Earlier this year, Nintendo delayed its new Legend of Zelda game for the Wii U out of 2015. While fans were disappointed by the news, delays are to be expected. But fans might not have expected just how long the wait for Link's next adventure would be.

According to Nintendo's latest earnings release, Legend of Zelda Wii U might not be coming even in 2016.

The documents lists all of the upcoming games to be released on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. Looking at the list of titles coming for the Wii U, there are several scheduled for release in 2016, such as Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem and the temporarily titled "Project Guard."

Missing, however, is Legend of Zelda. Rather than a 2016 release window, Nintendo has labeled Legend of Zelda Wii U with a "To Be Determined" placeholder alongside "Project Giant Robot" (another temporary title.)

This doesn't mean definitively that Legend of Zelda won't release next year. It very well could if all goes well. But what this does prove is that Nintendo isn't 100 percent confident the game will be ready in 2016. Rather than get the hopes up of fans everywhere, Nintendo is instead deciding to play it safe with a "TBD" tag.

It's that same line of reasoning for why Nintendo chose not to show the game at this year's E3. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said the company could have showed the game, but that it have caused "more frustration then benefit."

"We just fundamentally don't believe in showing content at E3 that is going to be a long term proposition," Fils-Aime said. "We like to show content that typically will launch in the upcoming holiday and maybe extending into the first half of the following year. And at this point, the new Zelda for Wii U is not a 2015 project."

Sadly, it might not be a 2016 project either. Might the next Legend of Zelda adventure be pushed back to debut on Nintendo's new codename NX console? Nintendo says their next piece of hardware is coming in 2017, with more details to come next year. The NX already has a game announced in the form of Dragon Quest XI. With the Wii U struggling, it might make sense for Nintendo to release the new Legend of Zelda alongside their new console to encourage a fast adoption rate.

For now we will all just have to sit and wonder. Expect to hear more about Legend of Zelda Wii U (and the NX) by next summer at the latest.

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