The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 is on its way, even if fans haven't heard much about it yet. The game is set to release in spring 2023 after a delay, the same general window as the original Breath of the Wild six years prior. It is expected to build upon the first game, with the original open world being modified alongside other expansions. Previously, trailers suggested Link would be traveling to islands in the sky, possibly having to do with Hyrule Castle lifting into the air. However, new information has provided a bit more context.

Recently, Champion Daruk’s Italian voice actor revealed he would be returning for Breath of the Wild 2, voicing the Goron and his distant ancestor. This is notable as the four Champions already have modern-day descendants who share some voice actors, but the older characters could also seemingly return now. Combined with Link donning a garb similar to the hero seen in the original war with Calamity Ganon, it appears time travel is likely for Breath of the Wild 2. This isn't the first time The Legend of Zelda has dealt with time travel, but it brings up a host of possibilities and concerns.

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The Benefits of Time Travel in Breath of the Wild 2

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One of the biggest opportunities that traveling to the past would bring is the chance to see Sheikah culture in its prime. All the technology in Breath of the Wild originated from the era of the original war with Calamity Ganon. The Sheikah tribe is still around in BotW, which is something of a rarity for the Zelda franchise, but they have largely scaled back their previous operations and act as normal farmers. Even the Yiga clan does not have access to ancient Sheikah technology, merely combat arts. Seeing the height of Sheikah culture, the Yiga betrayal, and perhaps even some old monks would provide plenty of interesting content.

There are many more things that players could see in the past era for Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule, such as the mysterious Zonai people and living forms of the various leviathans found throughout the landscape. Breath of the Wild has always been an interesting case in the series' canon, calling back to countless games in different timelines but only really lining up with the established predecessor Skyward Sword. More details on how the history of this ancient Hyrule has developed would be appreciated. Perhaps there will even be an answer as to how the eighth Heroine statue got so far away from the others, for example.

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It would also be interesting to participate in some events from the original Great Calamity. It's not yet clear if Link is replacing the red-haired hero scene in King Rhoam's exposition, or if that person is the same Ganondorf-like figure appearing in Breath of the Wild 2's first trailer. Learning more about his circumstances and relationship with the Calamity and Malice would be interesting, and Link may not have to do it alone. A new era presents an entirely new cast with their own stories to tell. The new set of champions could provide even more character to the world, and there will be plenty of other unique NPCs and quests to engage with.

Breath of the Wild 2’s Potential Time Travel Could Run Into Some Issues

Link preparing to draw the damaged Master Sword in a cutscene from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2

There are some problems that could arise from the use of time travel. One of the biggest is that the open nature of Breath of the Wild could be hindered when spending time in multiple eras. One of the extraordinary parts of the first game was the ability to cut out all pretense and make a beeline for Ganon. The player dictated every step of their journey, and even how much of the story they saw. Another prologue tutorial is permissible, especially considering the two eras would need to be introduced somehow, but it could lead to a more rigid main quest that the player is forced to follow.

There's also the matter of Sheikah Shrines and dungeons. The sky islands and potential new civilizations of the distant past free up space for more traditional dungeons, which is another benefit. However, that might leave the modern Hyrule feeling barren. It would be difficult to justify Link having to go through modern Sheikah Shrines when, theoretically, he has cleared a number of them already, and past ones would have new challenges. Even if the finale takes place in the present, having the past get so much new content might leave present Hyrule feeling stripped down.

Attention would also be taken away from the hundred-year period that the first Breath of the Wild focused on. There were two sets of champions and a number of memories that Link could stumble upon. Everything felt relevant to the setting and major characters, and even gave a silent Link more characterization. In the distant past, none of that is relevant anymore, even with the champions’ ancestors potentially being around. It's not entirely clear how Nintendo will be handling Breath of the Wild 2’s story, but there is a danger of old characters being little more than set dressing for their environments.

Some of these issues will likely be resolved as fans learn more about what Breath of the Wild 2 is going to include, but other information will remain obscured until the game is in players’ hands. Hopefully, Nintendo will be able to balance these two potential eras and give both enough new meaningful content to keep adventurers entertained.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 releases in spring 2023 for Nintendo Switch.

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