The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Korok Seed Reward Explained by Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild remains one of the most critically acclaimed titles in Nintendo’s celebrated franchise, lauded for its expansive open world and inventive gameplay mechanics.

Released in March 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U, Breath of the Wild revitalized the long-running Zelda series by offering players unprecedented freedom to explore the vast kingdom of Hyrule.

Among the many quests and collectibles available, collecting Korok Seeds stands as one of the game’s most time-consuming challenges. Scattered throughout Hyrule, there are a staggering 900 Korok Seeds for players to discover.

These items, found by solving environmental puzzles or locating hidden Korok characters, allow players to expand their inventory slots—essential for carrying additional weapons, shields, and bows.

However, locating every single seed requires significant dedication, meticulous exploration, and the willingness to spend dozens—if not hundreds—of hours combing every corner of the sprawling landscape. Players who succeed in this monumental feat are met with a reward that has become a topic of discussion within the gaming community.

The prize, a quirky item known as Hestu’s Gift, is not positioned as a powerful tool for gameplay but rather as a humorous nod from the development team.

In a recent interview with IGN, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, director of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, shed light on the intention behind the infamous Korok Seed reward.

Fujibayashi explained that the team deliberately designed the prize as an inside joke: the Korok seeds represent the droppings of the Koroks, adding a playful narrative thread throughout the game. "We thought it would be amusing to make the final Korok Seed reward a big joke," Fujibayashi stated, clarifying that Hestu’s Gift was always meant to be a tongue-in-cheek payoff after an epic scavenger hunt.

This approach highlights Nintendo’s willingness to blend humor and charm with their acclaimed game design, endearing the Zelda series even further to longtime fans. Since its launch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has achieved impressive sales milestones, with over 30 million copies sold as of 2023, making it one of the best-selling titles on the Nintendo Switch.

Its influence can be seen in subsequent titles, and its success has solidified its legacy as a cornerstone for both the Switch and the broader action-adventure genre.

Nintendo’s commitment to innovative gameplay and memorable experiences is epitomized by creative touches like the Korok Seed quest and its tongue-in-cheek conclusion. With Breath of the Wild available on the Nintendo Switch via cartridge and the eShop, new and returning players continue to explore its vast world, confront epic challenges, and uncover the game’s many secrets—whether for practical rewards or for the joy of shared in-jokes from developers like Hidemaro Fujibayashi.

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