Over the 35-year-long history of The Legend of Zelda, the franchise's green tunic-clad protagonist Link has become one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in the world of gaming. Since the character's roots in the Famicom title released in 1986, the young hero's adventures across the kingdom of Hyrule and several other fantastical regions have become a staple of the industry and one of Nintendo's best-selling franchises.

The Legend of Zelda as a franchise has a long and storied history with many entries across several different platforms. Link has starred in games on every major Nintendo console (except the Virtual Boy) since the franchise first debuted on the Famicom. The iconic swordsman's popularity has even seen him appear outside of the company's first-party titles, appearing in games like Namco's Soul Calibur 2 and Sega's Sonic Lost World. However, something the character has never received throughout the long history of the franchise is a last name, despite what a recent French publication may tell.

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Reddit user Dragenby recently discovered the odd surname given to Link in French gaming publication Retro Games Reboot. A section covering the Legend of Zelda protagonist refers to Link with the last name of Steadfast, likely the result of a mistranslation during the magazine's production. Link has never been officially given a last name by Nintendo, though Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto has joked in the past that his full name would be "Link Link" in reference to the last names given to Mario and Luigi in the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie.

legend of zelda link french magazine page

Link's status as a video game icon has led to the character often being the subject of both merchandise and fan creations. Many talented cosplayers have given their own interpretation on Link and the character has received several figures and statues throughout the franchise's history. Netflix even reportedly considered creating a live-action Legend of Zelda series for the platform, though it was later cancelled by Nintendo due to prominent leaks coming out with regards to the series.

2021 marks the 35th anniversary of the original Legend of Zelda's release and Nintendo has been celebrating the franchise's storied history throughout the year. Alongside a limited edition Game & Watch console featuring the first two games and Link's Awakening, July saw the release of Skyward Sword HD, a remaster of the 2011 Wii game. Nintendo has also been slowly divulging more information to fans on the highly-anticipated Breath of the Wild 2, scheduled to arrive next year. The Legend of Zelda has become a flagship title for Nintendo and looks to remain one for years to come.

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Source: Reddit