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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Release Date Same as Nintendo Switch Except in Europe: Report

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Release Date Same as Nintendo Switch Except in Europe: Report

By Rishi Alwani | Updated: 5 January 2017 18:00 IST

Highlights

Europe may not get The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at launch
Japan and the US should get it at the same time as the Switch launch
The Nintendo Switch is out in March

The Nintendo Switch price or release date may not be officially revealed yet but that didn't stop Nintendo from showing off The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild late last year.

Nonetheless, several sources have claimed that the long-awaited title will not be available due to localisation issues. To take the place of Zelda, is Mario. The game seen during the Switch's reveal trailer will be a day one title “in all territories” according to LetsPlayVideoGames.

Nintendo Switch Release Date, Specifications, Games, Controllers, and Everything You Need to Know

Now, Eurogamer claims that the new Zelda game will be available at the launch of the Nintendo Switch but for the US and Japan. Europe will get it later.

“Multiple sources close to Nintendo have now told Eurogamer that, at the end of last year, Japan finalised its plans and had a change of heart: Switch needed the strongest possible launch lineup. In short, Zelda will release in March in North America and Japan. Zelda's launch timing in Europe is still unclear,” writes Eurogamer's Tom Phillips.

You Could Pay $250 Upwards for a Nintendo Switch">You Could Pay $250 Upwards for a Nintendo Switch

He claims that Nintendo of Europe will be impacted the most from this as it had “previously pushed for as long a period of testing and localisation as could be allowed and had been working to the proposed schedule of a global launch after the Switch itself.”

Furthermore, the report states that Nintendo Japan wanted the game to be available at launch for the Nintendo Switch and was uncomfortable to wait. We'd speculate that this would be due to how long-winded its development cycle has been, Nintendo would want the Switch to have the strongest possible reception with a Zelda game.

In addition to this, it appears that this was finalised “by committee at the end of last year.”

This could have several ramifications. For one, it could allude to a console that is region-locked in order to avoid Europeans importing the game from Japan or the US. Secondly it means that Europe misses out on a game that's been heavily anticipated since it was revealed.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Good
Welcome attempt at story
Great visuals
Freedom in traversal and how to approach its quests

Bad
Weapon durability is a joke
Unnecessary padding
Inconsistent difficulty in combat

Read detailed Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review

Genre Action-Adventure

Platform Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U

Modes Single-player

Series The Legend of Zelda

PEGI Rating 7+

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