I would not the least bit surprised if it came out in 2016. Home console Zelda games have gotten longer and longer development cycles as time went on.

Twilight Princess was only a Wii launch title because it was a GameCube port. Which was originally planned to come out in 2005, mind you. Skyward Sword spent 5(!) years in development. Assuming they started development on Wii U Zelda shortly after SS came out (Q4 2011), that would mean a development cycle of 4 years, if it launches in Q4 2015.

Seeing how much Nintendo's struggling to develop HD games, plus the fact that it's a given a new, full home console Zelda would take years to create, a Q4 2015 release seems like an optimistic best-case scenario. Again; I would not bet against a 2016 release.

On a somewhat related note, I'm expecting Smash Bros. to come out Q4 this year, not anytime sooner. It will be 2014's big holiday title for Wii U. I expect.

Uh, "gamecubes" are what we called dice back in the day.  I also got an N64 that year.

*thinks to self* (good cover up Lewis.  They don't suspect a thing....)

It is completely understandable and acceptable. After all, with so many games coming out this year, they'll need to keep the software wave going into next year with Zelda U and other key titles releasing 2015.

The Legend of Zelda is an important series, but it's not the most important series in Nintendo's portfolio. I don't think a Zelda-release in 2015 will do that much harm (compared to a release in 2014). What could do much harm though is to rush it to market, and not meet consumer's extremely high expectations. Nintendo not only needs to meet expectations with this game, they need to excel expectations.
Let us assume Nintendo manages to get quite a good sales momentum in 2014 with Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. Then Zelda is needed badly to maintain that momentum in 2015 and into 2016.

I believe we will see Super Mario U-niverse (spiritual sequal to Super Mario Galaxy 1 & 2) in the first half of 2015, and the next Legend of Zelda in Q4 2015.

Nintendo have lots of other franchises to revive in 2014, to help Donkey Kong Country, Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros keep a strong interest in Wii U. Why not a new Star Fox? F-Zero? Pilotwings? Kid Icaros? Eternal Darkness? Metroid? Punch Out? Startropics? I think we will see at least one of these games in 2014.

I wouldn't rule out a HD-version of Twilight Princess though for Wii U in the later half of 2014.
Either

Join us. Resistance is futile.

I think it's unacceptable to use the term "unacceptable" in connection with a videogame release date other than when a date is announced and keeps getting pushed back.

Aside from that, I made thread where I explained why I think Zelda U will be a 2015 release and I'll stick with that.

Only if your stuck with a Wiiu only. That would be the driest drought since the Dreamcast died.

2014 would be best but 2015 is fine as long as it's good. I'm happy getting Xenoblade 2 this year.

Yeah. Zelda team is notoriously slow. If it's good, then I welcome a 2015 release. If it's skyward sword levels, and 2015...Oh boy I'll be angry.

Remember how awesome it was to explore the sea in wind waker and basically be a pirate? I want that kind of wonder again.

Unacceptable? A game is ready when it's ready.