Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda franchise, recently discussed the potential for Princess Zelda to become a playable character in a mainline game.
While Zelda’s significance in various titles has fluctuated, she has seldom been playable, with Link traditionally taking the lead as the hero throughout the series. Despite occasional instances where she’s an equal partner to Link, Zelda remains primarily a non-playable character in most games, including the Tears of the Kingdom installment.
Speculation circulated prior to the release of Tears of the Kingdom, especially regarding Zelda’s potential role as a playable character, which ultimately didn’t materialize. However, Zelda maintains her own intricate storyline separate from Link, contributing significantly to the overall narrative. When asked about the possibility of another incarnation of Zelda becoming playable, Aonuma acknowledged that it might be a prospect for the future.
In a pre-Game Awards 2023 interview with IGN, Aonuma touched on Zelda’s role in Tears of the Kingdom and the potential for her character’s evolution. Despite the series being named The Legend of Zelda, he acknowledged Link’s longstanding position as the central character but hinted at the potential to expand Zelda’s role. “I believe there’s always room to consider such possibilities regarding Zelda’s role. It’s something that might happen in the future,” Aonuma expressed.
However, it’s essential to note that Aonuma’s response might not be definitive. Following the translation of his statement, he quickly added “Maybe. Maybe, maybe,” in English. While spin-off games like Hyrule Warriors, Super Smash Bros., and Cadence of Hyrule have featured a playable Zelda, these titles are considered non-canon. The closest instance in a mainline game involved Spirit Tracks, where players controlled Zelda’s spirit to aid Link in his quest.
In addition to discussing Zelda’s potential as a playable character, questions arose about Zelda’s role in the endgame and the nature of her relationship with Link in Tears of the Kingdom. Aonuma remained neutral on whether there were romantic elements between Zelda and Link, leaving the interpretation open to players.