The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom first launched for the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition followed on June 5, 2025. It is a direct sequel premise to Breath of the Wild, expanding Link’s journey into Hyrule’s skies as well as the land below.
What is Tears of the Kingdom about?
Nintendo describes Tears of the Kingdom as a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Players choose their own route through Hyrule and mysterious islands floating high above it while Link uses new abilities to confront forces threatening the kingdom.
That makes it a direct follow-up rather than a remake or unrelated story. The setting carries forward the open-ended exploration of Breath of the Wild, but the sky islands and expanded regions give the sequel a broader vertical scale. This is a spoiler-light description: it explains the premise without revealing the game’s major story turns.
Original release and Switch 2 Edition
Nintendo’s original launch announcement set the Nintendo Switch release for May 12, 2023. The current Switch 2 product listing dates the enhanced edition to June 5, 2025.
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- Enhanced performance and visuals exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore the skies, caves, and vast lands of Hyrule in a massive open-world adventure.
- Wield new and returning abilities to craft solutions, vehicles, and weapons.
- Discover the mystery behind the spreading gloom threatening the kingdom.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app to share, compare, and earn daily bonuses.
| Edition | Platform | Image and performance | Loading | Save support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original edition | Nintendo Switch family of systems | Original Switch presentation; Switch 2 enhancements do not apply to this version | Original Switch loading behavior | Not stated in Nintendo’s launch announcement |
| Switch 2 Edition | Nintendo Switch 2 | Higher resolution, improved frame rates, and HDR support | Faster loading | One additional save slot |
The game is sold as a Nintendo Switch physical or digital title. Nintendo has also announced themed OLED hardware, a Pro Controller, a carrying case, and amiibo-related merchandise; stock, pricing, and regional availability can change.
Every launch-era trailer in Nintendo’s listed order
Nintendo’s official game-page index places these four videos in the launch-era sequence below. Watching them in this order follows the progression from announcement to final pre-release showcase.
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- Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
- Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
- Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
- Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
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Coming May 12th, 2023 (Nintendo Switch)
This September 2022 Nintendo Direct reveal supplied the official title and launch date and introduced gameplay taking place above the clouds.
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Official Trailer #2 (Nintendo Switch)
Published in connection with Nintendo’s February 9, 2023 announcement, this trailer highlighted sky islands, unfamiliar weapons, and mysterious vehicles.
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]- Persistent internet and compatible smart device required. Data charges may apply.
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Gameplay demonstration from Mr. Aonuma (Nintendo Switch)
Nintendo’s index places Eiji Aonuma’s gameplay presentation between the second and third official trailers. It shifts from cinematic teases to a closer look at how the sequel plays.
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Official Trailer #3 (Nintendo Switch)
Released April 13, 2023, this was Nintendo’s final pre-launch trailer. Nintendo said it showcased destinations, dangers, sights, puzzles, and Link’s new abilities across Hyrule and the sky.
What about the 2019 teaser and 2021 E3 presentation?
Earlier announcement materials include a 2019 teaser and a 2021 E3 presentation. The official pages identified here do not provide a complete title-by-title archive for those videos, so the four-item list above is the reliable launch-era sequence Nintendo names. If you are building a literally exhaustive video archive, verify the exact titles and upload metadata for those earlier presentations before labeling the list complete.
Quick Recap
Which version should you play?
- Choose the original Switch edition if you play on a Nintendo Switch or Switch OLED and do not need the Switch 2-specific upgrades.
- Choose the Switch 2 Edition if you own Nintendo Switch 2 and want the listed resolution, frame-rate, HDR, loading-time, and extra-save-slot improvements.
- Check the format before buying: Nintendo supports both physical and digital game releases, while accessory availability varies by market and date.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
