TotK and BotW Timeline Separate from Other Games in Series

Nintendo confirms that The Legend of Zelda: 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 clarified that Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) events are unrelated to previous games. 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, the latter further splitting into "Child" and "Adult" timelines.

The established timeline, as showcased by Nintendo, clearly distinguishes BotW and TotK as a separate entity, unconnected to the established narrative threads. This adds a new layer of complexity to the series' rich history.

Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History

The ambiguity surrounding Hyrule's cyclical history, as hinted at in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion, further contributes to the difficulty in placing BotW and TotK within the established timeline. The book suggests that the recurring cycles of prosperity and decline make it challenging to distinguish legend from historical fact, adding another dimension to the ongoing debate among fans. This cyclical nature of Hyrule's history might explain the game's placement outside the traditional timeline.