Zelda: Twilight Princess delayed until after March 31, 2006
by Dan Choi 
{ Aug 16th 2005 at 7:43AM }
A late night e-mail from Perrin Kaplan, VP of Marketing and
Corporate Affairs at Nintendo of America, officially states that Zelda: Twilight Princess will be delayed until
sometime after March 31, 2006, well beyond the prior official release date/window of "Holiday 2005." Ostensibly, this
extra time will be used for "new levels, more depth and even higher quality," and will coincide with a "new global
launch in 2006" to follow the current fiscal year (which ends on March 31st of 2006). What this translates to is that
TP won't be out anywhere until sometime after March next year.
As a significant number of GameCube owners are (or were) looking forward to the release of the final Zelda of this console generation, it's understandable when news sites and retailers begin to eagerly speculate concerning Twilight Princess's eventual release date. Amazon even threw up November 14th of this year as a possible date, though the online giant would have no problem disavowing it as a placeholder if newer information were to arrive. Developers, on the other hand, are held up to intense scrutiny whenever anticipated titles fall behind or get pushed back. The new Zelda was expected to undoubtedly be the crown jewel of Nintendo's 2005 holiday lineup, the star of its current fiscal year, and a nice lead up to the launch of the Revolution. Now it looks like there's going to be a lot of explaining to do this year. Feel sorry for Reggie yet? (No?) You will.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
LaughingTarget @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Not very surprising. The Zelda series has never been released on any form of schedule before, so this is almost expected. At least it shows Nintendo still cares about quality and not shoving something out for the holiday rush.
Obadiah @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I don't know if I could have heard a more disappointing piece fo gaming news this morning. I'm not a Nintendo apologist but I was eagerly anticipating this one. Mario's heart is breaking. NINTENDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Well there's around a half dozen good 'Cube games due for this festive period so more time for them (and FF / DQ) with a stellar title just before the Revolution.
Great way to end a consoles life!
revolver @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Thats not cool i was antisapated for that arrival now i gonna have to wait more?!?!?! gah this ruined my good day!
R @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Expect a "actually this was for Revolution all along, we were just getting expectation up so that everyone would buy our new console" statement sometime in March then.
Nico @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Wow.. I know Nintendo is known for delaying sh*t, but this really came as a surprise to me.
Since this thing is dropping now in Spring 2006, that probably means that the revolution won't launch in Spring 06 as Nintendo had planned. That, in turn, means if Sony keeps the Ps3 launch window intact, the N5 will be the last console out the gate once again.
Damn..
Mike @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Although delays are common, especially Nintendo, I think this is a bad sign for gamecube owners and revolutions release in 06. Instead of Nintendo fans holding off Microsoft’s 360 with a beautiful Zelda game this holiday season they have nothing now to show. Also 360 is releasing a slew of games upon release which look very good, while Nintendo has nothing worth while to compete against. Don’t get me wrong I am a big Nintendo fan but the delays in releasing their first party games and lack of 3rd party support is really showing.
iain campbell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
this friggin sucks. booooooooooooooooooooooo
:(
:(
:(
Smiling Politely @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Well there is a good side to this a bad side. The bad side is that we won't be playing it this year. That hurt a little this morning, but the good side to this is at least they are taking the time to polish the product and make a damn good game. I rather have the game delayed then have something half-assed and rushed out the door like most games are done. I've waited this long for Zelda, a few more months is not going to kill me.
There is plenty to play this holiday to begin with like Dragon Quest VIII.
Dan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Ninten... don't?
Timmay! @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I've got it resrved allready at Gamestop. The delay did knock me back a bit, but I've got the reserve slip in my wallet as I speak, so no real worries here!
soco @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
it's strange they say after march 31st, because isn't that nearing the rumoured release date of the Revolution? Could nintendo be trying to use this as a marketting end for the Revolution's backwards compatibility? Could they possibly be thinking of making this a Revolution game that happens at launch?!
suhail @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
They did say they are going to add some "incredible" new features into the game, hopefully the wait will be worth it.
Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
#5 (R): In a way, Twilight Princess is still a Revolution title as GameCube titles are backwards compatible with it. Trying to upgrade the GC visuals to Revolution quality probably wouldn't be worth the effort nor further delays. Nintendo doesn't want a Kameo on its hands.
A TP release at or around the launch of the Revolution wouldn't be a bad way to go, either, if they can get some quality Revolution-specific titles (and the controller/interface) ready by then. Hopefully this all comes about sooner rather than later (esp. for Nintendo's sake).
Tesla @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
While I was hoping for a new Zelda for the holiday I'm almost glad to hear this. Anyone else think Windwaker was short on number of dungeons?
Since this is more in tune with the Revolution timeline does this possibly mean that there may be some kind of extra incentive to play it on the Revolution should it actually be backward compatible?
-Graphics bump on Revolution like the PS2 did with PS1 games? I know it was marginal, but any increase is often nice.
-Hidden or even documented extras for popping the disc into the Revolution like minigames or a bonus level? Look at the Zelda DX for Gameboy Color and tell me it never happened.
Granted if they release next spring it hurts in the short term but in the long term it can only work in the gamers' favor.
jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I'm kind of glad its delayed if they are going to make it better.
I'm a nintendo die-hard and i thought wind waker was a bust big time. Especially after ocarina and majora.
The cartoon style didnt bother me, but the awful sailing, lack of dungeons and triforce scavenger hunt made kind of disgusted me in the end. Not a bad game, but just not up to the zelda standard in so many ways.
Blue Balloon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Ok. Cool. I can wait. :)
funkonaut @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I don't know why everyone is thinking Revolution will be out in Spring 2006. It's more like Fall 2006 at the earliest.
mmat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
This is good news. It's not an official Zelda game until it gets delayed.
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I don't mind waiting. I'll have other 'Cube and DS games to tide me over. Not to mention my Nintendog.
Wuff!
Stephen @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Well, I see this is a good thing because now I can preorder several more DS games for my b-day :P. Let's see...
I'll ask my mum to order Electroplankton (J), pre-order Mario Kart, and buy Trauma Center! :D
Karmakin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Heh. Twilight Princess more than likely will be pretty damn close to a Revolution launch title :) Which actually isn't a bad idea. It's a great game, equivilent to any of the next-gen games I've seen so far. So actually releasing it on the GameCube format, and encouraging people who would pick up a GameCube to play it, to just pick up the Revolution instead (only an extra hundred or so..)
It's crazy enough it might work :D
TrickAssP @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I have never heard of a more self-righteous company in my life. Nintendo's few remaining stalwarts are being screwed over yet again. All hype, buzz, and excitement created for Zelda is now crushed for me. All hype, buzz, and excitement created for The Revolution is now crushed for me. How in love do they think their fans are? So now we, the misbegotten, have eight months to watch the competition trounce us yet again. Should we not be use to it by now? Of course, history doesn’t lie.
So we are left with eight months, eight months to forget why we call ourselves Nintendo fans. And do you think eight months is not long enough to forget?
I already have.
And do you think such comments and assumptions are false, misleading, exaggerated? We’ll see in eight months. I know that Zelda will sell well. I know that Revolution will not. I know that nothing can live up to the falsified hype of internet rumors. Nothing can be produced to rival the human imagination. Nintendo’s viral marketing campaign will prove to be just that, a virus. It has infected every online Nintendo fan and in eight or ten or twelve months when the reality of the Revolution is finally revealed…the virus, the Revolution will be met with a coups d'?t***
Wow, I need to chill the hell out…
”Halleluiah…Holy Shit……pass me the goddamn Tylenol”.
***(The sudden overthrow of a government by an unusually small group of persons in or previously in positions of leadership)
SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
At least Nintendo delays games before they go "gold," unlike some people. ::cough:: Sony ::cough::
I'm not too upset. I would like it this year, but I wouldn't want it before it is finished.
Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
ok I know a lot of are all like hey it will help the rev sell which is true but eight months is a long time more then enough time for the rev AND twilight princess to lose a lot of hype this news just went a headed and killed my spirit BUT im such a fan I'll still buy the rev and twilight princess but nintendo if it does not live up to the ocarina of time I will go down to nintendos HQ and personaly YELL at them
no that I have that out of the way time for the new hype about giest and Battalion wars(my second most wanted game)
Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
ok I know a lot of are all like hey it will help the rev sell which is true but eight months is a long time more then enough time for the rev AND twilight princess to lose a lot of hype this news just went a headed and killed my spirit BUT im such a fan I'll still buy the rev and twilight princess but nintendo if it does not live up to the ocarina of time I will go down to nintendos HQ and personaly YELL at them
no that I have that out of the way time for the new hype about giest and Battalion wars(my second most wanted game)
A.J. @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
#23 You're right you need to chill out. The Viral marketing is going to backfire. Of course it is, there's nothing that can compete with the 'touch-screen/gyroscopic control/mind control/hot/cold feedback/sensory feedback' fakes put out by fans. What it will be is an innovative use of current technology. At the end of the day if it's different than Sony and M$, who cares?
As for Zelda:TP, it will be an amazing game. Maybe it will launch with the Revolution. I'd like to think so. When is the last time a company gave you the choice to buy a curret gen or next gen system for a game. The Cube isn't going to dissapear right away anyways, they said that already. I can wait til after March. Hell, I just brought out my Gamecube edition of OoT and started that again. I'm cool for ata least a couple of weeks.
Privo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I was already having a really bad day. SO, thanks for this news. Nintendo, you deserve to have your company die out in the next round of consoles. This is unacceptable. I will be deep into Halo 3 by the time this ish drops, which will be a time when this game is all but obselete! I thought the dang Japs were supposed to be ahead of the times! What gives!
Jeremy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
" I know that Zelda will sell well. I know that Revolution will not."
TrickAssP, does that P stand for Psychic!!
Can you give me some advice on stocks!?!
The Bruce @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I loved "Enter the Matrix!" I was so glad that it came out on time and wasn't delayed that I was able to ignore all the bugs it had. In the end, getting the game in my hands is much more important than playability, quality, and replay value.
It's understandable for people to be upset over the wait for Zelda. But delaying it is the lesser of two evils. Better for us to complain now and love it forever, than to love it now and hate it later.
Twist @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Well I guess I won't be buying a GameCube this year then. Wonder if they are going to retool it for the Revolution or if it is just going to be the last great game for the GameCube.
TJ @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
"Nintendo, you deserve to have your company die out in the next round of consoles. This is unacceptable. I will be deep into Halo 3"
What an absolutely pathetic comment.
They deserve to die out due to wanting to create as good a possible game (with enough resolve as to miss a highly profitable seasonal sales period), yeah go ahead with that attitude and gaming will be full of such quality and talent.
And you talk of Halo 3, the irony there being Microsoft are holding that game back but not to make it better but for petty competing issues.
Not so good with the shoe on the other foot, is it?
norebonomis @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
YES! FINISH THE GAME THIS TIME< GAWD!
JamesP @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
What they have done is alienated anyone on the fence about buying a 360, such as me. The twilight princess was going to be the only detterent for me and now it's gone. I know I'll still buy the rev. and TP but the next gen for me will be the 360. I like to think I'm a big fan for nintendo but this next round of consoles could be their last.
SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
OH MY GOD! A major release is delayed! I hate you Nintendo! You have ruined my whole life, killed my dog, and raped my children! I was going to buy your game, but everyone knows that delayed games give you cancer... and hemorroids! Nintendo is DOOMED! DOOMED! DOOMED! DOOMED! DESTROY US ALL! DESTROY US ALL!
How much do you want to bet that the people above making the biggest stink never intended to buy the game to begin with? Damned haters.
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Hmph, I must say when I first read this news I sort of freaked out in my head saying, "WHAT!?" But after reading all these comments, you guys have some really good points. But here's something to think about that no one else has said yet:
TP was originally planned for a Holiday release to boost holiday sales and as a good clash with the 360, right? Well personally, I think that would have been the best move to do, but if Nintendo isn't ready, they're not ready -- end of story. Yes, it's a shame that we all got our hopes up for this awesome Zelda game for the perfect time around Christmas, and yes, it was Nintendo's mistake to officially release that TP would be out by the Holidays of 2005 -- but, well, what are we going to do about it?
If the game isn't ready, the game isn't ready. Personally, I'd rather have a long, amazing, epic game in March than a short, incomplete game at Christmas. Imagine how pissed off fans would be if TP was short and wasn't all that great of a game -- versus how enthusiastic fans will be to finally have the amazing new Zelda games in their hands.
Personally, I highly doubt the Revolution will launch in Spring 2006 thus coinciding with TP, but you guys have some damn convincing points.
Well, while I originally thought "Hey. they might be right -- It will help Revolution sales if it launched around the same time," now I'm thinking otherwise. Sure they might say "Hey why not buy a Revolution with my Zelda game" but that shouldn't be their key selling point.
However, since Sony has announced they were at least at one point planning to launch the PS3 in Spring, Twilight Princess would definitely be a good clash with THAT console.
As someone already mentioned, there are definitely some ups and downs with this. Personally, I'll be pissed off no matter what anyone says, because I really thought this was an awesome start to the next-gen console war -- A clash with the 360 and Nintendo with a much better grip on the market. Now we have to wait until March -- and even then, how can we be absolutely sure that they won't push it back again?
*Sigh* I don't konw what to think. I still trust Nintendo with their decision -- it's clear they didn't have a choice, so I'm not blaming them, but.. It's just really disappointing.
Now I'm confused about the Revolution. If a GameCube game this big was pushed back, won't the Revolution be pushed back too? Well, not necessarily, I guess...
Quite frankly, I'm just sick of waiting. The least they could do now is give us some more hints (or perhaps reveal) the Revolution so that we have something to talk and get excited about during the 8 month wait.
Cheers. Here's to 8 months in waiting.
But then.. Hey, maybe this was a false article?
Jake Fry @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
This is pathetic. Nintendo delays a game and now everybody is saying "Revolution will fail and Nintendo will go out of business for doing this".
Quit your jackass whining, its a delayed game, that means it will be better than if it werent. When Bungie continuously delayed halo 2, did you guys say "Xbox sucks now, they should go out of business", or does it look like the delays realy hurt? Would you have rather they put the game out a year earlier with much crappier quality?
I'm dissappointed and pissed about the delay. That game was going to own '05. Now we have to go through another E3 and probably longer to get our hands on that game. Notice how it says "sometime after march 31". That doesnt mean its launching on April Fools Day, they just gave us a time frame of sometime between April-December that the game could launch in. It pisses me off we have to wait that much longer for a game I was 100% anticipating to launch in November, but if its going to be delayed for that long, they're going to really be improving on it.
And get used to the delays, the next gen will be full of them.
Bryan @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Oh and anywhere I said "March" - I should have said April, since it will be out after March 31st 2006.
I still want to see the freaking controller.
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
JamesP: "What they have done is alienated anyone on the fence about buying a 360, such as me."
I don't think so. I mean, c'mon. You want to buy an Xbox 360, and that's okaaaaay. Don't say Nintendo's pushing you into the arms of Mircosoft. I don't really see why a single game would be a deterrent from buying a whole other SYSTEM. You finish a game like that in 24 or whatever hours, and then what?
For as many who say this is awful and they'll be buying an Xbox 360 or will be "knee deep in Halo 3" because of this, there are those, if not more, who will wait for a well-polished game like Twilight Princess.
I also don't see Nintendo dying out in the next round of consoles. There are many out there who appreciate their way of thinking, as with Apple computers. You don't need to be first to be great, or have a high quality product. A lot of people apparently really want Nintendo to fall. I'll never understand that. Talk about biting the hand that fed you. As much as I don't care much for Microsoft or Sony, I can't say I really want them to fail. I just buy Nintendo (and Apple).
Jake Fry @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
In my last post, I meant GDC, not E3, thats in May [hits self in head with hammer for being such an idiot].
So anyways, go to (hope I can say this) a site that rhymes with My-Bee-Em to see 7 brand new, un-freakin-believable screenshots of the game. Seriously, I thought 2 of them were screenshots from Age of Empires 3, they are so awesome and show how promising this game will be with an extra 8 or so months.
But IGN brings up good points. Nintendo has no killer holiday title and the 360 will have much less competition due to this. Now, I think its safe to say RE4 will be game of the year for 05. But to quell dissappointed fans over, Nintendo should give out demo discs or something of the game this holiday season, anything to cheer us up.
Trust me though, the sweetness of having a game come out months earlier is nothing compared to the bitterness of having a game that could have been made much better.
If only they would have began production a year earlier, it would be out this holiday season.
Pretty Obvious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Its stuff like this that pushed me away from Nintendo. Owning a GC was the worst decision I made concerning consoles. At first this guy says his new Zelda will be on par with next gen titles released (which is a load of bs) then he delays it well passed the release of the 360 to the launch of the PS3.
Nintendo seems to be on their own schedule, have they ever heard of a word called competition? What else does the cube have this year?..... Nothing.
I honestly dont understand Nintendos fan base, they are fed garbage and lies and lap it all up like some starved junkyard dogs. Nintendo thinks its Zelda title is good enough to compete with the onslaught of next gen systems, they think its Revolutionary controller is so amazing that they dont have to give any information to gain hype while the 360 and PS3 images are floating all over the place. Go head Nintendo, keep it up.
Ive said it before and I'll say it again, Nintendo's going down. Its only a matter of time.
Zell @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Pretty Obvious: "I honestly dont understand Nintendos fan base, they are fed garbage and lies and lap it all up like some starved junkyard dogs."
What lies though? I think it's hilarious people get all upset at Nintendo because they feel they're not being aggressive, or competitive enough. They've been around, what, a hundred years or so? I think they have a good idea what they're doing. They don't feel they have to slaughter the competition or hype their products up, only to have something much less when the dust settles. If anything, I find Nintendo to be quite modest.
imark @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
this is oddly familiar to the last Zelda game release. They show off this awesome "new Zelda" game & everyone freaks out & wants it immensely. Then they scrap it months later only to give your Saturday Morning Sailing with Mini Link & the Cel-Shaded crew. Could they be scraping everything they have already to make a totally different Zelda than they showed? Im gona go with more than likely. Will it be like WindWaker? Lets hope not. Wether it would have been done or not by Holiday time shouldnt even be an issues. Nintendo needs to sell software & this would sell regardless of the games completed state.
Hell the demo from E3 would sell like hot cakes if they put it out. so to me its pretty obvious that Nintendo just doesnt care about reality at all or much about anyone that plans to give their company money. They are Nintendo they have been around since the dawn of time. Who on earth could ever shatter their Empire? Besides the fact that its already been crushed 10 years ago. They just dont care & why should we?
b @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
"I honestly dont understand Nintendos fan base, they are fed garbage and lies and lap it all up like some starved junkyard dogs."
There are a ton of great gamecube games, they don't have to be new for you to buy them. Unless of course, you have them all. But if you have them all, you must love nintendo. But then again, you don't love nintendo, so there are still quite a few games for you to buy and wait till Zelda comes out. If you don't want Zelda (or Nintendo for that matter), then why did you buy a GC, you big putz? Nintendo is not for the typical guy that plays sports, and games that only their friends would buy, like the should be tired genre of First Person Shooters or Sports Games. Anything original for other consoles yet? Oh, and by the way: Go to gamestats.com. The best games of all times are nintendo's (still), and the best is OoT. The most wanted game upcoming game for months still, is TP, and it's the most popular.
(Gamestats is an authority in this more than any other.... It gathers info. from every other authority in videogame news... and it belongs to ign)
JamesP @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
#42: What awsome new zelda? Are you reffering to the DEMO they showed at Space world? The wind waker wasn't bad, in fact i think it was the best game of 2003, even though it wasn't the second coming. If they want more time to make something let them. They are not going to scrap anything because its nearly completed in the game mechanics department. And i think nintendo cares quite a bit because this certinly wouldn't have been done without good reason. If anyone doesn't care its sony's reps with the: "It will be so good people will work extra hard to get one." mentality.
FreeStyleKick @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
I don't know if anybody mentioned this yet but I think Nintendo just getting ready to counter really the launch of PS3.
They don't see the Xbox-360 as strong enough competition for them(2% of Japanese gamers will consider getting it). I mean they've publicly stated that Sony is the one they are gunning for and a strong launch of the Revolution as well as the ultimate candidate for "game of the year" will move mounds of hardware for 'em.
What games can possibly be looking forward to on the next-gen consoles other than Zelda and Smash Bros. Online? For me at least 1st generation titles usually suck...
So I think this is a really smart move on their part from a business standpoint. They already have a whole bunch of games for the DS and a few 1st party titles. It's not time to steal away any of the other thunder from their other games but rather prepare for the biggest launch they can in 2006.
Zachary @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
This is truly disappointing, Nintendo had better give us something big tomorrow!
Zack @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Despite being a huge Zelda fan, I really don't care. As long as the game is going to be bigger and better than it was originally intended to be, I can deal with a few months. With luck, the new content will make it better than OoT was. I think its the quality of the game that really matters, and a few months isn't going to hurt that.
jamin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
Nintendo just put a nail in there own coffin. What other game coming out for the GameCube is anyone looking foward to this holiday season or for the rest of the GameCubes life for that matter. If TP is delayed until April 06 I would rather see it published on the Revolution. Because at this rate I wont get a Zelda on the Revolution until sometime in 2009 give me a break. Your breaking my heart Nintendo.
Ben @ Dec 18th 2005 9:36PM
#46 there are a lot of games that im getting this holiday season like Giest, Battalion Wars and Fire Emblem. but yeah TP would have made this line up complete but nintendo delayed ocarina of time and look at that one of the greatest games of all time
and for all those who say this is a terrible buisness decision just read #45 (hes right)