'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity' Turns the Clock Back 100 Years

When the Nintendo Switch first hit shelves in 2017, one of the only games available to play was Breath of the Wild. The new and expansive world created in the game instantly hooked players, and many of the early Switch owners found themselves immersed in the 60-hour storyline.

But now Nintendo has promised us a new game that will take us back to Hyrule — 100 years in the past. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity lets the player go back to Hyrule before the events in Breath of the Wild.

Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma shared the news in a new video from Nintendo, showcasing the new game available for pre-order.

"Join the struggle that brought Hyrule to its knees," the game's description reads. "Learn more about Zelda, the four Champions, the King of Hyrule, and more through dramatic cutscenes as they try to save the kingdom from Calamity. Play the Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity game to see firsthand what happened 100 years ago."

Lucky for you, Hyrule Warriors is already available for pre-order. With a release date of Nov. 20, we're already counting down the days until this new Zelda tale is available. You can pre-order the digital copy of this game on the Nintendo e-shop for $59.99 USD. Those who choose to pre-order the digital version will receive a Lucky Ladle as a thank you gift.

Pre-orders for a physical copy aren't yet available, though keep an eye on your local retailer for updates.

In the teaser trailer for the new game, the Zelda development team shared that Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will feature the same art style from Breath of the Wild, allowing players to immediately be transported to the realm of Hyrule. And in going back 100 years, players will also be able to play as more than Link.

That's right, this new game will feature gameplay options for Zelda and the four Champions, offering different skills with each character as players approach the Great Calamity.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will also feature a local co-op play mode. Players can team up to fight Ganon, solve puzzles, and complete objectives. As Breath of the Wild didn't have a co-op mode, this is one of the first Zelda games on the Switch that will have that capability. 

During a Nintendo Direct in June 2019, the franchise's developers revealed that they were working on a second Breath of the Wild game, exploring what happens after the original Breath of the Wild. But while we've all been waiting very patiently for any news about a potential release date, Eiji said in the Hyrule Warriors announcement, "You'll have to wait a bit longer before we can provide more updates."

"In order to make the vast world you enjoyed exploring in the original game even more impressive, the team is working hard on its development," Eiji said, explaining the delay.

Breath of the Wild 2 is still expected to come to the Nintendo Switch, though it may be another year before we see an official trailer or receive any news on a potential release date.