Though it’s been highly anticipated with a wait that’s felt like forever for some, players could still seeThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomdelayed further than its current mid-2023 release date ifZeldahistory is anything to go by. Despite an initial aim for a release in 2022,theBreath of the Wildsequel has already been delayedonce before with its new and current target for spring of 2023. While COVID-19 could be the culprit for new delays, it might not be the only cause for concern, since practically every singleZeldagame has seen its share of delays.
So while fans can piece together an idea of what’scurrently going on withTears of the Kingdomsuch as game ratings, which suggest delays are unlikely, it’s been hard to get a read on whether Nintendo is still committing to its current June 26, 2025, release date. Many majorZeldagames have been delayed at least a year without a pandemic to blame, so it’s possible thatTears of the Kingdomcould see just one more delay if only to give Nintendo the breathing room it has had before with the series. However, Nintendo could be eager to see its long-awaited sequel in players' hands with no more delays.
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The Possibility of Another Tears of the Kingdom Delay
OnceThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomwas announced - albeit without its current title - fans were excited to return to the world they had just seen inBreath of the Wild.However, questions were raised about how quickly the sequel could follow after its predecessor. While it was presumed to be operating on the same game mechanics, there was an expectation thatTears of the Kingdomwould achieve bigger things. Early trailers gave a glimpse of Nintendo’s ambition with the sequel, but much likeBreath of the Wilditself, a delay seemed inevitable.
When it was announced then thatTears of the Kingdomhad been delayed, it did cause some knock-on effects both for fans and the market, but it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Some even sawTears of the Kingdom’sdelay as a good sign, reflective of Nintendo’s desire to ensure the game was up to par. If this is still the case, then it could be that between the challenges posed by COVID-19 and what little is known about the game beyond trailers and other marketing material, a second delay could be beneficial, both in terms of quality and release timing.
No Actual Signs of a Zelda Delay So Far
However, even with the most pessimistic of speculation aboutTears of the Kingdom’sactual launch, there have been no signs that Nintendo intends to delay the sequel any further than it already has. The dedication to a final date, for example, and the fact that the game has been delayed already seems to indicate that Nintendo fully expectsTears of the Kingdomto release on schedule. With the likes ofBayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Last DemonorKirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, it seemsNintendo is banking on making its 2023 Switch release dates.
Additionally, though gameplay trailers and marketing material remain scarce, enough has been shown to indicate thatTears of the Kingdomis almost done if not fully complete. With new content ranging from expanded traversal mechanics, new enemies and gameplay environments, and even what appears to be a revived Ganondorf as the main antagonist,Tears of the Kingdompromises a lot. The best way to assuage delay fears at this point is something like aTears of the Kingdomstory trailer to get hyped for May 2023.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis set to release onMay 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
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