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.
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.
