Daily Debate: How Have Rumors and Leaks Affected Your Excitement Levels For Video Game Announcements and Presentations?
Posted on October 21 2022 by Sean Gadus
Nintendo had its fall Nintendo Direct on September 13th, giving fans a new look at the next mainline Zelda game, now titled Tears of the Kingdom. Despite this huge announcement, fans were also reminded that the never-ending The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess on Nintendo Switch rumors remain unconfirmed. These rumor refuses to die, and they seem to crop up whenever a Nintendo event might be happening soon. During these Nintendo rumor seasons, many video game websites create an obligatory post re-reporting information about The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess coming to Nintendo Switch, a claim that was initially made several years ago. This is one example that there is almost no escaping the endless stream of rumors and unofficial reports that are a pat of video game culture. Ubisoft, one of the biggest video companies in the world, routinely has their Assassin’s Creed games leaked each year.
With this in mind, how have rumors and leaks affected or changed your excitement levels for video game announcements and presentations?
Overall, I find that rumors and leaks have generally lowered my excitement level for video games announcements and presentations. It feels like so many projects are leaked early that it is hard for video game companies to surprise their fans in positive ways. If a company announces a game that was already rumored, then there is audience satisfaction, but the presentation usually lacks a big surprise or shock that gets people truly excited. If a company does not announce a game that was rumored or reported to exist, then there are groups of people who will use various social media platforms or forums to complain about the show. Feelings of true surprise at video announcements and presentations feel like they are disappearing! With this in mind, I appreciated the latest Nintendo Direct because I felt like there were several surprises that I did not expect like Fire Emblem Engage.
What do you think about rumors and leaks? How do they change or affect your excitement level for announcements and presentations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. The final battle of Tears of the Kingdom is one of his favorite final battles in the entire series. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
