Ember Lab says working on Zelda would be exciting as Kena sequel moves forward

20 May 2026
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Ember Lab says working on Zelda would be exciting as Kena sequel moves forward

Summary:

Ember Lab has made it clear that its affection for The Legend of Zelda runs much deeper than casual admiration. In a recent interview, COO Josh Grier explained that Zelda was a major inspiration for many people at the studio while they were growing up, and that the series still inspires them now that they’re creating games themselves. That connection is especially easy to understand when you look at Ember Lab’s history. Before Kena: Bridge of Spirits introduced players to its beautiful world, emotional storytelling, and tiny Rot companions, the studio created the Zelda: Majora’s Mask fan film Terrible Fate in 2016. That short project became a memorable calling card for the team’s visual style, atmosphere, and love for Nintendo’s darker fantasy corners.

Grier was careful not to suggest that anything official is happening with Nintendo. Ember Lab is currently focused on Kena: Scars of Kosmora, the sequel to Kena: Bridge of Spirits, which is planned for PS5 and PC in 2026. Even so, his comment that an opportunity to create something in the Zelda world would be “quite exciting” has naturally sparked conversation among fans. It’s the kind of dream pairing that practically writes itself in people’s heads, like finding a mysterious key in a dungeon and immediately wondering which locked door it might open.

Ember Lab shares its love for The Legend of Zelda

Ember Lab’s interest in The Legend of Zelda is not coming from nowhere. Josh Grier recently explained that the Zelda series has been a major inspiration for many people at the studio since childhood, and that each new installment continues to influence them as developers. That kind of admiration feels especially natural for a team known for building expressive characters, lush environments, and heartfelt adventure. Zelda has always carried a rare blend of mystery, warmth, danger, and discovery, and those qualities also sit close to the heart of Kena: Bridge of Spirits. When Grier said that creating something in the Zelda world would be exciting, it sounded less like a business pitch and more like a genuine fan speaking from the heart.

Why the Zelda connection makes sense for Kena fans

For players who spent time with Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the Zelda comparison is easy to understand without forcing it. Kena has exploration, magical tools, environmental puzzles, emotional encounters, and a sense of wandering through a world that feels both charming and haunted. That doesn’t make it a Zelda clone, and it shouldn’t be treated like one. Instead, it shows how shared fantasy roots can grow into different creative branches. Ember Lab took familiar adventure ingredients and shaped them into something with its own identity, led by a young Spirit Guide rather than a green-clad hero. Still, when a studio builds forests, ruins, spirits, corruption, and heartfelt quests so well, fans naturally start imagining what it could do with Hyrule.

Josh Grier keeps expectations grounded

Grier’s comments are exciting, but they were also careful. He did not announce a Zelda project, tease a secret Nintendo partnership, or suggest that Ember Lab has been handed the keys to one of gaming’s most guarded kingdoms. That distinction matters. Fans can dream, but it’s better to keep both feet on the ground rather than sprinting straight into rumor territory wearing iron boots. The studio’s wording makes it clear that this is an expression of interest, not confirmation of development. In other words, Ember Lab would be thrilled if the opportunity appeared, but there is no public sign that Nintendo has granted access to the Zelda IP.

The Terrible Fate fan film still matters

Long before Kena became Ember Lab’s signature gaming project, the studio created Majora’s Mask: Terrible Fate, a fan film released in 2016. That short film focused on Skull Kid and leaned into the strange, tragic mood that makes Majora’s Mask one of Zelda’s most unforgettable entries. It showed Ember Lab’s ability to handle atmosphere, emotion, and visual storytelling with real confidence. For many fans, Terrible Fate remains a key reason the idea of Ember Lab working on Zelda feels so tempting. The studio already proved that it understands the haunting side of Nintendo’s fantasy world, and it did so with a tone that respected the source material rather than flattening it into shiny nostalgia bait.

Kena: Scars of Kosmora remains Ember Lab’s main focus

As exciting as the Zelda discussion may be, Ember Lab’s current priority is Kena: Scars of Kosmora. The sequel brings back Kena as a more experienced Spirit Guide and sends her to the island of Kosmora, where she searches for answers tied to her affliction and faces a powerful corruption. The project is currently planned for PS5 and PC in 2026, and it appears to be expanding the scale, combat, and world of the first game. That means Ember Lab already has a full plate, and probably not the kind where you can casually add another legendary franchise on the side like an extra scoop of mashed potatoes. The team’s focus is clearly on delivering Kena’s next adventure first.

Why fans are already imagining an Ember Lab Zelda project

Fan excitement around this idea makes sense because Ember Lab’s strengths line up with qualities that many players love in Zelda. The studio knows how to create soft, painterly environments that invite exploration. It also understands how to make magical worlds feel emotional rather than empty. Kena’s forests, shrines, spirits, and corrupted spaces often feel like places with old wounds, and that kind of mood could fit certain corners of Hyrule beautifully. A potential Zelda project from Ember Lab would not need to mimic the mainline games. It could work better as a smaller, story-driven experience focused on atmosphere, character, and a tightly crafted adventure.

How Ember Lab’s style could fit Nintendo’s fantasy world

Ember Lab’s cinematic background gives the studio a clear visual identity. Its characters move with personality, its scenes often feel carefully framed, and its environments have a polished animated quality without losing warmth. That could work especially well for a Zelda project centered on a side character, a forgotten legend, or a smaller region of Hyrule with its own folklore. Imagine a focused adventure built around the Kokiri, the Twili, the Sheikah, or even a new village facing a strange curse. That kind of project could let Ember Lab lean into emotion and atmosphere while allowing Nintendo to preserve the structure and scale of its mainline Zelda entries.

What a Zelda collaboration would need to respect

Any outside studio working on Zelda would need to handle the franchise with extreme care. Zelda is not just a collection of swords, puzzles, dungeons, and familiar names. It has a rhythm, a sense of restraint, and a special kind of wonder that can vanish quickly if a developer pushes too hard. The best Zelda moments often come from silence, curiosity, and the feeling that the world is quietly waiting for you to notice something. Ember Lab’s love for the series is a good starting point, but a real collaboration would also require trust, patience, and a clear understanding of what Nintendo wants Zelda to be in that specific moment.

Why nothing has been announced by Nintendo

It’s important to keep the current situation clear. Nintendo has not announced a Zelda project from Ember Lab, and Ember Lab has not confirmed that one exists. Grier’s remarks should be read as enthusiasm, not evidence of a deal. That may feel like someone putting the Master Sword back in its pedestal just when the music starts swelling, but it keeps the conversation honest. Nintendo is famously selective with its biggest franchises, especially The Legend of Zelda. While the company has collaborated with external teams before, each project depends on timing, creative fit, and internal strategy. Right now, the only confirmed direction from Ember Lab is Kena: Scars of Kosmora.

What this means for players watching Ember Lab’s next move

For players, the most interesting takeaway is not that an Ember Lab Zelda game is around the corner. It is that one of the most visually distinctive independent studios in modern adventure games has openly expressed admiration for Zelda and would welcome the chance to contribute to that world. That gives fans plenty to talk about while still keeping expectations realistic. The best thing Ember Lab can do now is make Kena: Scars of Kosmora as strong as possible. If that sequel lands well, the studio’s reputation for heartfelt fantasy adventure will only grow. And who knows? Sometimes the most exciting doors in gaming open only after a studio proves it can build its own castle first.

Ember Lab’s Zelda hopes add warmth to an already exciting year

The timing of Grier’s comments adds an extra spark because Ember Lab is already in the spotlight again. Kena: Bridge of Spirits has reached Nintendo Switch 2, while Kena: Scars of Kosmora is moving toward its planned 2026 release on PS5 and PC. That puts the studio in an interesting position. It now has stronger ties to players across multiple platforms, a sequel in development, and a fanbase that clearly enjoys imagining what else the team could create. The Zelda remark doesn’t change the studio’s official plans, but it does add personality to the conversation. It reminds players that developers are fans too, and sometimes their dream projects sound a lot like ours.

The idea works because it feels emotionally believable

The reason this story has caught attention is simple: it feels believable on an emotional level. Ember Lab has already shown that it understands fantasy worlds built around loss, healing, spirits, and wonder. Zelda has explored those themes many times, especially in entries like Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Breath of the Wild. That does not mean Ember Lab should take over Zelda, and it certainly does not mean Nintendo is planning anything. It means the creative overlap is easy to see. Fans are responding because the idea has texture. It feels like a match that could produce something tender, eerie, colorful, and memorable if the stars ever aligned.

Conclusion

Ember Lab’s interest in working on The Legend of Zelda is exciting because it feels sincere, not forced. Josh Grier’s comments reflect a studio that grew up loving Nintendo’s legendary adventure series and still carries that inspiration into its own work. The connection is strengthened by Terrible Fate, the 2016 Majora’s Mask fan film that showed Ember Lab’s eye for mood, tragedy, and visual storytelling. Still, there is no announced Zelda project from Ember Lab, and the studio’s confirmed focus remains Kena: Scars of Kosmora. For now, this is a lovely “what if” rather than a confirmed future. Sometimes that is enough to get fans dreaming, and honestly, who can blame them?

FAQs
  • Is Ember Lab making a Zelda game?
    • No. Ember Lab has not announced a Zelda game, and Nintendo has not confirmed any collaboration with the studio. Josh Grier only said that creating something in the Zelda world would be exciting if such an opportunity came along.
  • Why are people connecting Ember Lab with Zelda?
    • The connection comes from Ember Lab’s love for the series, the studio’s 2016 Majora’s Mask fan film Terrible Fate, and the fantasy adventure style seen in Kena: Bridge of Spirits.
  • What is Kena: Scars of Kosmora?
    • Kena: Scars of Kosmora is the sequel to Kena: Bridge of Spirits. It follows an older and more experienced Kena as she travels to Kosmora and faces a powerful corruption tied to new forms of Spirit Guiding.
  • Is Kena: Scars of Kosmora coming to Nintendo Switch 2?
    • No Nintendo Switch 2 version has been confirmed. The sequel is currently planned for PS5 and PC in 2026.
  • Could Ember Lab’s style work for Zelda?
    • Yes, especially for a smaller, story-driven Zelda project. Ember Lab’s strengths in animation, atmosphere, emotional storytelling, and magical environments could fit certain parts of the Zelda universe well.
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