The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Summary
The Legend of Zelda : Tears of Kingdomadvances the story ofBreath of the Wild , and while it was speculated the secret plan may be the last in the current timeline , it does n’t needfully import the end of the entire dealership . TheZeldaseries ' progression is found on the continuity established inSkyward Sword , in which Demise curses next generations ( specifically those who fill up Link and Zelda ’s archetypal roles ) to confront his evil . The Link and Zelda ofTOTKare consider to be , chronologically , the youngest generation in the serial , as bothBOTWandTOTKseemingly take billet long after previous game . Even so , their connectedness to the past and their arrangement in the serial ' timeline point toward a possible end to Link , Zelda , and Demise ’s intergenerational conflict .
admonition : This article hold back spoiler forThe Legend of Zelda : tear of the Kingdom .
An ending of theZeldaseries will not simply happen because of Link ’s triumph or loser inTears of the Kingdom ’s story . TheZeldateam has not been afraid of showing Link defeat Demise like inSkyward Swordor of Link killing Ganondorf like inTwilight Princess . But the games also have n’t shied from prove Link diminish like in certainOcarina of Timecontinuities . In fact , in response to Link ’s failure inOcarina of Time , theZeldateam create a three - way of life timeline split that see the Hero ’s adventure branch into different paths . ForTOTKto end the series , then , it would call for to somehow stop the timeline and preclude further timeline splits , a nearly impossible effort that ultimately did n’t materialise .
Related : One Ganondorf Detail Hints At Zelda : TOTK ’s Timeline Placement
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Didn’t End The Series By Creating A Time Loop
Tears of the Kingdomdidn’tendZelda ’s timelineby shaping it into a circle , as was speculated beforehand of the plot ’s May 2023 release . In other news , TOTKdidn’t impart Link and Zelda back to where they were inSkyward Swordin a sentence loop that is destined to repeat . Such a major revise to theZeldatimeline - let alone an disconcerting closing to the series - might sound too outlandish and sheer a move forTOTKto make . However , the symbology , lore , and design inTOTK- particularly with the Zonai and Zelda ’s time - locomote - record that not only was such a time loop possible , but it may also be the charge of the serial moving forward .
The argument forTears of the Kingdombeing the finalZeldagame was centered around the lore of its nominal fiber , Zelda . InSkyward Sword , the goddess Hylia sacrifices herself to redeem the people of Hyrule before reincarnating as Zelda . This had led many fans , admit YouTuberZeltik , to argue thatTOTKwould see Zelda become Hylia again in an effort to lay aside Hyrule - a theory that was somewhat correct . However , to have done so would create a cycle in which Hylia and Zelda have to transmute into each other to protect the kingdom ; in turn , TOTKwould serve as an endpoint of this cycle that bringsThe Legend ofZeldatimelineback to where it was inSkyward Sword .
at long last , this did n’t tear apart out . alternatively , Zelda is sent into Hyrule ’s pastinTears of the Kingdom , and she contend Ganondorf alongside the other Sages . With the Master Sword break , she cause the forfeit of turning into a whitened dragon in the hope that one mean solar day , in the future , Link will be able to get the Master Sword again and use it to defeat the resurrected Ganondorf . Ironically , this meansTears Of The Kingdomdid create a cyclic story because of metre travelling - but it was simply forBOTWandTOTK , rather than the entireZeldaseries .
Ahead of the biz ’s launching , symbols shown in the ruin suggest at ancient multitude that could ’ve been the dweller of Skyloft fromSkyward Sword . In that game , Hylia saves the surface world from Demise by develop parts of Hyrule into the heavens ; inTears of the Kingdom , the reawakening of Ganondorf cause large man of Hyrule to photograph into the sky . Many of the structures onTOTK ’s floating islands feature similar stone etching , suggesting they could be relate toSkyward Sword ’s Skyloft . Such a parallel betweenSkyward SwordandTOTKpaves the way for the latter game ’s narrative to boast Zelda becoming Hylia again .
And while this also did n’t happen exactly , the Zonai and cite toSkyward Swordfeel more than just surface - tier . TheZeldaseries is make love to reiterate themes , designs , and story beat generation - but the connections here feel stronger . SinceSkyward Swordis the first entry in the timeline , it ’s still potential these sky islands are from Skyloft ’s denizens , even ifTOTKnever explictly state it as fact .
Where Will Zelda & Link Go After Tears of the Kingdom?
ThatTears of the Kingdomis a verbatim sequeltoBreath of the Wildseemingly made the end ofZeldaall the more probable . BOTWmerged the disunited timelines that followOcarina of Timeand also do up an identity struggle for Zelda that is lastly resolve inTears of the Kingdom . A 100 beforeBOTW , Zelda wrote in her journal that Hylia appear to her in a dream one nighttime ; shortly afterward , she was capable to use the exponent of the Triforce when defending Link . Hylia ’s presence in Zelda ’s dreams could be a hint toward their shared identity . Additionally , Zelda was only capable to expend the Triforce when sacrificing herself to protect others in the same mode Hylia did inSkyward Sword . InTOTK , Zelda can only get hold of her full potency by emulating Hylia - although , rather of becoming the goddess , she becomes the white dragon .
Related : Zelda Is n’t The Only Character With Divine Powers In Tears Of The Kingdom
This still leaves the question of where the serial publication can go now . Zeldais one of Nintendo ’s most profitable franchise , and withTOTKselling over 18 million copies within two month , there ’s no wayTOTKwill be the final ledger entry . The bigger question is where the series will go after this . An open - worldZeldagame seems most likely still , but in term of story and timeline placement , just about anything is possible . However , theending toTears of the Kingdomis somewhat final , meaning that another direct continuation seems extremely unlikely .
Zelda Is Just Too Successful To End Now
TheZeldaseries is just too successful to end now . TOTK ’s predecessor , Breath of the Wild , was the best - selling biz in the intact serial . According toNintendo , BOTWhas sell 29 million transcript on Switch ( not counting its sale on Wii U ) - more than three times as much as 2d best - sellingTwilight Princess . This put it among the best - sell picture game of all metre . AndTOTKmay - and most probable will - cease up outsell it . To end the serial publication after such a in high spirits point is a very unlikely decision for Nintendo to make .
Tears of the Kingdomis belike the lastZeldagame related toBOTW , and it ’s probable thefinal one to release solely on the Nintendo Switch . With a Switch successor anticipate in 2024 , the next mainlineZeldagame will likely be either a dual relse or exclusive to the new console . However , in term of the series as a whole , The Legend of Zelda : Tears of the Kingdomwon’t be the last of theZeldaseries .
Source : Zeltik / YouTube
