TotK, BotW Separate from Series

Nintendo confirms that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established series timeline. This announcement, made at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia, significantly alters the understanding of the Zelda 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 unconnected to prior Zelda games. This revelation, reported by Vooks, adds a new layer of complexity to the already intricate Zelda timeline.

The traditional Zelda timeline, beginning 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, encompassing various titles.

However, BotW and TotK are depicted as a distinct, independent branch, separate from all other games in the series.

This ambiguity has long been a subject of fan debate. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion hints at the cyclical nature of Hyrule's history, blurring the lines between historical accuracy and myth. 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," further complicating attempts to place these titles within a definitive timeline.