Nintendo confirms The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established series timeline. This announcement, made at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia, significantly alters the established Zelda timeline.
A Separate Branch in Zelda History
Nintendo's presentation clarified that Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) events are independent of previous Zelda games. This revelation, reported by Vooks, adds a new layer of complexity to the already intricate Zelda timeline.
The traditional Zelda timeline, beginning with Skyward Sword and branching after Ocarina of Time, divides into the "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" timelines. The latter further splits into the "Child" and "Adult" timelines. However, BotW and TotK are presented as a distinct, separate entity.
Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History
The cyclical nature of Hyrule's history, as alluded to in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion, contributes to the ambiguity. The book suggests that the frequent cycles of prosperity and decline make it difficult to distinguish between historical fact and legend, further complicating the placement of BotW and TotK within the overall narrative. The book states: "Hyrule’s recurring periods of prosperity and decline have made it impossible to tell which legends are historical fact and which are mere fairy tale." This effectively opens the door for these titles to exist outside the previously established chronological framework.
