The Zelda franchise is heading into one of its biggest periods in years, with Nintendo already heavily focused on the series ahead of its 40th anniversary celebrations. Between the upcoming live-action movie, ongoing rumors surrounding an Ocarina of Time remake, and speculation about future projects, another major leak is now making waves online.
According to known leaker Nash Weedle, Nintendo is reportedly working on a brand-new 2D Zelda title alongside Grezzo, targeting a release sometime in 2027. The biggest surprise from the rumor is the claim that Ganondorf may actually become the playable protagonist.
While nothing has been officially confirmed by Nintendo, the report has already sparked major discussions within the Zelda community due to how different the concept sounds compared to previous entries.
Codename “Bernard” Reportedly Connected To The Project
The rumored project is allegedly operating under the codename “Bernard,” which the leak claims follows an internal naming pattern inspired by historical European kings tied to classic Zelda themes like wisdom, courage, and power.
The rumor also suggests that Nintendo and Grezzo are reusing the same engine that powered recent 2D Zelda releases, allowing development to move faster while maintaining the visual style and gameplay systems fans already enjoyed.
That would make sense considering the strong reception of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, which became one of Nintendo’s most praised modern 2D Zelda experiences. Grezzo previously worked closely on that project as well, making another collaboration believable from a development standpoint.
Ganondorf As A Playable Character Would Be A Massive Shift
The possibility of Ganondorf taking center stage is easily the most controversial part of the leak. Traditionally portrayed as the franchise’s main villain, giving players direct control over him would mark one of the biggest storytelling shifts the Zelda series has ever attempted.
Still, fans have pointed out that Nintendo has become increasingly experimental with the franchise in recent years. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom already showed Nintendo moving away from older formulas and trying unexpected gameplay concepts.
Some players believe a Ganondorf-focused story could explore events before his transformation into the King of Evil, while others think Nintendo may simply be experimenting with an alternate perspective similar to what other major franchises have done with former villains.
At the moment, however, these ideas remain purely speculative.
Nintendo’s Focus Remains On Zelda’s Future
Officially, Nintendo has not announced any new 2D Zelda game beyond existing projects already revealed publicly. Most of the company’s current Zelda attention appears centered around the live-action film adaptation and the continued future of the franchise following the success of Tears of the Kingdom.
Series producer Eiji Aonuma has previously hinted that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment could influence future Zelda ideas and themes, suggesting Nintendo is actively experimenting with new directions behind the scenes.
Whether this rumored 2D Zelda project actually exists remains unknown for now, but if Nintendo truly plans to celebrate Zelda’s 40th anniversary with multiple major releases, fans may not have to wait too long before more details start appearing.
As always with leaks and rumors, everything should be treated carefully until Nintendo officially confirms the project.
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