Hidemaro Fujibayashi Sees Zelda as a Place for New Ideas
The Breath of the Wild director says he asks younger developers whether an idea sounds fun or has appeared before, while giving them room to bring their own ideas to Zelda.
Zelda’s past successes can give developers a starting point without dictating what comes next. Hidemaro Fujibayashi, director of Breath of the Wild and producer of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, described the series as a space for developers to bring new concepts to life in a Polygon interview.
When he talks with younger staff, Fujibayashi asks, “Is that going to be fun?” He also asks whether an idea has already appeared in Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, or Tears of the Kingdom. The discussion helps developers consider what Zelda has done without feeling they have to draw only from its existing pool of ideas.
Fujibayashi said he wants to open the process to younger developers’ imagination and ideas. He described Zelda as flexible enough to support different approaches, with senior staff stepping back rather than prescribing every decision. His comments describe a creative approach, not a reveal about the next game.
Eiji Aonuma offered a related example with the Ocarina of Time remake, letting its younger developers decide what to preserve and change. He also said he wants to see what younger staff imagine for future Zelda games.
Which past Zelda idea would you like a future team to reinvent rather than repeat? Follow the creative choices behind the series through X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
