Nintendo Direct Unveils Extensive Celebrations for The Legend of Zelda 30th Anniversary

Nintendo has officially detailed its robust plans to celebrate The Legend of Zelda’s 30th anniversary, as disclosed in this morning’s Nintendo Direct presentation.

The global gaming icon is marking three decades of adventure with a lineup of commemorations that spans new releases, exclusive amiibo figures, downloadable content, and collector’s memorabilia—all designed to engage the diverse Zelda fanbase through the end of the year. One of the standout announcements is the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword on the Wii U.

Originally released for the Wii, this acclaimed entry is now available as a digitally downloadable port via the Wii U Virtual Console, making its debut today on the eShop.

This release expands access for fans eager to experience or revisit Link’s skyward quest with improved accessibility on current Nintendo hardware. In tandem with the anniversary, Nintendo is also launching four brand new Zelda-themed amiibo figures.

The series includes an 8-Bit Link, a rendition of Link from Ocarina of Time, and a special two-pack featuring Toon Link and Toon Zelda styled after The Wind Waker.

According to Nintendo, these amiibo will offer unique in-game functionality in the hotly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, set for release the following year.

Existing figures of Link, Toon Link, and Zelda from the Super Smash Bros.

amiibo series will also retain their compatibility. Fans of Hyrule Warriors Legends on Nintendo 3DS can look forward to the third DLC pack, which introduces fresh content to the action-strategy game.

This add-on features a new playable character, a fresh battle map, and an exclusive weapon for Link, further enriching the game’s content library and highlighting Nintendo’s ongoing support for its portable platforms. In a nod to classic gaming, the NES Classic Edition—which launches in North America on November 11, 2016—will include the original The Legend of Zelda among its curated selection of 30 pre-installed titles.

This retro console offers newcomers and longtime fans alike an opportunity to rediscover the origins of one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises. To commemorate the artistic legacy of the series, Nintendo revealed further details about the "Legend of Zelda: Art & Artifacts" collectors book, published in partnership with Dark Horse.

The revered collection boasts over 2,000 pieces of official artwork, spanning the history of the franchise—a substantial offering for fans and archivists interested in the creative evolution of Hyrule’s iconic characters and vistas. Through these activations, Nintendo underscores both the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the Legend of Zelda series across multiple generations of hardware, cementing its legacy both on the Nintendo Switch and other platforms.

With the coordinated roll-out of digital titles, physical collectibles, and archival projects, the anniversary campaign invites fans to honor Zelda’s storied past while anticipating its innovative future.

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