Released on March 3, 2017, Breath of the Wild was a launch game for the Nintendo Switch and the final Nintendo-published game for the Wii U. The game was originally planned for release in 2015 as a Wii U exclusive but was delayed twice. Monolith Soft, known for their work on the open world Xenoblade Chronicles series, assisted in designing landscapes and topography. Wanting to rethink the conventions of the series, Nintendo introduced elements such as an open world and a detailed physics engine. The world is unstructured and designed to encourage exploration and experimentation, and the main story quest can be completed in a nonlinear fashion.ĭevelopment of Breath of the Wild took place over five years, following the responses from some fans who wanted a larger game world in the series. Tasks include collecting various items and gear to aid in objectives such as puzzle-solving or side quests. Similar to the original 1986 The Legend of Zelda game, players are given little instruction and can explore the world freely. The player controls Link, who awakens from a hundred-year slumber to defeat Calamity Ganon and save the kingdom of Hyrule. Breath of the Wild is the nineteenth installment of The Legend of Zelda franchise and is set at the end of the Zelda timeline. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles.