Nintendo confirms that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established series timeline. This announcement was made at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia.
A Separate Timeline
The revelation, reported by Vooks, significantly alters the established Zelda timeline. Both Breath of the Wild (BotW) and Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) are explicitly disconnected from previous entries.
The traditional Zelda timeline, originating 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 "Child" and "Adult" timelines. However, the presentation clearly positions BotW and TotK as separate entities, unconnected to these established branches.
Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History
The complex and often debated Zelda timeline is further complicated by the cyclical nature of Hyrule's history. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion suggests that the repeated cycles of prosperity and decline make distinguishing historical fact from legend nearly impossible. 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 ambiguity contributes to the unique placement of BotW and TotK.
