Why BOTW 2 Wasn't At Nintendo's February 2022 Direct

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While plenty of news was packed into the February 2022 Nintendo Direct, there was no sign of the heavily anticipated sequel The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. While many weren't surprised with the lack of updates near the end of 2021, as Nintendo was building excitement for the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, there was hope the release of the Pokémon game would segue into more information about the Zelda sequel, which is releasing some time in 2022. However, its absence from the Nintendo Direct stream could point toward several potential outcomes for the upcoming months.

The Legends of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 was first announced at E3 2019, but outside of a few teaser trailers, Nintendo has been largely silent about the project. It has been revealed that evil once again threatens Hyrule and that the game will use new features not included in Breath of the Wild, but other details, like where on the timeline the game will sit, remain unconfirmed. Currently, Breath of the Wild 2's release date is set for 2022, but no confirmed month or set date has been announced.

Related: BOTW 2 Should Be The Middle Part Of A Full Zelda Trilogy

The lack of announcements for The Legends of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 at the February Nintendo Direct isn't necessarily a sign that the game's release date for 2022 could be at risk. It is possible the developer could take a route similar to how Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were handled during 2021, where Nintendo put on a Pokémon-specific Direct. A Zelda Direct could showcase longer clips of teaser gameplay, give in-depth detail about new mechanics and where the game could go after Breath of the Wild, and tease narrative that has currently remained a mystery for