Link, Zelda, and the kingdom of Hyrule are well beyond Unc status, yet the series keeps reinventing itself with fresh puzzles, stories, and timelines. Four decades after the franchise debut, the Hero of Time prevails yet again as players look forward to their next – or previous – adventure together. And Nintendo has the perfect date set to surprise or disappoint their fans, maybe even both.
This February 21st, the tale as old as time turns 40, with fans worldwide eagerly awaiting Nintendo’s next move with the franchise. From re-releases to teaser trailers, here’s what to expect from the Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary.
1. Twilight Princess on Nintendo Switch 2’s Virtual Console
2006’s The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is a darker, more mature story compared to its predecessors. This time, our protagonist Link transforms into a wolf to save Hyrule, following the ever-so-popular animorph trope of the early 2000s.
Despite Wind Waker being added to the Nintendo Switch Expansion Pack last summer, this anniversary event is the perfect excuse to update the Nintendo Classics library with another mainline entry on the title’s 20th and franchise’s 40th anniversaries.
Selling over 10 million copies across its GameCube, Wii, and Wii U releases, Twilight Princess is one of the most anticipated announcements for the upcoming Hyrule hoorah. Expect conversations regardless of whether Nintendo announces anything related. Whether delight or disappointment, TP will be a conversation point – I can assure you.
2. Tri-Force Heroes Alleged Return To Action
The Legend of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes is a co-op action-adventure entry for the Nintendo 3DS. Here, three players can all play as Link through dungeons, puzzles, and battles in Hytopia, a fashion-forward kingdom with powerfully magical clothing – none of that’s a joke.
This relatively obscure Zelda title is catching fans' attention after Nintendo was caught acquiring the trademark for use in 2026, sparking speculation about a potential port or official remake for the Nintendo Switch.
Despite not being a heavy hitter, Zelda fans will take whatever is thrown our way. If you were familiar, congratulations. If you weren’t, read up and get hyped. The spirit tracks are full of hype trains this year, and we are letting none of them go by without blowing the whistle.
3. Legend of Zelda Movie’s Teaser Trailer
After the cosmic success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, nobody thought Nintendo would loosen its grip on animation with Illumination Studios as its newfound ally. Then, out of the blue, the Japanese juggernaut announced a live-action Legend of Zelda film.
Due for a May 2027 release, the movie will follow Bo Bragason and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Zelda and Link, respectively, in an adventure yet to be disclosed. The only notion and confirmation fans have received have been set photographs that were first leaked online in late 2025.
Since then, anticipation has grown in both fear and excitement, as a live-action video game movie has proven challenging to master. Go too lighthearted, and you lose diehards. Take yourself too seriously, and the script falls flat, landing on top of the cringe charts.
Now, the 40th Anniversary is the perfect occasion to go live with the first teaser trailer showcasing the hills and greens of Hyrule, New Zealand, and, hopefully, some dialogue from our favorite mute hero to start the debate yet again. If anything, Nintendo owes us more than just grunts and screams after 40 years of saving the kingdom over and over again. Less “Hyah” and more “Listen!”
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