TotK and BotW Timeline Separate from Other Games in Series

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 fan understanding of the series' chronology.

A Separate Branch in Zelda History

Nintendo's presentation clarified that Tears of the Kingdom (TotK) and Breath of the Wild (BotW) events are unrelated to previous Zelda titles. This revelation complicates the already intricate Zelda timeline, which traditionally branches after Ocarina of Time.

The established timeline splits into the "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" branches, the latter further dividing into "Adult" and "Child" timelines. However, BotW and TotK occupy a distinct, independent segment, detached from these established narratives.

The Blurred Lines of Hyrule's History

The complex nature of Hyrule's history, marked by recurring cycles of prosperity and decline, has always made definitive timeline placement challenging. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion alludes to this ambiguity, suggesting that the intertwining of fact and legend makes precise chronological placement difficult. The book notes the difficulty in discerning historical fact from myth in Hyrule's cyclical history. This inherent uncertainty further supports Nintendo's decision to position BotW and TotK outside the previously established timeline.