Nintendo confirms Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established Zelda timeline. This announcement, made at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia, significantly alters fan understanding of the series' chronology.
A Separate Branch in Zelda History
Nintendo's presentation showcased a revised Zelda timeline, explicitly placing Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) in a separate, unconnected branch. This deviates from the previously established timeline, which branched after Ocarina of Time into the "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" paths (further splitting into "Child" and "Adult" timelines).
The established timeline, starting with Skyward Sword and branching from Ocarina of Time, includes titles like A Link to the Past, Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, Four Swords Adventures, The Wind Waker, and Phantom Hourglass. However, BotW and TotK stand apart, their events unrelated to the established narrative.
Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History
The complexities of Hyrule's cyclical history, as noted in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion, further complicate timeline placement. The book suggests the cyclical nature of prosperity and decline makes distinguishing historical fact from legend nearly impossible, adding another layer to the ongoing debate amongst fans. The statement, "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," perfectly encapsulates this ambiguity. This new revelation adds another fascinating layer to the ever-evolving Legend of Zelda lore.
