In the world of video game development and subsequent live-action adaptations, waiting has become an art form. Todd Howard’s The Elder Scrolls 6 has been teasing fans since 2018, making gamers wonder if the game is more mythical than Skyrim’s dragons.
But just when we thought we’d hit peak anticipation, Nintendo has swooped in with a Zelda movie timeline that might just make Elder Scrolls fans look like they’re experiencing instant gratification.
The gaming universe has a new champion of patience, and it’s wearing a green tunic and wielding a Master Sword. Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is officially confirmed for sometime before 2030—a release window that’s simultaneously exciting and existentially terrifying.
The Zelda Movie: A Decade-Long Odyssey
Nintendo’s financial report has dropped what can only be described as the most tantalizingly vague release window in recent memory. The live-action Zelda movie is officially slated for “202X”—which essentially translates to “sometime before we all turn into dust.”
Wes Ball, director of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and the Maze Runner movies, is at the helm of this potentially generation-spanning project. And while fans might be losing their minds, the internet has some… thoughts:
read the room bro this species is NOT making it to 2030 💀
— Sigmatic (@sigmatic_) November 6, 2024
The collective groan from fans is almost palpable:
BREAKING: cheese will appear in your fridge in the foreseeable future
— Luna (@Lil_Luna_IRLz) November 6, 2024
After all, we’re talking about a release so far in the future that today’s hardcore Zelda fans might be introducing their great-grandchildren to the movie.
The Elder Scrolls 6: A Comparative Waiting Game
Speaking of legendary waiting games, Todd Howard‘s Elder Scrolls 6 has been in a similar limbo. The game was teased back in 2018, and recent reports suggest it’s still in early development. Pete Hines, former head of publishing at Bethesda has previously confirmed the game is “in development, but in early development”—a phrase that has become something of a meme in the gaming community.
The great-grandchildren of OG Zelda fans will enjoy this film.
— SpaceMonkey (@SpaceMonkey0009) November 6, 2024
Interestingly, both Nintendo and Bethesda seem to be playing a long game. While Nintendo is prioritizing a Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel in 2026 before turning its attention to Zelda, Bethesda is trudging along with The Elder Scrolls 6‘s development at what can charitably be described as a glacial pace.
The gaming community’s patience is being tested on multiple fronts. But hey, at least we’re all in this together, right? Waiting is just another form of foreplay in the world of epic gaming franchises. Perhaps these prolonged development cycles are secretly a marketing strategy to keep fans perpetually engaged and speculating.
What do you think about these seemingly endless waits? Are you more excited about the Zelda movie or Elder Scrolls 6? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
