Was Tears of the Kingdom Meant to be DLC?
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Tears of the Kingdom was initially conceived as DLC for Breath of the Wild, but it eventually evolved into a full-fledged game as the development team came up with too many new ideas to be contained within downloadable content. The game’s director, Aonuma, confirmed that the team was able to implement all the elements they wanted to achieve in Tears of the Kingdom, making it a standalone game rather than an expansion of Breath of the Wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
- What is the timeline of Tears of the Kingdom?: Tears of the Kingdom takes place after the events of Breath of the Wild, with Link being around 122-125 years old in the game, and it is placed at the end of the Zelda timeline, although it is currently disconnected from other games in the series.
- Will there be a sequel to Tears of the Kingdom?: While there is no official announcement, the Zelda series will continue, and the next mainline game might be a dual release or exclusive to the Switch successor, expected in 2024.
- How long is Tears of the Kingdom?: The game is over twice as large as Breath of the Wild in terms of content, with two additional layers of Hyrule to explore, including the Depths and the Sky Islands.
Game Mechanics and Features
- Are there shrines in Tears of the Kingdom?: Yes, there are 152 Shrines in total, with 120 on the surface of Hyrule and 32 in the Sky Islands.
- Will there be DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?: No, there are no plans for DLC, as the development team was able to implement all the elements they wanted to achieve in the game.
- Is there a post-game in Tears of the Kingdom?: No, there is no post-game content, and after completing the game, players will be taken back to the title screen.
Story and Characters
- What happened to the Divine Beasts?: The Divine Beasts were recovered after years of excavation but were lost again when Calamity Ganon sent the four Blight Ganons to infest them.
- How old is Riju in Tears of the Kingdom?: Riju is roughly 12 years old, but she appears more grown-up due to the Gerudo maturing faster than Hylians.
- Is Zelda still a dragon?: No, Zelda is able to transform back into a human after Link defeats Ganondorf.
The Zelda Universe
- Is the Triforce in Tears of the Kingdom?: The Triforce does not appear in Tears of the Kingdom, but it is implied to still be within Zelda.
- What is the relation between Link and Zelda?: While not explicitly confirmed, Link and Zelda share a loving and caring relationship, and there are hints that they live together in Hateno Village.
- How old is Mipha?: Mipha is approximately 55 years old in Zora years, which is roughly the same age as Link and Zelda.
Development and Reception
- When did development of Tears of the Kingdom start?: Development of Tears of the Kingdom began in 2017, after the completion of Breath of the Wild.
- Was Tears of the Kingdom announced at E3?: Yes, Tears of the Kingdom was announced at E3 2019 as a sequel to Breath of the Wild.
- Will Tears of the Kingdom be the last game in the series?: No, Tears of the Kingdom is not the end of the Zelda series, and the franchise will continue with new games and adventures.