The Legend of Zelda for the Wii U faces an uncertain release date, as it has been delayed yet again. Nintendo previously announced that the game would be ready by 2015. This changed suddenly when the launch schedule was pushed back to 2016. Even so, other sources claim that Zelda fans will need to wait a lot longer than officially stated.

Is Nintendo Holding Back Zelda for NX?

Recently, Hardcore Gamer proposed the theory that the new Zelda is being delayed until the release of the next-gen console NX. Bear in mind that the title NX is a codename that can be changed at any time. The publication also pointed out that the Wii U did not sell as successfully as the Xbox One and PS4. This is despite the fact Nintendo sold more than 10 million Wii U units.

If the NX-related rumor is true, there is no telling when Nintendo intends to release the next Zelda installment.

Zelda Not Showing Up to E3 2015

On March 27, Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma broke the news regarding the release date postponement.

"In these last three months, as the team has experienced firsthand the freedom of exploration that hasn't existed in any Zelda game to date, we have discovered several new possibilities for this game," Aonuma said in a video posted on YouTube. "As we have worked to turn these possibilities into reality, new ideas have continued to spring forth, it now feels like we have the potential to create something that exceeds even my own expectations."

"As I have watched our development progress," he added, " I have come to think that rather than work with meeting a specific schedule as our main objective, and releasing a game that reflects only what we can create within that scheduled time, I feel strongly that our focus should be to bring all these ideas to life in a way that will make The Legend of Zelda on Wii U the best game it can possibly be."

Aonuma proceeded to apologize to fans before saying that his team was "no longer making a 2015 release" a top priority.

On the same day, Nintendo USA confirmed that The Legend of Zelda will not be featured at E3 2015. This was stated in a tweet urging fans to be patient. A number of disappointed fans expressed annoyance at the news.

Nintendo has been developing The Legend of Zelda since 2013. However, the first demo was not revealed until E3 2014. Later that year, Nintendo promised to launch the title in 2015. The launch date has once again been delayed.