Hyrule Warriors is good fun, but once upon a time Nintendo reportedly thought it would hurt the international Zelda brand

The original Hyrule Warriors is a fun but not groundbreaking game, and Nintendo almost kept it Japan-exclusive due to concerns about its impact on the Zelda brand.

While most major Japanese games now make their way to the West, back when Hyrule Warriors was set to release, Nintendo of America was hesitant to bring it over, fearing it could harm the Zelda franchise. Former Nintendo employees Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang shared this insight on their podcast, the Kit & Krysta Podcast.

Ellis described Hyrule Warriors as “eye-opening at the time,” blending Zelda with the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors. Despite initial doubts at Nintendo of America, the game eventually made its way to the West, releasing on the Wii U in 2014.

Subsequently, Hyrule Warriors received ports to the 3DS and the Switch, with a follow-up game titled Age of Calamity in 2020. Despite initial concerns, these games have been well-received, showcasing the success of the decision to release the original game internationally.

As a fan, I hope Nintendo considers releasing other Japan-exclusive titles like the Zelda spinoff Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland in the future.