Nintendo lastly delivered followers the lengthy awaited title for the following mainline Zelda sport on Tuesday: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’ll launch Could 12, 2023 on Nintendo Change.
Nintendo first teased the sport all the way in which again in 2019, the place a trailer confirmed what is perhaps a really dehydrated Ganondorf. In summer season of 2021, we received a deeper have a look at the sport which confirmed us Hyperlink’s new powers and his luscious locks. The latest trailer from Tuesday’s was largely cinematic and confirmed a number of historical carvings. Now, followers are placing collectively the items of each to develop theories in regards to the new sport.
It’s simply enjoyable to invest and decide the trailer aside for doable connections to earlier Legend of Zelda video games. So, we determined to spherical up a few of the largest and most thought-provoking fan theories we’ve discovered thus far. Once more, none of that is confirmed information, nevertheless it’s an effective way to see what followers are getting enthusiastic about. As we get nearer to launch, we’ll proceed to replace this listing with all of the cool stuff we see as extra info comes out and followers formulate new concepts.
All of Zelda is a big time loop
Some have theorized on-line that Tears of the Kingdom is a part of a time loop within the bigger Zelda timeline. One of the best help for this concept comes from the sport’s emblem, which prominently options an ouroboros in it. The ouroboros appears to be like like a snake consuming its personal tail, and is a logo for infinity. There’s extra to it — like doable connections to Skyward Sword so watch under for the complete lore dive.
There shall be an unlimited underground space
In an in-depth evaluation that considers the entire trailers Nintendo has launched for Tears of the Kingdom, earlier video games, and localization practices, YouTuber Monster Maze factors to proof displaying that there could also be some kind of underworld in Tears of the Kingdom. Within the video, the YouTuber argues not simply {that a} particular demon world may exist within the sport, however that the idea of a demon world has lengthy been central to numerous Zelda video games.
We must restore the Grasp Sword
We don’t know the small print, however this concept may be very seemingly as a result of we now know the Grasp Sword is damaged and/or in a state of decay. Nintendo shared a picture of Hyperlink’s notorious sword during which its tip is totally gone and its edges are eroded. It’s in a sorry state, so followers are guessing we must restore its energy by some means.
The goddess Hylia will play a task within the sport
Some are theorizing the goddess Hylia will play a task within the upcoming sport. Hylia is a divine being who later takes on a mortal kind by Zelda. In one of many trailers, Zelda asks somebody for his or her energy, and a few followers are theorizing that she’s making that request of the goddess. Additionally, some theorize that numerous the cave carvings proven thus far depict the goddess, additional suggesting her involvement within the subsequent sport.
There’s a connection to the Zonai from Breath of the Wild
In The Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild, we encounter scattered ruins from an extinct group of individuals that after occupied the lands of Hyrule. They’re known as the Zonai, however we don’t know a lot about them apart from that they made a few of the Hylian landmarks seen within the sport, just like the dragon carvings and a few of the historical structure.
Followers have identified that the brand and dragons within the new field artwork appears to look a complete lot like a few of the Zonai carvings, insinuating that we are going to study extra about them and simply what occurred to group within the upcoming sport.
Will we play as Ganon in Breath of the Wild 2?
Most likely essentially the most prevalent unconfirmed concept is that we gained’t play Breath of the Wild 2 as Hyperlink. As a substitute, in a sequence first, we’ll truly play the sport as Ganondorf. The daring concept would characterize one of many largest departures within the historical past of the Zelda franchise, however the thought has picked up a number of traction amongst a great deal of followers.
The fundamental gist of the speculation is that the “Hyperlink” we see within the trailer isn’t truly Hyperlink, and that it’s truly the shriveled Ganon we see to start with of the trailer. The thought is supported primarily by the visible similarities between Ganon and the character within the trailer, who wears a one-shoulder tunic like Ganon. Additionally, we don’t ever see this character’s face.
In addition to these visible similarities, there’s a additionally little bit of lore in Breath of the Wild that will help this concept. In a tapestry, we see a hero saving the land from the calamity 10,000 years earlier than the occasions of BOTW. The hero saving the world appears to be like just like the zombie Ganon at midnight and the brand new “Hyperlink.” As soon as once more, this has led some folks to assume there’s some sort of connection.
These are the broadest strokes of the speculation, however if you wish to go in-depth, you may take a look at this video from Kinda Humorous Video games that breaks down the speculation in full.
Can we play as Zelda in Breath of the Wild 2?
Initially of the trailer, we see Princess Zelda falling backwards right into a darkish pit. Though this may appear to be an indication that we gained’t get to play as her, some followers are speculating in any other case.
As soon as once more, this concept kind of hinges on the truth that we don’t know with 100% certainty that we play as Hyperlink, since we don’t see his face. Nonetheless, from the character’s design — they put on a tunic that covers half their chest — we are able to assume that the character we see isn’t Zelda. Why? As a result of she in all probability shouldn’t be flying by Hyrule’s skies with one tiddy free.
Nonetheless, some persons are nonetheless holding out hope that we are able to play as her, and that we’ll get to decide on who falls into the deep darkish pit in some unspecified time in the future within the sport.
BIGGEST mind BotW 2 concept:
-Each put on journey outfits
-Zelda falls within the new trailer
-Discover only one torch, however Zelda is holding it as much as waking Ganondorf regardless of getting into + falling with out itWhat if…
The one with a torch is who you selected to play as and the opposite falls? pic.twitter.com/QXTBD2mjSK
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) June 17, 2021
Will we return to Skyloft?
One of the crucial apparent connections between the Breath of the Wild sequel and this trailer is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The opening cinematic of Hyperlink from the trailer is just about the identical precise scene of Hyperlink falling by the clouds in Skyward Sword. What’s extra, the trailer reveals floating islands similar to in Skyward Sword. The outline below the official Nintendo YouTube account actually says, “Return to Hyrule — and the skies above,” which is a reasonably clear connection to floating island of Skyloft.
The cinematic parallels and the truth that Nintendo has introduced that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is is getting an HD Remaster for the Nintendo Change, whereas different Zelda video games haven’t, has led some folks to invest that Hyperlink may return to Skyloft within the newest sport.
Tears of the Kingdom and Skyward Sword share an historical relic
Amber Relics are a useful resource discovered all through the Floor in Skyward Sword. Within the sport, the outline of the merchandise tells us that we don’t know the place the unusual form comes from, however then within the newest trailer we see a equally formed merchandise encompass a deity-like determine in a carving, thus additional hinting at some kind of connection between the 2 video games.
Is Breath of the Wild 2 related to The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess?
Individuals have additionally identified visible connections between The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and the brand new trailer. For starters, there’s a shared shade scheme between the portals in Twilight Princess and the pictures with Hyperlink’s arms within the trailer. Additionally, folks have identified that the design of Midna, who accompanies Hyperlink in Twilight Princess, appears to be like much like that of the brand new stone monster we see within the trailer.
Does Hyperlink time journey within the Breath of the Wild sequel?
Within the trailer, Hyperlink seems to make use of some kind of time journey energy to push a spiked ball again up a hill. Along with that, connections between Hyperlink’s new design, and the hero depicted within the tapestry in regards to the Calamity from 10,000 years earlier than BOTW, have led some people to think that there might be some kind of time journey occurring.
Oh, and one doable Easter Egg within the Breath of the Wild 2 trailer…
Like every thing else on this listing, this tidbit has not been confirmed as both intentional or significant. Nonetheless, one fan believes the music within the newest trailer is a backwards model of the track performed throughout the unique Breath of the Wild cutscene in regards to the tapestry depicting the prophecy.
In case you play a sure a part of the brand new Zelda BotW 2 trailer backwards, it sounds just like the music that performs throughout the historical prophesy within the first Breath of the Wild.
I additionally seen each sounded much like the reversed BotW 2 reveal trailer, which nonetheless hasn’t been solved but pic.twitter.com/jfufHp6Ii2
— TAHK0 ☕️ (@TAHK0) June 16, 2021
Evidently, there’s nonetheless a lot we don’t know in regards to the Breath of the Wild sequel. As we get extra info, we’ll proceed to gather all the largest theories we see.
Replace (Sept. 13): This text was up to date to include extra info and theories primarily based on the trailer revealed throughout the Nintendo Direct on Sept. 13.
Replace (Feb. 23): This text was up to date to include extra info and theories primarily based on the trailer revealed throughout the Nintendo Direct on Feb. 8.