Why is Zelda's 35th Anniversary Smaller Than Mario's?

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The Legend of Zelda’s 35th Anniversary is. feeling a lot…smaller…than Mario’s big

anniversary last year.

In 2020, we got Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

We got Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury.

We got Mario Kart Live, and Super Mario 35.

We got a Mario Game & Watch.

We even got Mario Lego!

For Zelda, we’re getting…Skyward Sword. HD, plus a Zelda Game & Watch.

According to Eiji Aonuma, that’s all we. should expect.

He said:. “This year, the original Legend of Zelda

game reaches its 35th anniversary…We don’t. have any campaigns or other Nintendo Switch

games planned.”

So why isn’t Zelda getting the full Mario. treatment?

First things first, it’s entirely possible. that this video will age poorly.

While Aonuma didn’t have any other announcements. for us at E3, it’s worth noting that the

Mario 35 announcement didn’t come until. September.

We may yet see something else once Skyward. Sword HD has been released.

Some had been hoping for a Zelda All-Stars. collection.

There have been rumours, spread by journalists. such as Andy Robinson of Video Game Chronicle

and Jeff Grubb, of Venture Beat, that Nintendo. is planning re-releases for Twilight Princess

HD and Wind Waker HD.

When these weren’t announced, Grubb theorised:. “I think we're not getting WW/TP for Zelda

35th because Nintendo isn't sure if we'll. get BOTW 2 in 2022.

So if it needs a Zelda thing next summer/fall,. it's good to have that in reserve.”

It is true that Nintendo tries to put out. at least one Zelda game every year.

Re-releases, such as Skyward Sword HD, are. useful for filling in gaps between big, tentpole

releases, such as Breath of the Wild 2, which. take longer to finish.

It would make sense that Nintendo would essentially. want a back-up game, ready to fire out in

case their schedule is thrown off.

The company’s willingness to delay a Zelda. title if necessary is a big part of the reason

why the series is so beloved.

But what of the merchandise?

Why is there no Zelda Kart Live, or Zelda. Lego?

Well, in our desperate attempts to appease. our Zelda-obsessed daughter’s desire for

Zelda merch, we’ve noticed a trend.

Nintendo treats the Mario and Zelda franchises. very differently, likely due to such different

audiences.

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Now, where was I?

Oh yes – Mario vs Zelda.

Mario games, including all spin-off, have. sold 800 million units worldwide, making it

the biggest video game franchise in terms. of sales.

All Mario games are aimed at a family-friendly. audience.

They can be enjoyed by grown-ups, but they. can also be enjoyed by children.

However, not every Mario fan will buy every. Mario game, or piece of merchandise.

A fan of Mario Kart won’t necessarily rush. out to buy the new Mario Golf.

The fandom is broad, but also shallow.

So, Nintendo uses the scattergun approach,. firing out a lot of merchandise at a low price

point.

The better to entice children and their parents. to spend on action figures, Lego sets, and

clothing ranges.

These different products appeal to different. sections of the Mario fanbase.

In contrast to this, the Zelda fandom is a. lot smaller.

Zelda games have only sold 117 million units. worldwide.

But, there the Zelda fandom is narrower, it’s. also more dedicated, with deeper pockets.

With a few exceptions, Zelda games are aimed. at teenagers and adults, instead of kids – and

this is reflected in the merchandise.

There are very few Zelda Jakks Pacific action. figures, except for games like Wind Waker

with a more child-friendly art style.

Instead, Nintendo produces or licenses fewer. pieces of Zelda merch, but they’re generally

of a premium quality and price point.

There are so many Zelda amiibo.

Every possible version of Link from nearly. every game.

These figures are more expensive collectables. that appeal to the older consumers with deeper

pockets.

The latest piece of Zelda merch to be added. to the UK Nintendo store is a £90 statue

of Revali.

Nintendo doesn’t allow anything like this. to be made for Mario, instead sticking to

far cheaper pieces of merch (a few Lego sets. notwithstanding).

Hence why, for the Zelda anniversary, we’re. getting a more-expensive-than-usual Loftwing

amiibo.

Nintendo knows that Zelda fans will tolerate. the higher price.

The company’s still not producing enough. to meet demand, but that’s another issue

altogether.

Hence also why Mario gets 3-in-1 All Stars. packages for re-releases, while Zelda games

are released individually as HD remasters.

Nintendo knows that, with the right layer. of extra polish, fans will be willing to pay

a premium price for older games.

As Nintendo typically makes fewer, more expensive. Zelda products, we can see why they might

not want to give the Zelda brand the same. wide anniversary experience that Mario had.

But, hey.

That’s just a theory.

And, of course, there are plenty of other. factors at play here.

Work-from-home delays in 2020 that are impacting. the current line-up, the possibility of future

releases in 2022 depending on Breath of the. Wild 2’s development schedule.

There may even be another surprise yet to. be announced once Skyward Sword has been released.

For now, though, Nintendo is having a minimalist. Zelda anniversary.

A Marie Kondo Zelda anniversary, focusing. on things that will definitely spark joy for

every single Zelda fan, avoiding the clutter. that comes from having too many releases at

once.

And as for Metroid fans…well, at least there’s. Metroid Dread.

To be honest, that’s more than any of us. expected.