Zelda producer calls linear games a blast from the past

The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has referred to linear games as a relic of the past, indicating a probable move away from traditional linear Zelda games towards open-world structures like those seen in Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom. While some fans have expressed a desire for a return to the series' more traditional, linear gameplay, Aonuma questions why they would want to go back to a more limited style of gaming. He acknowledges the increase in development costs associated with creating open-world games but also understands the nostalgic appeal of the older titles. Despite the fondness for nostalgia, it seems that Nintendo is not planning a return to the past with Zelda, focusing instead on the freedoms offered by modern game design. Tears of the Kingdom was released to high praise, with Ron Vorstermans from Gamer.nl rating it highly for its expansive and inventive gameplay.

Based on Eiji Aonuma's comments, it appears unlikely that Nintendo will develop a new linear Zelda game in the near future, as the company seems to prefer the open-world model that allows for more player freedom.