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The Legend of Zelda

Update 4 (8/28): Now up for pre-order on Amazon UK.


Update 3 (8/24): Zelda: Art & Artifacts is now $16 off on Amazon and $13 off on Amazon Canada.


Update 2 (8/23): Now up for pre-order on Amazon Germany.


Update: A few preview pages have come in. It’s safe to say that this is indeed the English version of Hyrule Graphics.


Original (8/22): Nintendo is teaming up with Dark Horse Books for the release of The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts. It’s slated for February 21, 2017.

Based on the official description, it sounds a lot like the Hyrule Graphics book Japan is getting in about a week. It contains more than 400 pages of illustrations from the entire series, including Breath of the Wild.

According to the Amazon description:

Wild! Every masterwork is printed on high-quality paper in an oversized format so you can immerse yourself in the fine details of each piece. This book includes rare promotional pieces, game box art, instruction booklet illustrations, official character illustrations, sprite art, interviews with the artists, and much, much more! The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts collects many of your favorite masterpieces from the storied franchise, as well as rare and never before seen content, presented in one handsome hardcover.

Select artwork from the entirety of the franchise!

A nostalgic look at the past!

An exciting look at the future!

Interviews with some of the artists behind The Legend of Zelda series!

You can pre-order The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts on Amazon here and Amazon Canada here.

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Graphics may not be a standalone book. Inside the collection, which just came out in Japan yesterday, specific wording hints at more releases. We may see a second book this winter followed by a third in 2017. Obviously there have not been any specific announcements yet.

In North America and Europe, Zelda: Hyrule Graphics is known as The Legend of Zelda: Art and Artifacts. It will be available next February.

Thanks to Zak H for the tip.

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This past week, Dark Horse Books announced that the company is teaming up with Nintendo for The Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts. North America and Europe will need to wait until next year for its localization, but in Japan, it came out yesterday as “The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Graphics”. You can view some photos of the book below.

Source 1, Source 2

Back when VIZ Media announced the “Legendary Edition” volumes for the various Zelda manga, we heard about two that are arriving over the next few months. Ocarina of Time is up first in November, followed by Oracle of Ages/Seasons in January. We now have news about the two other volumes.

Majora’s Mask and A Link to the Past will comprise volume 3, with a release planned for March 2017. The Minish Cap and Phantom Hourglass will then follow in May.

It’s also worth mentioning that pre-orders for the third and fourth Legendary Edition volumes are on sale over at Amazon. Majora’s Mask/A Link to the Past as well as Minish Cap/Phantom Hourglass are down to about $12.

Amazon has given us a look at the cover for The Legend of Zelda: Legendary Edition, Vol. 1: Ocarina of Time Parts 1 & 2. What we have above is the cover. The second image below shows off the back.

The first Legendary Edition for The Legend of Zelda comes out in November. It includes two volumes of the Zelda manga series, presented in a deluxe format featuring new covers and color art pieces by Akira Himekawa.

zelda-legendary-edition-vol-1-back

Update (8/12): This can now be pre-ordered on Play-Asia.


Update (8/8): Bumped to the top. Past the break, you’ll find a list of games that will be featured in the various tracks.

Later this month, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Graphics will release in Japan in celebration of the series’ 30th anniversary. It was initially announced a few weeks ago, but we finally have some details about what will be included.

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Graphics will contain all published official illustrations from the first entry up through Twilight Princess HD. All kinds of art like main visuals, character illustrations, and items can be seen here. There will be also a symposium of Nintendo’s legacy designers recorded as well.

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Graphics will be A4-sized and has 416 pages. It’s set on release on August 26 for 4,300 yen. You can order it on Play-Asia here or Amazon Japan here. See some sample pages in the gallery below.

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Eiji Aonuma has been closely tied to The Legend of Zelda having worked on the series since 1998 with Ocarina of Time. Could he eventually branch out and try something new in the future, though? Possibly.

In an interview with EDGE, Aonuma revealed that Nintendo has actually told him to make a new IP. But at the same time, they want him to continue with Zelda. Aonuma wouldn’t say too much more beyond this. He did mention that he’s interested in the idea “of a game where I can live as a thief,” but didn’t elaborate further.

Aonuma’s full comments:

“Actually, Nintendo has been telling me to create a new IP. But then, they’re also telling me to make more Zelda games. I can’t really share much; I’m not sure I’m allowed to say anything. But I really like the idea of a game where I can live as a thief. That’s all I’ll say.”

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Three special concerts will be hosted in Japan later this year in celebration of Zelda’s 30th anniversary. Performances will be held in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Nagoya on October 1, October 14, and December 14 respectively. The official site is located here.

Popular songs from the series will be performed in full orchestra under conductor Taizo Takemoto, and Zelda footage will be shown on the screen. The site also teases that a certain person involved with the series will appear (perhaps Eiji Aonuma or Shigeru Miyamoto?).

The concert tickets will have a Master Sheet (originally designed ticket with bonus goods of a set of pins). Additionally, exclusive original goods will only be sold only at these concerts.

Ticket sales will begin on June 30 at 12 PM. Master Sheet ticket sales will end earlier on July 5 at 11:59 PM, while S and A seat ticket sales will end on July 11 at 11:59 PM.

When Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s was initially announced, there was talk about Link possibly being female. Producer Eiji Aonuma eventually shot down that idea, but speculation had been swirling before this week that the game could include an option that would allow players to choose a gender.

Link may look a bit feminine in Breath of the Wild – or at least slightly less masculine compared to how he looks in Twilight Princess. However, his appearance is intentional.

Aonuma explained to TIME that he “wanted Link to be gender neutral” going all the way back to Ocarina of Time. This was done so that different types of players could relate to the character. Aonuma said that he “went a different route and created a version of Link that was more masculine” with Twilight Princess, but “went back to the drawing board and decided Link should be a more gender-neutral character” after that title.

Aonuma’s comments in full:


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