Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Silence isn’t the End—It’s the Calm Before Nintendo’s Big Reveal

Fans of The Legend of Zelda shouldn't worry that February 21 has passed without any big news. This year, the series turned 40, which means it's been 40 years since the first game came out in Japan on February 21, 1986. But when the date passed without a fuss, some parts of the internet said right away that Nintendo had forgotten about one of its most popular games.

Nintendo has almost never, if ever, announced a Zelda anniversary on the anniversary date itself. The company has skipped milestone events in the past, so skipping February 21 is an easy choice. Instead of being a sign of neglect, the silence is probably part of a well-thought-out marketing plan that avoids conflicts with other big Nintendo franchises.

If you look at past anniversaries, it's clear that Nintendo plans ahead when it comes to Zelda.

One good example is the 25th anniversary in 2011. Nintendo didn't officially recognize the anniversary until after February 21, even though that year was marked by a huge party that included concerts, merchandise, and the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The first time it was talked about officially was at the Game Developers Conference at the end of February.

Then there was big news in the summer, and the holiday launch of Skyward Sword was the highlight of the party. The schedule for the 30th anniversary in 2016 was the same. Even though February was quiet, the year wasn't at all dull. Nintendo showed off the first full gaming demo of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at E3 2016, which was a big moment for the series.

In the summer and fall of that year, the Zelda artbook Art & Artifacts came out, Skyward Sword came out for the Wii U Virtual Console, and events around the world were held to celebrate the game's 30th anniversary. The 35th anniversary in 2021 made this method even stronger. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD was announced in a Nintendo Direct in February, just a few days before February 21.

Nintendo didn't make it clear that the news was part of the anniversary, which is interesting. The party didn't get bigger until E3 2021 in June, when more games were shown and the follow-up to Breath of the Wild, which was later named The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was announced.

In every case, it's clear that Nintendo celebrates important Zelda accomplishments on its own timetable.

When you look at Nintendo's bigger schedule, that plan makes even more sense. There are also big events this year for other brands. Pokémon is getting a lot of attention because it is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and Nintendo has been promoting its new games. After the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie, there have been ongoing ads involving Mario. Cross-media synergy is still at play.

Starting a huge Zelda effort at the same time would make things less interesting. Nintendo has always spread out its parties to make them more powerful. Even though there hasn't been an announcement yet, a lot of work is already being done on projects connected to Zelda. One thing is that Nintendo has announced that a LEGO set based on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will come out in March. That alone shows that the business hasn't forgotten about the important year.

There is also a live-action Zelda movie being made right now that will come out next year. If Nintendo uses the same marketing approach for Zelda as they did for Mario, the first trailer and marketing push for the movie could start later this year, which could fit right in with the 40th anniversary celebrations.

There will probably also be concerts. On both the 25th and 30th birthdays, symphony concerts honored Zelda's famous music. Given how well-known the franchise's music is, it would be strange if 2026 went by without something similar happening.

There is a lot of talk about possible remakes and expansions in the game world. One source who had previously hinted at news like Xenoblade Chronicles X's Switch 2 version has now teased a Zelda remake in a very vague way. There are fans who want a full remake of Ocarina of Time and fans who think a remastered 2D game like the Oracle games could come out sooner as part of the anniversary plan.

At the same time, DLC expansions or extra material for new Zelda-related games are still being considered. Nintendo has used anniversary years in the past to both honor the past and hint at what's to come.

History shows that Nintendo will at least show off what's coming next, even if the next big 3D Zelda game isn't ready yet.

Fans got a lot of information about Breath of the Wild during the 30th anniversary year, even though it came out later. The 35th anniversary brought an early look at Tears of the Kingdom. During the 25th anniversary period, Nintendo famously showed off how Zelda would look on the Wii U hardware, which was still in development at the time.

Years that mark anniversaries are often more than just occasions to celebrate. So, the current lack of noise shouldn't be taken as a sign of inaction. It fits right in with Nintendo's current plan, if anything. Direct presentations in the summer, marketing efforts in the fall, and holiday release windows have always been the real stages for Zelda milestones. This means that you need to be patient.

One thing is for sure: Nintendo has marked Zelda every five years like clockwork. It's still unclear whether 2026 will bring a smaller-scale remake, a DLC expansion, a concert series, or even a teaser for the next big 3D adventure. There was important recognition for the 25th, 30th, and 35th anniversaries.

There isn't much reason to think that the 40th will be different.

For people who are worried about what happened in February, the lesson is easy to understand. Nintendo is still thinking about The Legend of Zelda. From what we know about the past, the real party is just waiting for the right time.