New Evidence Separates TotK and BotW Timeline

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 series timeline. This revelation significantly alters the previously understood chronological order of the Zelda games.

Zelda Timeline's Unexpected Twist

The presentation unveiled that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom events are entirely separate from those in previous Zelda titles. This announcement adds another layer of complexity to the already intricate Zelda timeline.

Since its debut in 1987, the Zelda franchise has captivated players with its sprawling narratives and multiple timelines. These timelines, however, have been redefined. Reports from Vooks detail how the established timeline, branching from Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time, splits into the "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" branches. The latter further divides into the "Child" and "Adult" timelines.

However, a distinct branch featuring Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom stands apart, independent of the previously established timelines. This isolated placement challenges long-held fan theories and interpretations of Hyrule's history.

The ambiguity surrounding Hyrule's cyclical history of prosperity and decline further complicates matters. As noted in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion, the blurring of fact and legend makes definitive placement of these titles even more challenging. The book highlights the difficulty in distinguishing between historical fact and mythology within Hyrule's recurring cycles of rise and fall. This inherent ambiguity leaves the precise placement of these two titles open to interpretation and further fuels fan discussions.