TotK and BotW Timeline Separate from Other Games in Series

Nintendo confirms that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom exist outside the established Zelda timeline. This announcement, made at Nintendo Live 2024 in Sydney, Australia, significantly alters the series' canonical history.

A Separate Branch in Zelda History

The revelation, reported by Vooks, complicates the already intricate Zelda timeline. Nintendo's presentation showcased the established timeline, branching after Ocarina of Time into "Hero is Defeated" and "Hero is Triumphant" paths, the latter further splitting into "Child" and "Adult" timelines.

However, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom stand apart, forming an entirely separate branch unconnected to previous entries. This independent placement adds a new layer of complexity to the series' chronology.

Blurring the Lines of Hyrule's History

The ambiguity surrounding Hyrule's cyclical history, as hinted at in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion, further complicates attempts to definitively place these titles within the established timeline. The book notes the difficulty in distinguishing between historical fact and legend in Hyrule's recurring cycles of prosperity and decline, leaving room for interpretation and adding to the ongoing fan debate. This leaves the placement of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom as a unique and independent narrative within the larger Zelda universe.