Following the tremendous impact of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, anticipation was high for Nintendo’s next big move.
That momentum has carried directly into Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the latest collaborative effort between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo for the Nintendo Switch.
This new musou title brings fresh action to the legendary franchise, with a story set during the profound events of the Imprisoning War—a central era in Zelda lore. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment’s origins trace back to a pivotal post-launch period for Tears of the Kingdom.
In a recent interview with 4Gamer—made available in English by Nintendo Everything—key figures from both companies shared insight into the game’s inception.
Eiji Aonuma, a prominent Nintendo developer and steward of the Zelda franchise, explained that there was mutual interest in expanding the world of Tears of the Kingdom.
Speaking to director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Aonuma suggested that Nintendo should refrain from being the first to propose a new Warriors game, believing Koei Tecmo would reach out independently.
True to expectations, Koei Tecmo expressed interest almost immediately following the release of Tears of the Kingdom. Yosuke Hayashi, renowned producer at Koei Tecmo, recounted his experience playing Tears of the Kingdom during its launch weekend.
According to Hayashi, the narrative and atmosphere of the game felt like a clear inspiration: "It seemed as if the game was signaling us to create a Warriors title set in the time of the Imprisoning War," he reflected.
Inspired by this sentiment, Hayashi initiated a discussion with Ryota Matsushita, a key collaborator at Koei Tecmo, about developing a new Warriors entry.
Coincidentally, Matsushita had already begun outlining ideas prior to their conversation, recognizing that the foundations for a new Warriors game were evident throughout the latest Zelda adventure. Aonuma further elaborated on the creative alignment between the teams: during development of Tears of the Kingdom, Fujibayashi had fleshed out detailed lore surrounding the Imprisoning War.
Upon project completion, Fujibayashi suggested they consider approaching Koei Tecmo, but Aonuma favored waiting—confident Koei Tecmo’s passion would bring them back to the table.
That intuition proved well-founded, as the collaboration was rekindled without delay. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has since achieved critical acclaim, launching exclusively for the Nintendo Switch and earning high praise from both critics and fans.
The game secured a 9/10 in multiple reviews, lauded for balancing narrative-driven storytelling with dynamic, in-depth combat—an evolution on lessons learned from previous Hyrule Warriors titles, including Age of Calamity.
This latest release stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo, highlighting both companies’ ability to expand on The Legend of Zelda’s universe and deliver fresh gameplay experiences on the Nintendo Switch.
With a blend of rich story development, fan-favorite action mechanics, and strong sales performance, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment reinforces the significant role that third-party collaborations and innovative sequels hold in the Nintendo Switch library.
That momentum has carried directly into Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, the latest collaborative effort between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo for the Nintendo Switch.
This new musou title brings fresh action to the legendary franchise, with a story set during the profound events of the Imprisoning War—a central era in Zelda lore. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment’s origins trace back to a pivotal post-launch period for Tears of the Kingdom.
In a recent interview with 4Gamer—made available in English by Nintendo Everything—key figures from both companies shared insight into the game’s inception.
Eiji Aonuma, a prominent Nintendo developer and steward of the Zelda franchise, explained that there was mutual interest in expanding the world of Tears of the Kingdom.
Speaking to director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Aonuma suggested that Nintendo should refrain from being the first to propose a new Warriors game, believing Koei Tecmo would reach out independently.
True to expectations, Koei Tecmo expressed interest almost immediately following the release of Tears of the Kingdom. Yosuke Hayashi, renowned producer at Koei Tecmo, recounted his experience playing Tears of the Kingdom during its launch weekend.
According to Hayashi, the narrative and atmosphere of the game felt like a clear inspiration: "It seemed as if the game was signaling us to create a Warriors title set in the time of the Imprisoning War," he reflected.
Inspired by this sentiment, Hayashi initiated a discussion with Ryota Matsushita, a key collaborator at Koei Tecmo, about developing a new Warriors entry.
Coincidentally, Matsushita had already begun outlining ideas prior to their conversation, recognizing that the foundations for a new Warriors game were evident throughout the latest Zelda adventure. Aonuma further elaborated on the creative alignment between the teams: during development of Tears of the Kingdom, Fujibayashi had fleshed out detailed lore surrounding the Imprisoning War.
Upon project completion, Fujibayashi suggested they consider approaching Koei Tecmo, but Aonuma favored waiting—confident Koei Tecmo’s passion would bring them back to the table.
That intuition proved well-founded, as the collaboration was rekindled without delay. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment has since achieved critical acclaim, launching exclusively for the Nintendo Switch and earning high praise from both critics and fans.
The game secured a 9/10 in multiple reviews, lauded for balancing narrative-driven storytelling with dynamic, in-depth combat—an evolution on lessons learned from previous Hyrule Warriors titles, including Age of Calamity.
This latest release stands as a testament to the enduring partnership between Nintendo and Koei Tecmo, highlighting both companies’ ability to expand on The Legend of Zelda’s universe and deliver fresh gameplay experiences on the Nintendo Switch.
With a blend of rich story development, fan-favorite action mechanics, and strong sales performance, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment reinforces the significant role that third-party collaborations and innovative sequels hold in the Nintendo Switch library.
