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, significantly alters the franchise's complex history.

A Separate Branch in Zelda History

Nintendo's presentation clarified that Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) and Breath of the Wild (BotW) events are unconnected to previous Zelda titles. This revelation complicates the already intricate Zelda timeline, previously understood to branch after Ocarina of Time into "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" paths (further splitting into "Child" and "Adult" timelines).

The established timeline, beginning with Skyward Sword and branching from Ocarina of Time, is now distinct from BotW and TotK. These latter two games occupy a separate space on the timeline chart, completely independent from the previously established narrative threads.

Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History

The ambiguity surrounding Hyrule's cyclical history has always fueled fan speculation. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion hints at the difficulty in distinguishing historical fact from legend, further complicating the placement of BotW and TotK within the larger Zelda narrative. The book notes the recurring cycles of prosperity and decline in Hyrule, making it challenging to definitively place these titles within the established timeline. This effectively adds another layer of complexity to an already multifaceted franchise history.