While companies like PlayStation have long incorporated achievement and trophy systems that motivate players, the big N had stayed away from these features, resisting the multiple requests from its loyal followers. Until now…
Why only for Zelda?
With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch 2, it was rumored that Nintendo might be changing its stance. However, the company’s vice president, Bill Trinen, has confirmed that there will be no standard achievement system for this new console, reaffirming its different approach compared to its competitors. This achievement system will be limited exclusively to the Zelda editions on the new console.
To access these achievements, players will need to download a specific mobile application. This application will not only serve to record achievements and statistics, but it will also include game guides and a competition system among friends and other players. Fans will be able to check statistics on collectibles and complete tasks that will grant points, providing a new incentive to explore the worlds of Hyrule in depth.
The implementation of achievements in just two Zelda titles and through a mobile application seems to be more of an exception than a new general policy for Nintendo. This decision may leave some fans disappointed, as they were hoping for a broader change in the way the company interacts with its gaming community. Nevertheless, the changes in Zelda represent a small victory for those who have called for a more extensive achievement system within Nintendo’s ecosystem.