The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is officially set to release on May 12, 2023 and we’re all here for it.
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
It's undisputable that The Legend of Zelda is a series that has revolutionized the RPG genre with its holistic approach to the formula. Now fans of the franchise can rejoice because the latest Nintendo Direct has an exciting announcement! The next Legend of Zelda game is called Tears of the Kingdom and is coming in 2023!
The last game to release was Breath of the Wild in 2017. The game was released to universal acclaim, winning several awards and a is considered a regular on Video Game GOAT lists. The franchise is one of Nintendo's longest-running series of video games.
Five Years of Development, Big Shoes to Fill
Development of Tears of the Kingdom began immediately after Breath of the Wild released in 2017. This game has big shoes to fill because Breath of the Wild has won every accolade a video game can. Succeeding a game that is widely touted as the greatest video game of all time is not going to be easy.
Even in 2021, four years after its release, Breath of the Wild was the sixth most played game on the Nintendo Switch. The Legend of Zelda players are quite patient, but their expectations are going to be high based on the sheer quality of the previous game.
Explore Hyrule's floating islands in Tears of the Kingdom
Hyrule is one of the most gorgeous open worlds in the history of gaming, and players will be returning to the Kingdom in Tears of the Kingdom. This time, players will get the opportunity to explore floating islands scattered in the sky around Hyrule. Plenty of Hyrule remains mysterious and players will likely relish the opportunity to experience more of the vast region in the sequel as Link.
A delayed release, but worth it
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was expected to release in 2022 but Eiji Aonuma announced that the game has been delayed to 2023. The Legend of Zelda fans are used to longer release cycles and high-quality games.
Nintendo finally gave everyone a release date at Nintendo Direct along with a glimpse of the game. It's not too far away, with a May 12th 2023 release.
From what everyone saw in the game, it looks every bit as good as its predecessor if not better. Anyone that was planning on selling their Nintendo Switch might want to hold on to it until May.
The listing for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the Nintendo Store is live along with a webpage. Expect the pre-orders to go live soon. Of course, there's going to be a lot of them, given the sheer popularity of Breath of the Wild. Certainly one of the games to watch out for.