As many recall, the official title was withheld until remarkably close to launch, a decision that now makes perfect sense.
According to an official artbook released recently for Nintendo’s open-world action-adventure game, it has been revealed that the game’s original name was supposed to be The Legend of Zelda: Age of Exploration.
According to an e-book by sequence producer Eiji Aonuma, the game’s title underwent a change even in its later stages of development; initially, it was supposed to be titled although this name posed concerns for the event team as it explicitly referenced a crucial storyline revelation.
The revelation that Zelda’s true identity as the Mild Dragon posed significant implications for the title, ultimately influencing its direction. Among the numerous contenders vying for the prestigious title, one candidate stood out and managed to cross the finish line.
While avoiding the phrase ‘Dragon’ in the title may seem appealing, it’s essential to acknowledge that incorporating dragon patterns into the brand will ultimately be a crucial element of our strategy. Despite everything, they would still find a way to highlight the Mild Dragon’s resilience. But despite our best efforts, nothing seemed to spark new ideas, leaving us with a sense of stagnation and no clear direction to move forward.
We navigated through numerous options before a staff member suggested, ‘What about Kingdom?’ As our brand’s essence seemed to harmonize perfectly with that of the gentle dragon, we considered integrating dragons into our identity. As the title was finally settled, the brand transformed into its current form.
Prior to the game’s launch, Nintendo expressed hesitation in revealing its title, citing concerns that it might inadvertently provide subtle hints about the storyline. Although the title doesn’t directly reference Princess Zelda’s fate in the game, it still subtly hints at her character’s narrative significance, albeit to a lesser extent than the original intended title.
While a sequel to the franchise is set to launch for the Nintendo Switch on September 26.
