The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Release date, trailers & everything we know

The highly anticipated follow-up to Breath of the Wild is finally on the way to the Nintendo Switch, so here’s everything we know so far about The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. 

Breath of the Wild has become widely regarded as one of the best Zelda and Nintendo Switch games of all time, helping inspire and shape the next generation of open-world games. It featured a captivating story and a vibrant open world that fully encouraged exploration.

Fans have been wondering about the follow-up for years now and the sequel, officially titled The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, is due for release in 2023. Here’s everything we know so far about one of the most exciting games of the year. 

While you’re here, make sure to check out the latest The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom deals from Amazon and Best Buy.

Contents:

• Is there a The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom release date?
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailers
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gameplay
• Tears of the Kingdom preorders

Is there a Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom sequel release date yet?

Yes, as reported during a Nintendo Direct presentation, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will release on May 12, 2023 – exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom trailers

The first look at the next mainline Zelda entry came during Nintendo’s presentation at E3 2019, surprising fans who didn’t expect a sequel to be announced so soon.

In it, Link and Princess Zelda can be seen traveling through a cave filled with darkness and danger, before approaching what is thought to be Ganon’s mummified body which then awakens.

The trailer ended with a black screen that simply read “The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is now in development,” but that was enough to send players into overdrive with excitement.

The next look at the sequel came a whole two years later at E3 2021, this time giving a dive into gameplay and the world of Hyrule. It was revealed that Link’s escapades will now involve the Sky islands, much like Skyward Sword did in 2011.

Hyrule Castle is also seen being yanked out of the ground at the end of the trailer, being left suspended in mid-air. How our courageous hero clad in green will get there now is currently unknown.

The release date and title trailer was unveiled during the 2022 Nintendo Direct:

The most recent trailer aired during the February 8, 2023, Nintendo Direct stream, showcasing the return of new and familiar enemies, puzzles, and the flight system. 

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gameplay

The first and only look at the gameplay so far was during the E3 2021 trailer. In it, fans were treated to a big glimpse at the world above the clouds, as well as new and returning foes.

Bokoblins can now camp on and ride a Stone Talus, and there appears to be a new Guardian-like enemy too. There’s also a new flower snake opponent, which Link fiercely fends off with a new flamethrower power.

The hero can also now warp through objects, and it’s hinted massively that he will be able to manipulate time somehow to his advantage. Though details on that are currently unknown.

New free-falling mechanic

As originally reported by Gamereactor, a new patent has revealed that the game will feature a free-falling mechanic which will allow Link to perform some cool moves and attacks while in midair. We saw the free-falling mechanic in action in the trailer, but the patent suggests this will be more developed than we previously thought.

It appears that Link will be able to string combos together and prolong his time in the air by stacking attacks. He’ll also be able to transition into rolls and a swan dive into water.

Of course, take this with a pinch of salt until we see more evidence, but this information tracks with what we’ve seen so far, and with how combos worked in the first BoTW. It also seems likely that these mechanics will be combined with gliding, allowing players to switch between the two with ease.

Tears of the Kingdom preorders

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is open for preorder at certain retailers. There is a standard edition and a recently announced Collectors edition. 

Check out our preorder guide for the full list of where to preorder and the best prices.

For more on upcoming titles, be sure to check out our pages for the following:

The Elder Scrolls 6  | GTA 6 | Assassin’s Creed Infinity | Wolverine | Spider-Man 2 | Hades 2 | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor | Wonder Woman | DokeV | FFXVI | Avatar Frontiers of Pandora | Dragon Age 4 | Elden Ring sequel | Sea of Stars | Tekken 8 

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