The new Legend Of Zelda Wii U game doesn't star Zelda instead of Link [updated]

Feminine character in blue cloak features in teaser trailer

"No one explicitly said that that was Link" said producer of the trailer (Nintendo)

Nintendo teased its next Legend of Zelda game at E3 this week, which will see a "clean break from the conventions of past games in the series" and, judging by the trailer, might see Princess Zelda as a playable character.

UPDATE 12pm: Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma has now cleared up any doubt about the identity of the protagonist, insisting the trailer does show Link.

"It's a rumour," he told MMGN. "Actually that comment I made jokingly. It's not that I said that it wasn't Link. It's that I never said that it was Link. It's not really the same thing, but I can understand how it could be taken that way.

"It seems like it has kind of taken off where people are saying 'oh it's a female character' and it just kind of grew. But my intent in saying that was humour. You know, you have to show Link when you create a trailer for a Zelda announcement."

A teaser trailer for the as yet untitled game saw what at first glance appears to be Link being chased on his trusty steed Epona by a robotic, arachnid enemy.

But where is the green tunic and trademark sword?

Link has always been a somewhat androgynous character, but the protagonist of this new title is more feminine than ever, leading to speculation that it is in fact Zelda.

The blue cloak could be explained away by it being Link's clothes before he discovers the legendary tunic (similar to what he wore at the beginning of The Wind Waker), but fighting a boss on horseback feels too far into the game for that.

Adding to the speculation, when asked why Link looked "so weird", Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma told Venture Beat: "No-one explicitly said that was Link."

If the game does centre on Zelda or a different character, it will be the first time the protagonist has not been Link in the series' history.

Read more: Man stabbed with Legend of Zelda Master Sword in serious condition

Talking about how gameplay elements of the title will be different, Aonuma added:

"As far as what you can do with such a vast field to explore, as soon as those boundaries are removed it means you can enter any area from any direction, so the puzzle-solving in this game begins the moment the player starts to think about where they want to go, how they will get there and what they will do when they arrive.

A still from the stunning Zelda trailer

"This is a clean break from the conventions of past games in the Zelda series where you had to follow a set path and play through the scenario in the right order."

The possible female hero comes as Ubisoft dropped playable women characters from the next Assassin's Creed game because it was "too much work".