The latest entry in the Hyrule Warriors franchise has reached an important commercial milestone. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has now sold over one million copies around the world according to its publisher and developer, Koei Tecmo. This news came as part of the company’s third quarter financial report for the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6, 2025. Since its launch it has received significant attention from Zelda fans for its action focused gameplay and exploration of events that take place long before the story of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
This sales figure reflects both physical and digital purchases. It shows that the latest Hyrule Warriors entry has struck a chord with players despite being on a newer console with a more limited install base than its predecessors.
Age of Imprisonment builds on the blend of Zelda world elements and Musou style combat that long-time fans have come to enjoy. It allows players to step into large scaled battles with iconic heroes such as Princess Zelda and others from ancient Hyrule as they confront the forces led by Ganondorf’s invasion.
The milestone is a strong showing considering how recently the game released and the relative youth of the Nintendo Switch 2 platform. It also highlights continued interest in storylines that deepen the wider Legend of Zelda narrative.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment may yet continue to grow its audience as more players discover its unique take on Hyrule’s history.
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons 3.0 update brought a wave of exciting crossover content to the game. One of the most talked about features is the addition of The Legend of Zelda themed items. These furniture pieces and clothing options allow players to bring Hyrule vibes to their islands and homes. If you are a fan of both franchises, this content opens up nearly endless creative possibilities for decoration and cosplay within your island world.
How to Unlock Zelda Items
To access the full set of Zelda items, players need to use any amiibo figure from The Legend of Zelda series at the Nook Stop terminal in Resident Services or at the ABD terminal once unlocked. Scanning even one compatible Zelda amiibo unlocks the entire list of 28 items in the Nook Shopping catalog under the Special Goods section in the Promotion tab. Note that you can only order up to five items per day, so collecting everything will take at least six days.
Zelda Furniture and Decor
Here is the current list of furniture and sturdy decorative items inspired by the Zelda games:
Decayed Guardian – 3,000 Bells
Fairy Bottle – 1,000 Bells
Goddess Statue – 2,500 Bells
Heart – 350 Bells
Heart Container – 2,000 Bells
Master Sword – 5,000 Bells
Rupee – 350 Bells
Silent Princess – 700 Bells
Triforce – 3,333 Bells
Zonai Authentication Crest – 3,000 Bells
Tri Rod – 13,330 Bells
Ocarina of Time – 2,500 Bells
These items represent iconic elements from the Zelda franchise including weapons, symbols, and collectibles that fans will instantly recognize. You can use these pieces to build themed spaces, turn interiors into shrines, or create outdoor exhibition areas around your island.
Zelda Themed Clothing and Wearables
In addition to furniture, the 3.0 update also includes wearable items that let you outfit your character in classic Zelda styles:
Tri Headband – 1,500 Bells
Ancient Princess Wig – 2,000 Bells
Champion Wig – 2,000 Bells
Link Hat – 2,000 Bells
Majora’s Mask – 2,500 Bells
Champion Outfit – 2,300 Bells
Link Outfit – 2,300 Bells
Tulin Outfit – 1,200 Bells
Hylian Trousers – 1,800 Bells
Ancient Princess Costume – 3,000 Bells
Mineru Costume – 1,200 Bells
Ancient Princess Sandals – 1,600 Bells
Hylian Boots – 1,600 Bells
Hero’s Sword and Shield (Bag) – 5,000 Bells
These clothing options let you dress as Link or other iconic characters and personalities from The Legend of Zelda. Fans of Tears of the Kingdom will especially enjoy outfits inspired by Champion characters.
Design Tips for Zelda Fans
Once you have unlocked all Zelda items, you can use them to create themed areas around your island:
Build a Hyrule shrine room filled with statues, Triforce pieces, and Heart Containers.
Create an outdoor Master Sword exhibit in your town plaza.
Set up a Silent Princess garden to mimic the sacred groves from Breath of the Wild.
Use wearables to dress villagers for themed photo shoots or seasonal events.
Because it can take several days to collect everything due to the daily purchase limit, plan your order queue around the items you most want first.
Conclusion
The Zelda crossover content in Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings some of the most beloved elements of the Zelda franchise into your island. From furniture based on legendary weapons to outfits that let you cosplay as Link or other characters, this collection gives fans a rich palette of items to express their love for the series. Whether you want to decorate a room, plan a themed island area, or just wear your favorite outfit while fishing, these additions make the ACNH experience feel even more connected to the broader Nintendo universe.
Fan Brings Classic Hyrule to Life in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons players continue to impress with the creative ways they use the game’s island customization tools. One standout project is a full island recreation of the original The Legend of Zelda world from the NES era. The creator behind this remarkable design goes by the name NintenFan, and their work offers a nostalgic trip for Zelda fans everywhere.
Using the terraforming tools and furniture options available in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, NintenFan built an island that closely follows the iconic map layout from the original The Legend of Zelda. Although the scale has been adjusted to fit Animal Crossing’s island format, the overall structure stays true to the game’s classic look.
What Makes This Hyrule Recreation Special
Fans of The Legend of Zelda will find plenty to recognize in this island:
The entrance to the first cave, where Link traditionally finds his wooden sword, has been recreated with clever use of props and design.
Multiple dungeon entrances are placed around the island, mirroring their positions on the original game’s overworld map.
Players even used critters like crabs to represent traditional Zelda enemies such as Tektites, adding both charm and nostalgic detail.
This project shows how Animal Crossing’s open design systems can be used for ambitious tributes to other video game worlds. The creator’s use of everyday items and landscape features to mimic Zelda locations highlights the imagination of crossover fans in both communities.
Nostalgia Meets Gameplay
What makes this island recreation stand out is not just a desire to replicate classic Zelda visuals, but also a love of the original game’s world layout. For many players who grew up exploring Hyrule with blocky graphics and simple maps, seeing that world reinterpreted in Animal Crossing brings back memories in a fresh way. It also emphasizes how versatile Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become as a platform for player creativity.
With island customization expanding through updates and community creations growing richer over time, projects like this Hyrule tribute will likely inspire even more imaginative worlds. Whether players are paying homage to classic Nintendo titles or blending genres in unexpected ways, Animal Crossing: New Horizons continues to serve as a blank canvas for fans of all kinds.
If you are a Zelda fan and want to explore this incredible island, keep an eye out for community tours and videos showcasing the full layout. Seeing how Hyrule can live within Animal Crossing offers a unique perspective on both games.
Experience the Phantom Hourglass Soundtrack on Nintendo Music
The Legend of Zelda community has yet another reason to celebrate the franchise’s 40th anniversary as The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass soundtrack has just been added to Nintendo Music for Nintendo Switch Online members to stream. This release brings 80 tracks from the 2007 Nintendo DS classic to the mobile app, giving fans about an hour and a half’s worth of musical adventure to enjoy.
Phantom Hourglass continued the seafaring exploits of Toon Link after The Wind Waker, and much of that tone carries over into the music. Composers Kenta Nagata and Toru Minegishi, who worked on Wind Waker’s score, brought their talents to this title as well, crafting themes that capture the excitement of exploring the Great Sea, the mystery of the Ghost Ship, and the whimsy of island life.
Below is the full track list now available to stream through the Nintendo Music app. Let the melodies take you back to your voyages across the ocean and the temples where time itself is your greatest enemy:
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass — Nintendo DS (2007) Soundtrack
Title Theme (The Great Sea)
File Selection
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Beginning
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Meeting
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Princess Zelda
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Demon King’s Scheme
Paper-Cutout Theatre – The Boy Who Became a Hero
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Departure
The Pirate Ship
The Ghost Ship Appears
Tetra’s Call
South Mercay Island
House Theme
Oshus’s Theme
Oshus’s Sword Training
Item Acquired
Cavern Interior
Linebeck’s Theme
Item Acquired (Dizzy)
Fortune-Teller’s House
Phantom Hourglass Acquired
Temple of the Ocean King: Commencing Search
Looming Phantom
Phantom Strike
Beedle’s Shop Ship
Spirit Gem Acquired
Approaching the Ghost Ship
Temple Interior
Battle
Important Item Acquired
Boss Battle
Sand of Hours Appears
Sand of Hours Acquired
A Spirit Opens the Way
Spirit Rescued
Heart Container Acquired
North Mercay Island
Cannon Game Explained
Boss Battle at Sea
Game Over
Spirit Rescued?
Conversation with Oshus
Ciela’s Awakening
Jolene Attacks
Foggy Seas
Tetra Located
Paper-Cutout Theatre – Bellum
Link and Tetra
A New Voyage
Big Gold Rupee Acquired
Goron Island
Goron Island House Theme
Rupoor Acquired
Magic Box
Important Item Acquired
Phantom Sword Acquired
Bellum Battle
Bellum Battle (Recovered Memories)
Tetra Restored
Reunited with Tetra
Tetra Abducted
Bellum Lives
Bellum Battle (Ghost Ship)
Bellum’s Tenacity
Linebeck Captured
Linebeck Possessed
Bellum Battle (Phantom)
The Ocean King Appears
Conversation with the Ocean King
Final Conversation
Parting Ways with Ciela
Staff Credits
Epilogue
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Begin
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Playing as Link
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Defeated
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Link Defeated
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Victory
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Lose/Draw
Wireless Mode – Battle Mode: Results
Streaming this soundtrack is as simple as opening the Nintendo Music app on your mobile device and searching for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. You will need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership to access the music, but once you’re in, you can listen to every track from the game’s score and even create playlists or loop your favorites.
Whether you’re revisiting this DS classic or discovering the music for the first time, this addition is a great way to dive deeper into the world of Zelda through its unforgettable melodies. Let us know on Zelda Central which tracks you’re most excited to hear, and stay tuned for updates in case Nintendo Music adds Spirit Tracks, Twilight Princess, or other legendary Zelda soundtracks next.
Live-Action The Legend of Zelda Movie Coming to Netflix After Theatrical Run
The long-awaited live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda is officially headed to Netflix following its cinema and home media release. This means that after hitting theaters worldwide and later being available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital platforms, the film will stream exclusively on Netflix as part of a new global content agreement.
The move represents a significant moment for both Nintendo and fans of the franchise, as The Legend of Zelda has rarely appeared outside of its video game origins in major film or TV formats. While streaming announcements have circulated online for years, this marks the first time the live-action movie’s distribution strategy has been confirmed in detail.
What the Netflix Deal Means
Netflix’s exclusive streaming rights come as part of a broad licensing deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment that covers a slate of major theatrical films. Under this arrangement, Netflix will become the primary streaming home for the Zelda movie after the film’s theatrical and physical media windows close.
This “Pay-1” licensing model means that audiences can expect the movie to debut in theaters first, followed by traditional retail and digital purchase options, and only then will it be available through Netflix’s subscriber library. The global rollout of the streaming exclusivity is expected to expand over time as regional licensing rights are finalized, with completion projected by early 2029.
The strategy allows the film to reach audiences across multiple formats while still giving Netflix a headline streaming property that aligns with its focus on expanding high-profile licensed content.
Release Timeline and Accessibility
The live-action Zelda movie is scheduled for a global theatrical release on May 7, 2027. This release date places the film squarely in the spring movie season, making it one of the first major pieces of Nintendo-related content to be adapted for live-action on the big screen in decades.
Following its time in theaters, fans will be able to purchase or rent the movie in standard and high-quality formats before it transitions to Netflix’s streaming catalog. This hybrid release plan gives collectors and home viewers flexibility in how they experience the adaptation.
What Fans Can Expect
Nintendo and Sony have been tight-lipped about the full details of the movie’s story and creative direction, but production progress and casting news have gradually filled in the picture. Principal photography began in late 2025 in New Zealand, where much of the film was shot before wrapping in early 2026.
The adaptation is understood to blend fantasy and cinematic spectacle with familiar characters from the beloved video game series, though official plot details remain under wraps. Fans are hopeful that the film will honor the spirit and tone of the original games while providing a fresh experience that can stand on its own.
A New Era for Zelda Storytelling
For many in the Zelda community, the prospect of seeing Link, Zelda, and other elements of Hyrule brought to life in a live-action format is thrilling and nerve-racking in equal measure. The decision to partner with Netflix for exclusive streaming after the theatrical window suggests confidence that the film will find a wide audience.
This distribution plan reflects broader changes in how major Hollywood properties are shared with fans. Rather than debuting only in theaters or premiere streaming drops, The Legend of Zelda movie’s staged release allows traditional cinema viewing first, followed by home ownership, and finally streaming accessibility for Netflix subscribers worldwide.
As anticipation builds toward 2027, Zelda enthusiasts will be watching closely for further updates on trailers, cast details, and story insights leading up to the film’s premiere and eventual streaming debut on Netflix.
New LEGO “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle” Set Brings Hyrule’s Climax to Brick Form
Merchandise January 17, 2026 Victor Williams 0 Comments
LEGO and Nintendo have officially revealed a brand new The Legend of Zelda set inspired by one of the most iconic moments in the franchise. The upcoming LEGO The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – The Final Battle recreates the climactic showdown between Link, Princess Zelda, and Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The scene brings the collapse of Ganon’s Castle into brick form, focusing on the dramatic conclusion that defined an entire generation of players.
This release becomes the second official Zelda LEGO set following the Great Deku Tree and signals LEGO’s growing interest in adapting pivotal story moments rather than broad overworld locations. For longtime fans, the final battle remains one of the most emotionally charged encounters in the series, and this set is clearly designed with that legacy in mind.
A Detailed Recreation of Ganon’s Castle
The build centers on a ruined arena inspired by the final confrontation with Ganondorf. Crumbling stonework, rising flames, and fractured platforms give the environment a sense of danger and urgency that closely mirrors the atmosphere of the original game. With over one thousand pieces, the set offers a substantial build that works equally well as a display piece or an interactive model.
Rather than presenting a static backdrop, the structure emphasizes motion and collapse, reflecting the chaos of the final moments inside the castle as it begins to fall apart.
Minifigures and Character Representation
Three core minifigures anchor the set’s narrative. Link is equipped for battle with his familiar late game gear, while Princess Zelda appears in her role supporting the sealing of Ganondorf’s power. Ganondorf himself is depicted as a larger, more imposing figure than a standard LEGO antagonist, reinforcing his status as the ultimate villain of the era.
A small translucent figure representing Navi is also included, offering a subtle nod to Link’s fairy companion and adding an extra layer of nostalgia for players who remember her guidance throughout Hyrule.
Ganon Lego Figure
Interactive Features and Hidden Details
LEGO has incorporated several gameplay inspired elements into the build. Hidden hearts can be found within the structure, echoing the recovery items players searched for during their adventure. A mechanical feature allows sections of the environment to shift, symbolizing Ganondorf’s dramatic reveal during the battle.
Accessories tied to Ocarina of Time’s final act, including recognizable weapons and symbolic elements, further connect the set to the source material and reward fans who know the game’s details well.
Release Date and Pricing Information
The LEGO Ocarina of Time Final Battle set is scheduled to release on March 1, 2026, with preorders already available. In the United States, the suggested retail price is $129.99. This positions the set as a more accessible option compared to LEGO’s larger Zelda debut, making it appealing to both collectors and casual fans.
The pricing also suggests LEGO is experimenting with offering multiple tiers of Zelda themed sets, opening the door for future releases based on other key moments in the series.
A Tribute to a Legendary Zelda Moment
More than just a collectible, the Final Battle set serves as a physical tribute to one of the most important moments in Zelda history. By focusing on the story’s climax rather than a broad location, LEGO captures the emotional weight of the encounter in a compact and display friendly format.
As Nintendo continues to expand The Legend of Zelda through new games and collaborations, this set stands out as a thoughtful celebration of the series’ past. For fans who once faced Ganondorf atop Ganon’s Castle, the LEGO Final Battle offers a new way to relive that defining moment, one brick at a time.
Breath of the Wild VR Mod Lets Players Explore Hyrule in Virtual Reality
A fan-made virtual reality project has made it possible to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in full VR, allowing players to experience Hyrule from a first-person perspective with natural head tracking. This is not an official Nintendo release. Instead, it is the result of independent development shared directly by the mod’s creator through public code repositories and demonstration footage.
Rather than functioning as a simple camera trick, the project aims to make the entire game playable in VR, from wandering the open plains to scaling cliffs and exploring shrines. The goal is immersion, not novelty.
How the VR Mod Actually Works
The project runs on PC using the Wii U emulator Cemu, which has long been used by fans to enhance Breath of the Wild with higher resolutions, performance improvements, and experimental features. The VR functionality is layered on top of this setup and adds full six-degree head tracking, meaning players can look around the world naturally without the view being locked to Link’s movement.
Motion and camera behavior are tuned to keep the game playable rather than overwhelming. While combat and traversal still rely on traditional controls, the sense of scale changes dramatically when mountains tower overhead and ancient ruins feel physically present around you.
Why This Feels Different From Nintendo’s VR Experiments
Nintendo previously experimented with virtual reality through Labo VR, including a limited Breath of the Wild mode. That version was intentionally constrained, offering a seated experience with simplified visuals and minimal head tracking. The fan-made VR project takes a very different approach by prioritizing freedom of movement and spatial awareness, even if it means requiring more powerful hardware and technical setup.
By running on PC, the mod avoids the performance limits of console-based VR and gives players control over resolution, frame rate, and comfort settings. This makes the experience closer to a native VR title than a short experimental mode.
Technical Limits and Player Expectations
Despite how impressive the project looks, it comes with clear caveats. A capable gaming PC and a VR headset are required, and setup involves legally dumping your own copy of the game. Performance tuning is often necessary, and some players may experience motion discomfort depending on settings and tolerance.
The mod is best viewed as a proof of concept that happens to be surprisingly playable. It is not a polished commercial product, but for longtime fans of Breath of the Wild, it offers a fresh way to revisit a world many thought they already knew inside and out.
What This Says About Zelda’s Future Potential
Seeing Hyrule in VR highlights just how well the game’s open design translates to immersive spaces. The quiet moments, like standing on a hill at sunrise or looking down from a Sheikah Tower, gain a new emotional weight when experienced at full scale. While Nintendo has made no announcements about full VR Zelda titles, projects like this show that the demand and creative groundwork already exist.
For now, this VR version remains a fan-driven passion project shared directly by its creator, but it serves as a compelling glimpse at what the future of Zelda exploration could look like if Nintendo ever decides to step fully into virtual reality.
Eiji Aonuma Hints at How Hyrule Warriors Could Influence the Next Zelda Game
Nintendo’s long-running Legend of Zelda series may be taking creative cues from one of its recent spin-offs for the next mainline adventure. Eiji Aonuma, the producer who has guided the franchise for years, dropped some intriguing remarks in a new interview that point to inspiration drawn from Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment and how that experience could shape what comes after Tears of the Kingdom.
In the discussion with Japanese publication 4Gamer, Aonuma reflected on the collaborative process behind the Koei Tecmo-developed Age of Imprisonment. He chuckled about how Nintendo had hoped to be the first to launch a Zelda title on the Nintendo Switch 2, but instead the spin-off claimed that milestone. Working closely with Koei Tecmo’s team, however, was clearly valuable for Nintendo’s own developers. Aonuma said the creative exchange “may be reflected in the Zelda we create” in the future and encouraged fans to imagine what that might look like while playing Age of Imprisonment.
Eiji Aonuma & Hidemaro Fujibayashi
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment arrived on Nintendo Switch 2 in late 2025, offering a high-octane hack-and-slash retelling of the Imprisoning War period depicted in Tears of the Kingdom. Like previous Warriors titles, it blends Zelda lore and characters with intense crowd-combat action inspired by Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors games.
Aonuma’s comments did not go as far as to confirm specifics about the next mainline Zelda experience. He did not outline gameplay systems or narrative direction, and he stopped short of saying any particular Warriors mechanics would be adopted wholesale. What comes through clearly is that Nintendo is thinking broadly about the series’ future and is open to absorbing ideas from different creative partners.
Fans have reacted with a mix of excitement and speculation. Some see the possibility that future Zelda entries might incorporate more dynamic combat or storytelling approaches influenced by Age of Imprisonment, while others hope the core adventure and world exploration that define the series remain intact. Regardless, Aonuma’s remarks underline that Nintendo’s team is actively exploring fresh directions as the franchise approaches its 40th anniversary era.
For now, concrete details on the next mainline Zelda game remain scarce, but Aonuma’s hints suggest that Nintendo’s creative horizon is expanding with every collaboration. Fans can continue to enjoy Age of Imprisonment and look for the subtle threads of inspiration that might point toward what’s coming next for Link and Hyrule.
Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment Version 1.0.3 Arrives December 18
Fans of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Version 1.0.3 are getting another substantial free update on December 18, and it brings more than a few reasons to dive back into the game if you’ve already finished the main story. Although no new playable characters are part of this patch, Version 1.0.3 adds new challenges, combat systems, difficulty options and quality-of-life improvements that expand the experience beyond the base game. The update is rolling out for the Nintendo Switch 2 title just over a month after its launch on November 6, 2025, and it’s designed to give seasoned players fresh trials to tackle.
At the heart of this update is a new battlefield modifier called Phantom Mode. Once you’ve cleared a battle, Phantom Mode can randomly trigger when you replay it, turning familiar fights into unpredictable encounters. In these altered versions, some enemies become more dangerous species or take on mysterious “Miasma” variants, and there’s even a chance that Phantom Ganon will appear after defeating a powerful foe. These changes don’t just make fights tougher; they also increase the rewards. Materials like High-Purity Zonaiite are more abundant in Phantom Mode battles compared to standard versions, making this a potentially lucrative loop for players who enjoy grinding stronger drops in Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment Version 1.0.3.
A New Challenge With Forbidden Difficulty
Experience Enhanced Gameplay in Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment Version 1.0.3
In addition to Phantom Mode, Version 1.0.3 introduces a new difficulty setting that takes things beyond the previous Very Hard tier. Called Forbidden, this new challenge level pushes combat tension even further. Enemies hit harder, patterns punish mistakes more severely, and only players with mastery of their favorite characters are likely to thrive. Clearing battles on Forbidden difficulty isn’t just about bragging rights either. Certain thresholds of success unlock special rewards, including additional High-Purity Zonaiite and increases to the maximum capacity for Special Portable Meals. These bonuses give experienced warriors tangible incentives to test themselves against the heightened challenge.
For those who enjoyed the first free update’s post-game content, the second update continues in the same vein by adding even more Battle and Hyrule Challenges to Hyrule’s map. These challenges unlock after clearing the main story and include new enemy types such as Lizalfos and Chuchu appearing as Dangerous Species. There’s also a new Training Grounds location on the Sky Islands where players can enter with two warriors to trigger Sync Strikes, adding another layer of depth to cooperative play.
New Skills, Weapons, and Battles
Version 1.0.3 doesn’t just crank up the difficulty. It also expands your combat toolkit with new unique abilities and a brand-new weapon. The Mysterious Golem archetype receives additional unique skills, and each weapon type gets something fresh to experiment with. One notable addition is the Shield Charge ability for One-Handed Swords. This skill lets your character step forward with shield raised, ready to blunt or break through charging enemies, and if timed correctly it can transition into a powerful Spin Attack. Similar unlockable abilities are available for Two-Handed Swords and Spears and become available as you clear the new Battle and Hyrule Challenges added by the update.
New battles also come with the update, including stages that spotlight specific warriors and another that pits you against a particularly formidable enemy in a life-or-death struggle. Completing these fights not only tests your skill but also helps with unlocking the new weapon, the Forbidden Sword. This one-handed blade has been tainted by miasma, giving it a darker aesthetic and making it a coveted piece for both the Mysterious Golem and other warriors who want something unique in their arsenal.
Improvements and Fixes That Matter
Beyond new content and systems, Version 1.0.3 also smooths out some of the rough edges players have encountered since launch. For example, a Sync Strike-related challenge can now be completed even if the character you control isn’t the one performing the Sync Strike. You can now quickly exit Special Conversations in the Gallery by pressing the B button, and the game has improved how it displays tutorials for dodging and guarding so they trigger less frequently, making the learning curve feel more natural. Another notable improvement allows weapon-strengthening features like Max Smithing and Engraving Removal to be used at the end of combat when your Zonaiite stash is full, reducing unnecessary trips back to menus.
Multiple bug fixes are part of the patch as well. These range from material sensor issues in certain battles to missing sound effects in two-player split-screen mode, and other quirks that could detract from the overall experience. The combined impact of these improvements alongside the content additions helps make Version 1.0.3 one of the most significant updates the game has seen since launch.
What This Means for Players
While the update doesn’t introduce new characters, the breadth of changes and additions in Version 1.0.3 give players plenty of reasons to return to Age of Imprisonment’s battlefields this December. Whether you’re chasing tougher challenges in Forbidden difficulty, hunting down rare materials in Phantom Mode, or experimenting with new abilities and weapons, this update deepens the game’s post-story experience. For dedicated fans of the Hyrule Warriors series, it reinforces the game’s replay value just in time for the holidays.
Monolith Soft Reflects on Its Growing Role in The Legend of Zelda Series
Monolith Soft recently offered fans a rare look behind the scenes at its long-running partnership with Nintendo on The Legend of Zelda series. In a new interview celebrating more than a decade of collaboration, key figures from both companies reflected on how the relationship has evolved and what it might mean for the future of the franchise.
The Japanese studio best known for the Xenoblade Chronicles series wasn’t always a household name for Zelda fans. Monolith Soft first worked with Nintendo on Skyward Sword back in 2011, contributing important development support early in the Wii era. From those first steps the partnership grew steadily deeper, with the team taking on more creative involvement as Nintendo entrusted it with larger chunks of development responsibility.
By the time Breath of the Wild began to take shape, Monolith Soft’s role had expanded significantly. Staff from Nintendo and Monolith would meet regularly to exchange ideas during Breath’s development and that closer collaboration only strengthened with Tears of the Kingdom. According to the interview subjects, this shift from support work toward a more co-creative process was one of the most rewarding aspects of their shared history.
What makes this interview especially intriguing is how the topic turns toward the future. Daiki Iwamoto, Nintendo’s general manager for the Zelda franchise, spoke about hoping that Monolith Soft could play a “central role as a strong partner in creating the Zelda series from scratch,” rather than simply assisting on parts of production. That kind of language suggests Nintendo sees real value in Monolith’s contributions and may be open to even greater involvement down the road.
Monolith Soft’s own director, Yasuhiro Fujita, also discussed how the studio’s involvement has changed over time. He noted that in the early days the work was more about executing on Nintendo’s designs, but that in recent projects they’ve become a more active part of idea-making and problem-solving alongside Nintendo’s teams.
There’s no official word yet on what this all means in terms of future Zelda titles. A new mainline game hasn’t been formally announced, and it would be premature to assume Monolith Soft will lead development on the next blockbuster entry. Still, the interview makes it clear that the relationship between the two companies is stronger than ever and that the possibility of seeing Monolith take on an even more prominent role in Zelda’s future excites fans and developers alike.
What that future looks like remains to be seen, but for fans who have watched Monolith Soft grow from a support studio into a creative force alongside Nintendo, this interview offers a fascinating glimpse into how one of gaming’s most beloved franchises continues to evolve.
