Nintendo officially confirmed at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia, that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established Zelda timeline. This revelation significantly alters the established lore.
Zelda Timeline Expands: TotK and BotW Stand Alone
The presentation unveiled a revised Zelda timeline, clarifying that Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) events are unconnected to previous entries. This announcement, reported by Vooks, adds a new layer of complexity to the series' already intricate history.
The traditional Zelda timeline, originating with Skyward Sword and branching after Ocarina of Time, divides into the "Hero is Defeated" timeline (e.g., A Link to the Past) and the "Hero is Triumphant" timeline, further splitting into "Child" (e.g., Majora's Mask) and "Adult" (e.g., The Wind Waker) branches.
However, a separate branch distinctly features BotW and TotK, isolated from the established chronology. This placement emphasizes their unique narrative and setting.
The ever-evolving Zelda timeline has long fueled fan speculation. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion further complicates matters, suggesting Hyrule's cyclical history blurs the lines between fact and legend. The book notes that Hyrule's recurring cycles of prosperity and decline make it challenging to definitively place these titles within the broader historical context. This ambiguity allows for the independent existence of BotW and TotK within the overall Zelda universe.
