Nintendo has shared its latest Creator’s Voice video for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, in which Koei Tecmo Games producer Ryota Matsushita and AAA Games studio head Yosuke Hayashi discuss developing the Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.
Developed by Koei Tecmo Games with support from Nintendo, the game will tell the untold story from Hyrule’s distant past of the Imprisoning War that led up to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
We have transcribed Ryota Matsushita and Yosuke Hayashi’s conversation below for you to have the chance to read through:
Ryota Matsushita: “Growing up, I hadn’t really thought about what I wanted to do for a living. I ended up in the games industry as a developer for a gaming company, and I think I stayed largely because I love video games and I’ve always enjoyed making things.”
Yosuke Hayashi: “I wanted to do what I loved for a living. Since games were what I enjoyed the most, I wanted to study something in college that I could use in game development. In a way, it felt like I was destined for this career. And I’ve been immersed in games ever since.
“This game takes place during the Imprisoning War, which is shown in fragments in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In this Hyrule Warriors game, you’ll see how the people contended with the threat of the original Ganondorf.
Matsushita: “As a story that you can only fully experience here, it doesn’t just depict the battles of the Imprisoning War via a Warriors game. It also shows life in the kingdom of Hyrule after Princess Zelda is sent back in time. You’ll also get to know the four masked sages from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. There are many other secrets hidden in this ancient world, so I highly recommend playing the game.
“For those playing a Warriors game for the first time, this title will allow players to experience the thrills of 1 vs. 1,000 battles and have the opportunity to play a major role in saving the world. Here, the game tells not only the history of the Imprisoning War, but also tells the player’s own story of how they fight in the war and save Hyrule. I hope you’ll experience this tale for yourself.”
Hayashi: “Common elements of the Hyrule Warriors games, such as wiping out hordes of enemies and finding creative ways to take on powerful bosses, have been refined and evolved even more on Nintendo Switch 2. One distinctive feature of this game is that each player can devise their own strategy, like combining items or teaming up with allies.”
Matsushita: “Nintendo Switch 2 has made it possible to include lots of enemies in our Warriors games. Not that just adding more enemies is a good thing, but it heavily contributes to the realism and excitement of the battlefield, which helped a ton.”
Hayashi: “At the same time, it was also important that you could play with higher frame rates than Nintendo Switch. We were able to achieve that with this game.”
Matsushita: “I believe that games can foster connections among people. Even if players live in different places or come from different backgrounds, they’ll be able to experience the same worlds and take on the same challenges, and sort of become companions embarking on the same trip together. That’s one of the best things about games.”
Hayashi: “Games are kind of like tools for sharing memories in that there are common experiences players have. For example, in The Legend of Zelda games, there are mechanics like: ‘here’s what you do if you find a cracked wall’ or ‘do this when Ganondorf summons a ball of energy.’ These experiences are shared by everyone as a common language, and that’s what makes them so appealing.
“I feel that Nintendo platforms are always expanding the definition of gamer. Being in the games industry, I initially had the impression that gamers were a rather niche, hardcore group of people. But over time, gamers have become more mainstream, and playing games is no longer an exclusive thing. Instead, we now live in a world where it’s common to play games every day. And as a longtime gamer, I’m excited how this will continue to grow with Nintendo Switch 2.”
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment will be released at retail and digitally on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch worldwide in Winter 2025.
