The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 was revealed almost a year ago and updates on the game have been scarce since then. One of the only things that Nintendo has confirmed so far is that the upcoming Switch sequel will be using the same map as the original Breath of the Wild, and that it was looking for new talent to help the team in terrain design. Every other detail on the game, whether it be from the story or about the gameplay, came from leaks and rumors, with many of them actually being feasible for the sequel.
When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild first launched in 2017, it rocked the gaming industry and garnered critical acclaim, scoring a Metacritic score of 97 and selling through over 18 million units as of this year. With the first game being so successful, it’s no surprise that BotW 2 is such a hot target for leak-spinners and rumor-mongers. The past month alone has garnered some significant rumored details regarding the sequel to BotW and, until Nintendo says or confirms otherwise, more rumors will eventually follow.
Miasmic Ganon in Breath of the Wild 2
The most recent rumor (or leak, depending on the perspective) comes from Twitch streamer Tyler McVicker (who reported on Half Life Alyx years before its reveal). He claims that Breath of the Wild 2 will not only feature the return of Ganon but will see it block off other areas of Hyrule besides the royal castle this time. McVicker refers to it as “Ganon’s miasmic presence,” which is reminiscent of the malice substance found in areas under Calamity Ganon’s control in the original Breath of the Wild. Similarly, miasmic Ganon must be cleared out in order for Link to access a given area.
He also claims that dungeons will be reintroduced in Breath of the Wild 2 and will allow for the game map to feel fresh even though it recycles the original game’s world. He also claims that the beginning of the game will differ from the start of the original game in that it won’t feel so open. In Breath of the Wild, once a player starts the game, they can go pretty much anywhere within the confines of the Great Plateau (then beyond soon after) which can be overwhelming to some, but McVicker posits that BotW 2 will start off in a more linear fashion.
Ganon Doesn't Return for Breath of the Wild 2
Another recent rumor has suggested that Ganon will not appear in Breath of the Wild 2. This would be especially surprising considering the fact that Calamity Ganon was so essential to BotW’s story (albeit Ganon has been omitted from Legend of Zelda games before). Ganon is also essential to the prophecy of Breath of the Wild, but anything is possible. The rumor also suggested that the game will focus around Link and Zelda rebuilding Hyrule after the devastation caused by Calamity Ganon, and that there will be “Godfather 2-esque flashbacks” going further back than the original game’s flashbacks.
If true, these flashbacks ought to mention Ganon in some capacity so it’s unclear why the rumor would posit the villain’s absence from the sequel. In fact, there could be multiple villains in Breath of the Wild 2, if a certain series of fan theories end up being true. As the theory suggests, Twilight Princess’ Zant would make for a huge twist in the lore of BotW if they’re actually in the sequel, whether or not they’re controlling Ganondorf/the demonic corpse from the reveal trailer.
The Legend of Zelda Bond of the Triforce
The most significant rumor, in terms of details, is one that was posted in February. It suggested that the title for the upcoming sequel to Breath of the Wild is actually The Legend of Zelda: "Bond of the Triforce.” The supposed title fits alongside other details of the rumor, such as the prediction that both Link and Zelda will apparently be playable (which makes sense, considering the content of the reveal trailer). Further, according to the rumor, Zelda will only be playable within the newly implemented dungeons (which backs up McVicker’s claims), while she’ll only provide support for Link outside in the open world.
Interestingly, Link will also apparently be able to “harness the power of nature,” which supposedly includes the ability to change the weather (presumably rain, which was a notorious hindrance). As such, animals will also play a much bigger role in BotW 2, according to the rumor. There will also be new enemy types and Legend of Zelda items, such as the slingshot and a purported farming plow that will allow Link to attack multiple enemies at once.
Even though Nintendo has remained largely silent on the development of Breath of the Wild 2 since its reveal trailer, it’s nice to see that people online can come up with ideas that actually sound cool if they were implemented within the upcoming game. If any of these rumors/leaks end up being true, then it just proves how dedicated Zelda fans are to one of the biggest franchises in gaming history.
The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch, with no confirmed release date.