Kate Mills 
Nov 14, 2023
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was released in 2017 for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U.
The sequel was first announced at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2019 with a short teaser trailer that showed Link and Zelda exploring a dark cavern and encountering a mysterious corpse that seemed to be the source of dark energy.
Here is everything you need to know about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Release date of Breath of the Wild 2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom also known among the fans as Breath of the Wild 2 was released on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. The game was originally slated for a 2022 release window but was later delayed to 2023 due to development challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nintendo confirmed the release date during a major Nintendo Direct on September 13, 2022, along with a new trailer that also revealed the game’s title.
What is the story of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which took place in a post-apocalyptic version of Hyrule that was ravaged by the evil Calamity Ganon. In Breath of the Wild, Link woke up from a 100-year slumber and embarked on a quest to free the four Divine Beasts, awaken the spirits of the fallen Champions, and defeat Calamity Ganon with the help of Princess Zelda.
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The sequel picks up after the events of Breath of the Wild, as Link and Zelda continue to explore the secrets of Hyrule. The first teaser trailer showed them discovering a hidden chamber beneath Hyrule Castle, where they encountered a mummified corpse that resembled Ganondorf, the original incarnation of Ganon.
The corpse was held in place by a glowing arm that seemed to suppress its dark power, but as Link and Zelda approached, the arm grabbed Link’s hand and the corpse awakened, unleashing a surge of dark energy that caused the castle to rise into the air.
Darker tone than Breath of the Wild
The second teaser trailer showed Link falling from the sky and landing on a floating island, where he found a new gauntlet on his right arm that replaced the Sheikah Slate from the previous game. The trailer also showed some new gameplay elements, such as Link using the gauntlet to manipulate time, reverse gravity, and phase through solid objects. The trailer also hinted at some new locations, enemies, and allies that Link encounters in his new adventure.
The title of the game, Tears of the Kingdom, suggests that the game will explore the darker and more tragic aspects of Hyrule’s history, as well as the consequences of Link and Zelda’s actions in the previous game. The game’s producer, Eiji Aonuma, stated that the game has a darker tone than Breath of the Wild and features a more complex and emotional story.
