The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild takes an entirely different approach to Zelda storytelling from its predecessors. Set many thousands of years after the previous Zelda timelines, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has the liberty to introduce a new system of ancient history that takes place between Breath of the Wild and the previous games. In that way, Breath of the Wild is full of mysteries and characters who are wholly new to the Zelda series, rather than wielding lots of echoes of elements that appeared in other Zelda games. The structure worked well for BotW, but the real question is whether Breath of the Wild 2 will be the same.
There's a good chance that it won't. Ganondorf's possible return is far from the only reason; Breath of the Wild 2's several uncanny similarities to Skyward Sword strongly suggest that the game will play into overarching Zelda history to a degree that the first Breath of the Wild didn't. That may include bringing back Skyward Sword characters like Fi. Breath of the Wild strongly hinted at Fi's presence, and new footage from the game may further suggest that Fi's return is imminent. A lot remains to be seen about Breath of the Wild 2, but a new role for an old character may very well be on the way.
Breath of the Wild 2's Possible Fi Hint
When Nintendo announced Breath of the Wild 2's delay, it did so through a short video hosted by The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma. While the video mostly included footage of Aonuma himself and snippets from previous BotW2 trailers, Nintendo did give fans a couple seconds of a new cutscene as a consolation prize. In this clip, Link draws the Malice-ravaged Master Sword up to a ball of golden light, causing the remaining blade to briefly emit a blue glow.
The Master Sword has a longstanding habit of emitting white-blue light, especially when Link is using it to fire Sword Beams, but nevertheless, it's hard not to think of the Master Sword inhabitant Fi on seeing this light. Fi guided Link throughout his journey in Skyward Sword, often turning into a ball of blue light to pass in and out of the Goddess Sword, which gradually became the Master Sword. Additionally, when she spoke without leaving the Master Sword, it would often glow similarly. A new blue glow emitting from the sword consistently could suggest that Fi is active again, trying to communicate with the current Link and guide him on a quest to repair the Master Sword.
Previous Fi Teasers in Breath of the Wild
Fi's return is hardly confirmed, but Breath of the Wild itself has made her reappearance seem especially likely. Fans may remember witnessing certain memories of Link's days with Zelda in which Zelda would mention legends about a voice within the Master Sword. Later on, she even claims to have heard the Master Sword's voice herself. If the Master Sword is emitting a disembodied voice, it's hard to imagine that Zelda was hearing anything other than Fi. Skyward Sword's Zelda never had much of a relationship with Fi, but in Breath of the Wild 2, Fi and a new Zelda may end up becoming much closer.
A smaller hint about Fi's possible return stems from the Trial of the Sword, one of the DLC challenges that Nintendo released for Breath of the Wild. When Link proved his worth by overcoming the challenge, a group of Sheikah monks would unlock greater strength within the Master Sword. In the process, fans could hear a brief sound effect that's identical to the sound Fi would make whenever she entered or existed the Master Sword. That reference to Fi seems too specific to be a coincidence; Nintendo is almost certainly pointing towards her return.
Fi's Odds of a Comeback
While there's plenty of possible evidence suggesting that Fi will be back, it's hard to say for sure if Nintendo wants to reuse Fi. She was created so specifically for Skyward Sword's plot that Nintendo may prefer to keep her exclusively connected to the story of the Master Sword's creation, rather than tying her into another narrative. Zelda tradition doesn't bode well for Fi either. Link's companion characters almost never return in future games; even extremely popular ones like Midna bow out of Zelda's overarching story when their game is complete.
On the other hand, it's entirely possible that Nintendo has gone out of its way to craft an opportunity for a Fi comeback. Although Skyward Sword ends with Fi entering an eternal slumber, sufficient damage to the Master Sword may allow the sword to reawaken Fi as an emergency measure. Beyond the Master Sword's state, the combination of a terrestrial Hyrule with new floating islands sets up a strong narrative involving Fi, where she must grapple with an entirely new world even as she sees elements of the world that she once new. What's more, if Breath of the Wild 2 is all about unearthing and defeating ancient evils, then it only makes sense that Link might do so by waking ancient heroes to help him.
A Great Breath of the Wild Companion
Fi seems like an ideal supporting character to star in Breath of the Wild 2. Her last words to Link were that she hoped to meet him again in another life, and Breath of the Wild 2 could provide Fi with that exact opportunity, opening up an entirely unique subplot for BotW2. She might also help Link study and categorize information about Hyrule in ways that not even the Sheikah Slate ever could. The blend of mechanical and storytelling potential, as well as a more general opportunity for a less notification-heavy take on Fi, means the door is wide open for her.
Breath of the Wild 2 may have been delayed, but that doesn't mean the wait for information has been extended. Nintendo could still release major information about Breath of the Wild 2 in summer 2022, even if it needs some extra time to finish the game. If new trailers do some out soon, odds are good that they'll quickly either confirm or deny Fi's presence. The introduction of a different companion character would likely dash Fi's hopes, but otherwise, it would be hard to tell Breath of the Wild 2's story without showing off Fi, assuming that she does have a role. Hopefully Nintendo points toward Fi's future in The Legend of Zelda soon.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 releases in spring 2023 for Nintendo Switch.