Hey, Daily Quest readers.
The Legend of Zelda turned 40 this weekend. Four whole decades since Link first graced our screens on the NES. That's a massive milestone for one of gaming's most beloved franchises — arguably Nintendo's biggest property after Mario. So naturally, Nintendo threw a huge celebration, right? Maybe a special announcement? A nostalgic trailer? Perhaps just a simple birthday tweet?
Nope. Nothing. Radio silence.
February 21 came and went without so much as a mention of Zelda from any official Nintendo account. Not even a "Happy Birthday" post on Nintendo Today — you know, the app that supposedly exists for exactly this kind of thing. So what did fans do? They took matters into their own hands and gave the series the celebration it deserved.
Fans Step Up Where Nintendo Didn't
Clearly, some fans saw this coming. Long before the anniversary even ended, the Zelda community was already flooding social media with tributes, memories, and stunning fan art.
Developer Maddy Kenyon shared a heartwarming photo of herself as a child surrounded by Zelda games, merch, and drawings from 26 years ago. She revealed that The Legend of Zelda was the game that inspired her to pursue a career in video game development. That's the kind of impact this series has had on people's lives — and Nintendo couldn't even tweet about it.
Zelda fan Christina Rose took a different approach, sharing a post detailing what inspired Shigeru Miyamoto to dream up the original game. She then celebrated by streaming the 1986 classic for her followers.
The Fan Art Was Absolutely Stunning
The creative side of the Zelda community showed up this weekend. Some of the standout pieces included:
- A striking image of Link standing over items from every game in the series
- A stunning sketch of the Master Sword
- An anniversary piece bringing together every version of Link Nintendo has created over the years
- My personal favorite: a pixel art take on Breath of the Wild showing Link standing before the Great Deku Tree
These artists poured their hearts into celebrating a franchise that clearly means the world to them — even if Nintendo couldn't be bothered to acknowledge it.
What Was Nintendo Doing Instead?
While Zelda fans were hosting their own party, Nintendo of America's Twitter account was busy focusing on Pokémon. The company announced that Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen are coming to Switch later this week, and there's also Pokémon Pokopia releasing soon. Mario Tennis Fever got some attention too.
But Link? The hero who's been saving Hyrule for 40 years? Completely ignored.
Some fans were hoping the anniversary might bring news of the rumored Twilight Princess and Wind Waker remasters — or maybe even an Ocarina of Time remake. Most kept their expectations in check though, hoping for at least a simple acknowledgment. They didn't even get that.
This Is Just How Nintendo Operates
As wild as this seems, it's not exactly out of character for Nintendo. The company did the same thing when Donkey Kong turned 40 — another legendary franchise that got zero fanfare.
Former Nintendo employees Kit and Krysta have noted that unless Nintendo has something to announce, it doesn't particularly care about anniversaries. The big exceptions? Mario and Pokémon. And with Pokémon, it's more about what The Pokémon Company wants to do than Nintendo's own decision-making.
So unless you're a plumber or a Pikachu, don't expect a birthday party from Nintendo.
Final Thoughts
It's honestly disappointing that Nintendo couldn't spare even a single tweet for one of gaming's most iconic franchises. The Legend of Zelda has shaped the industry for four decades, inspired countless developers, and built one of the most passionate fanbases in gaming history.
But if there's a silver lining here, it's that the community stepped up beautifully. The fan art, the memories, the heartfelt tributes — that's what Zelda is really about. Nintendo might have ghosted Link, but the fans made sure he wasn't forgotten.
Did you celebrate Zelda's 40th anniversary? What's your favorite game in the series? Drop your answers in the comments below! Stay questing — and follow @TheDailyQuest0 for more daily gaming quests! 🎮🗡️💚
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