Nintendo Clears Up Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Confusion

What's really in a name? Well, if it's the case of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, apparently quite a lot. Although it would've been simple to stick a 2 on the end of Breath of the Wild for the sequel to 2017's fantasy game, Nintendo wanted to do something different.

We've only just learned about Tears of the Kingdom, and already, gamers are poring through the trailer to try and figure out what's going on. With rumours of a playable Zelda to a Ganondorf prequel game - and even a Twilight Princess connection - Nintendo's big Zelda reveal has definitely set tongues wagging. The thing is, no one's quite sure whether we're supposed to be shedding a tear or tearing the gaming industry a new one. 

What Is Breath Of The Wild 2 Really Called?

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Asking the important questions, Eurogamer asked those at the source how we're supposed to say Tears of the Kingdom. The site asked, "Was that 'tears' as in crying? Or 'tears' as in something being torn up?" Nintendo has confirmed it's the former, so let's shed a tear.

Most assumed this was the case, and as Breath of the Wild's Sheikah slate symbol looks like an eye with a teardrop, it makes the most sense. Elsewhere, there was a mural at the start of the trailer that included seven teardrop-shaped items seemingly on a map. We guess the main quest will be touring Hyrule and getting each of them like a shard of the Triforce in Ocarina of Time. 

Going back to earlier games, remember the Sacred Tears were items you had to gather in 2011's Skyward Sword. Given that Skyward Sword takes place at the very start of the timeline, it hammers home the idea that everything is coming full circle. 

What Does Tears Of The Kingdom Really Mean?

In all reality, it's likely that Nintendo chose the name to have a dual meaning. As Eurogamer notes, the little footage we've seen of Tear of the Kingdom shows a fractured Hyrule that's been split into floating landmasses. There's also what looks like a corrupted version of Hyrule Castle sprouting from the ground, so the whole tear/torn aesthetic works. 

As Nintendo glides into 2023 with Tears of the Kingdom, get ready to learn more about the long-awaited sequel. It might be disappointing that the game won't release in 2023, but in a year that Elden Ring and God of War Ragnarok are likely to duke it out for Game of the Year, Tears of the Kingdom could be clear to claim that title for itself next year.