Though it's been highly anticipated with a wait that's felt like forever for some, players could still see The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom delayed further than its current mid-2023 release date if Zelda history is anything to go by. Despite an initial aim for a release in 2022, the Breath of the Wild sequel has already been delayed once 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 single Zelda game has seen its share of delays.
So while fans can piece together an idea of what's currently going on with Tears of the Kingdom such 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 May 12, 2023, release date. Many major Zelda games have been delayed at least a year without a pandemic to blame, so it's possible that Tears of the Kingdom could 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.
The Possibility of Another Tears of the Kingdom Delay
Once The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was announced - albeit without its current title - fans were excited to return to the world they had just seen in Breath 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 that Tears of the Kingdom would achieve bigger things. Early trailers gave a glimpse of Nintendo's ambition with the sequel, but much like Breath of the Wild itself, a delay seemed inevitable.
When it was announced then that Tears of the Kingdom had been delayed, it did cause some knock-on effects both for fans and the market, but it wasn't entirely unexpected. Some even saw Tears of the Kingdom's delay 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 about Tears of the Kingdom's actual 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 expects Tears of the Kingdom to release on schedule. With the likes of Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Last Demon or Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, it seems Nintendo is banking on making its 2023 Switch release dates.
Additionally, though gameplay trailers and marketing material remain scarce, enough has been shown to indicate that Tears of the Kingdom is 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 Kingdom promises a lot. The best way to assuage delay fears at this point is something like a Tears of the Kingdom story trailer to get hyped for May 2023.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is set to release on May 12, 2023, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.