3 7 years ago

    /cries

  • Wrobel #4 7 years ago

    So when will it get to Europe, 2007?

  • #5 7 years ago

    Is this Zelda being delayed to improve the quality of the game? ie better textures on the graphics etc.

    Btw, those 7 new screenshots recently released look better but why the fogging/mist on the two town/market pics?

  • rinoaMW #6 7 years ago

    at least its still coming on GC... thats something microsoft/sony wouldn't do.

    hope its worth the delay :)

  • deaner #7 7 years ago

    I wonder if they'll manage to release it before SCE release the PS3.

    SCE aren't great at meeting release dates, and I can't imagine Ninty would bother to attempt to steal some of that limelight.

  • Blerk #8 7 years ago

    o_O

    You guys seriously amaze me.

    "Oh, it won't be as good because the next gen will be here."

    What are you all smoking? Does everything 'current gen' automatically become worthless because some new, prettier games are suddenly on the shelves?

  • #9 7 years ago

    It's a good job Rev is backwardly compatible with GC games then.

  • Blerk #10 7 years ago

    just saying that by the time this comes out the gamecube will be even further from the public eye than it is already, which cant be a good thing from nintendos point of view

    Well... no. But I don't care about any of that - I only care about me personally having the best possible game. :-)

  • deaner #11 7 years ago

    Realistically, once the majority of the gaming public have begun to next-gen, few look back to even the newset brightest stars of the last-gen.

    It's more about considering how this will affect Nintendo and the game release than how good the game is. We can take it for granted that the game will be one of the best on the system.

  • zErOb_cOOl #12 7 years ago

    "Does everything 'current gen' automatically become worthless because some new, prettier games are suddenly on the shelves?"

    Well, in a way, yes. Some people (including me to a degree) like the feel of playing a 'just released' and 'shiny spanking new game' that is the best thing around at the time, even graphically.

    When other consoles/games overshadow your game, I suppose it makes yours feel old.

    I mean, its like a car. Would you rather have a 5 year old BMW, or a spanking new one? And if you did own the old one, how would you feel every time somebody drove past in the newer one. Ok, its a bit shallow, and I definately wouldn't be bothered by this, but a small part of you would think

    "I wish I had that one."

    And its the same principal here really.

    Ok in some cases, you'd rather have the old classic MkII Golf GTi, rather than the new one (maybe) if its a classic (this game might not be a classic yet, you never know), but in most cases people prefer the new *insert item here*.

    If this wasn't the case, everybody would still solely own a SNES/Megadrive, and wouldn't have ever opted for a PS1 or N64.

  • Blerk #13 7 years ago

    Would you rather have a 5 year old BMW, or a spanking new one? And if you did own the old one, how would you feel every time somebody drove past in the newer one.

    As long as I like my car and have fun driving it, why the hell would I care that someone else has a shinier one? His might be shit to drive or smell of fish.

  • myrmican #14 7 years ago

    Remember how long Ocarina Of Time took?

    Just do it right Nintendo, that's all I ask.
    Edited by myrmican at 17/08/05 @ 10:29

  • smelly #15 7 years ago

    "Is this Zelda being delayed to improve the quality of the game? ie better textures on the graphics etc. "

    ?? Erm..

    1) it looks lovely already
    2) how do better textures make the game quality better? The quality will be improved by balancing gameplay better, etc etc?

  • abeit #16 7 years ago

    1) it looks lovely already
    2) how do better textures make the game quality better? The quality will be improved by balancing gameplay better, etc etc?

    Better textures mean the genral quality can improve you plonker

  • smelly #17 7 years ago

    Blerk i love you. Will you marry me.

    You're the only person on here that talks sense in this fanboy filled world of kids wanting next gen stuff without actually knowing why, other than somehow it'll be "better".

    And kids... If you have ANYTHING even remotely worth playing on the next gen machines within the next year, let alone to the quality of a zelda game, i'd be VERY suprised!

    If you think back to the ps2 launch for example, it took ages for a half decent game to come out!

    What would i rather? Lots of mediocre games on a "next gen" machine, or a new zelda on the cube... well .. geee... let me think... No brainer really.

  • Blerk #18 7 years ago

    Blerk i love you. Will you marry me.

    I'm already married mate. Although I could be persuaded if you're rich and have big knockers. :-)

  • Daryoon #19 7 years ago

    Eh, I never saw people slating FFXII like this, and that won't be released until around the same time...

  • Kiigan #20 7 years ago

    IMO it isn't worth releasing this game anymore. By the time it gets here, the GameCube will no presence at all at retail. This may be a great game, and delayed for perfectly admirable reasons, but it is arriving way too late. Nintendo really should hold onto it for Revolution now.

  • Blerk #21 7 years ago

    Why is everyone so bothered with how well it sells? I don't care how many it sells. I just want my copy. That I've been promised. For the machine I already own.

    /shakes head

  • OldWormsFan #22 7 years ago

    I don’t care. Battalion Wars should keep me busy until then….

  • The-Bodybuilder #23 7 years ago

    >"Blerk i love you. Will you marry me."

    Would you like a bib for all that cum dripping from your mouth? ;-)

    >"Why is everyone so bothered with how well it sells? I don't care how many it sells. I just want my copy. That I've been promised. For the machine I already own."

    People care because it will have a negative effect on nintendo, which will then have a negative effect on future zeldas.

  • Burton2000 #24 7 years ago

    bring on the zelda. im going to be playing the demo on friday at the northampton balloon festival.

  • Blerk #25 7 years ago

    People care because it will have a negative effect on nintendo, which will then have a negative effect on future zeldas.

    Hah - pish. As if there's any chance whatsoever of Zelda selling so badly that Nintendo decide not to do another one.

  • smelly #26 7 years ago

    "Even you have to admit that there are some great games coming for the other consoles."

    Probably.. I'll wait until they're available to buy before making any judgement. But if new zelda is even only as good as WW then they'll have a lot to catch up to. I'm gonna be dead happy either way.

    Erm.. And are you sure you even should be making comments when you dont know anything about the new zelda? What's this stuff about asking if its cell shaded ffs?


    "People care because it will have a negative effect on nintendo, which will then have a negative effect on future zeldas. "

    No it wont. Nintendo are still making more profit than the other two, And this game will still sell shedloads. Hell by next may, the cube will be so cheap they'll probably give one away with every zelda bought! lol

    Besides I bought the "limited edition" WW when it came out, and after completing WW went back and played OOT and MM on the cube.. yes.. even with n64 graphics.. They're THAT GOOD. Even if i'm playing the new zelda on the revolution, as long as it plays as well as them, what do i care?

    I'd much rather a new zelda on a "old machine" than all the endless yawnsome racing games coming on the other next gen machines any day of the week :-)

  • sephy #27 7 years ago

    "Those who love Zelda will be thrilled when it arrives, and we believe will still want to purchase it even though the wait might have been a disappointment."

    Wait, I must be mistaken. This can't be Nintendo actually MAKING SENSE

    /faints

    Seriously, people WILL wait because it is Zelda. people WILL hunt down cubes if they have already sold theirs by then. It's no different from any other key IP release from Nintendo so why are people complaining? Deal with it, and enjoy the game when it does arrive. Yes commercially for the cube it's not good. But they still shift tons of key ip titles despite the flatlining cube sales in europe so Ninty won't give a shit

    I'm a raging FF fanboy but you never saw me bitch moan about FFXI being delayed again

  • smelly #28 7 years ago

    "Lose the attitude if you want us to stop bickering."

    Why would i want to do that?

    Take a look at the preview screenshots for this. It looks georgious.

  • tengu #29 7 years ago

    George who? :)

  • tengu #30 7 years ago

    Way to take the high ground Gareth :(

  • JP #31 7 years ago

    "If this wasn't the case, everybody would still solely own a SNES/Megadrive, and wouldn't have ever opted for a PS1 or N64."

    Umm, NO. It just means that we wouldn't feel bad about playing an old SNES game even if there is something much newer and flashier. Appreciating something for its enduring qualities doesn't mean you also don't enjoy new experiences.

    More companies should follow Nintendo's lead and treat the transition between console generations like an incremental ramp rather than some great leap that renders everything before useless. Frankly a lot of the very best games come out late in a system's lifespan, and it's an absolute crime that they might get neglected simply because they're not running on the latest hardware. ESPecially with the transition to next generation being as incremental as it is.

  • Cheapshotz #32 7 years ago

    Not read through the entire thread but is anyone else upset about this news or is it just me?

    :'(

  • smelly #33 7 years ago

    Cheapshotz :

    Personally mate im a patient person, i can wait as long as its good.

    as the beer commercial says.. Good things come to those who wait.

  • captain-future #34 7 years ago

    well, they should take their time and make the greatest zelda game evar, then I will forgive them the delay ^^

  • Duckers #35 7 years ago

    April?! Oh, gawd...