Daily Debate: Is E3 2019 Too Early For Us To See A Glimpse Of The Next Mainline Zelda Game?

Yet again, it’s that time of the year, folks. E3 — gaming’s annual equivalent to Christmas morning — is nearly upon us. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that it’s already been three years since I played Breath of the Wild at E3 2016. As Nintendo’s lone offering on that year’s show floor, the game was presented as if it were an amusement park ride — life-sized Guardians and all. It’s an experience I’ll never forget, and a wonderful first impression for the Switch’s first marquee title.

I’ve got to say, though, it’s almost just as hard to believe that Breath of the Wild is over two years old. With that being the case, I can’t help but ask: is E3 2019 too early for us to see a glimpse of Link’s next mainline adventure? And if not, then just how much do you think we could reasonably expect to see?

Personally, I think the game is too early in its development to show anything that substantial. Even in a best-case scenario in which Nintendo has taken a page out of Majora’s Mask’s book and used many of Breath of the Wild’s assets to create a brand new game, we shouldn’t expect to see this game on store shelves until holiday 2020 at the earliest. And even if that’s the case, the big N is far too caught up in its 2019 lineup — which includes both Cadence of Hyrule and a Link’s Awakening remake — to dedicate a significant portion of its Direct to the next proper Zelda title.

I’m getting ahead of myself, though, as the question isn’t how much will they show of the game, but will they show the game at all? If I were a betting man, I’d put my money on it being absent from this year’s E3, but I certainly wouldn’t fall over in shock if we got the tiniest glimpse of Link’s next major quest. You know, something similar to either E3 2014’s Breath of the Wild teaser or E3 2009’s initial piece of Skyward Sword concept art.

What do you think, though? Is this upcoming Direct not the right one to even tease the next mainline Zelda game, or do you think we’re in that window of time in which Nintendo is primed to at least offer a glimpse? Either way, between the two aforementioned games that are sure to appear, Zelda fans will have plenty to talk about this coming week. Please share your thoughts in the comments below!