When you think about it, Breath of the Wild was a Wii U project
As we’ve intimated in the past, it’s going to be a while before we find out any information regarding the next Zelda.
Typically we’d see a 3DS entry in-between major console drops but with the 3DS waning we really don’t know what Nintendo has planned for the future. A new portable? A Switch 2.0? It could go either way at this point, even if high sales are pointing toward the latter.
Either way, Zeldaproducer/princeEiji Aonuma has further spoken on the future of the series, stating that “the next Zeldawill possibly be released on Switch,” and that “Breath of the Wildhasn’t used every feature on Switch yet,” so there’s room for experimentation and expansion.
Zelda might be a cash cow for Nintendo but a lot of work goes into each console entry in particular, so they’re probably taking their time to refine the Breath of the Wildformula in an attempt to lightning strike the same spot twice. Development for the next game in the series began after Breath of the Wild, but its rip-roaring worldwide success will no doubt influence its future direction.
Zelda [T011.org via Nintendo Life]