Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Get Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
by Srinithi
Updated Aug 07, 2023
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a thrilling action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in 2023. Serving as the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017), Tears of the Kingdom retains the beloved open-world concept of Hyrule, now expanded to offer more vertical exploration opportunities. Players take on the role of Link, embarking on a quest to find Princess Zelda and thwart the Demon King's destructive plans.
The game's inception came after surpassing the scope of Breath of the Wild's DLC ideas. Developed by Nintendo's Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) division, Production Group Number 3, the project reunited director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and producer Eiji Aonuma.
E3 2019 offered a teaser, with a full reveal at E3 2021. Initially set for a 2022 launch, Tears of the Kingdom was delayed to May 2023. It garnered acclaim for its enhancements, enriched open world, and encouragement of exploration and experimentation. The game's success was evident with over 10 million copies sold in its first three days and a staggering 18.5 million copies sold by June 2023.
Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Get Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are in for a delightful treat, particularly those devoted to The Legend of Zelda series. Nintendo has excitingly announced a fresh wave of game-specific icons exclusively for subscribers, allowing them to personalize their profiles within the online service. These icons are beautifully themed around Tears of the Kingdom characters, granting players the opportunity to showcase their beloved favorites.
While three icons are already available, Nintendo plans to add more in the upcoming weeks. This isn't the first time Nintendo has offered such customization, having done so previously for various games, including past Zelda titles. This time, the focus is on the supportive characters from the game, ranging from Zelda and Ganondorf to Riju, Yona, and Yunobo.
To obtain these delightful icons, players can easily navigate to the "Missions & Rewards" section of the Nintendo Switch Online app and select their desired character representation. The first three icons are already up for grabs, with a promise of more exciting releases in the weeks to come. As fans eagerly anticipate potential Tears of the Kingdom DLC, the game continues to soar in popularity, boasting impressive sales figures.
Furthermore, the Nintendo Switch Online service has enriched its classic Zelda game collection, offering more options for enthusiasts keen on immersing themselves in the iconic franchise. Whether you're a devoted follower of the Zelda saga or simply seeking to add a personal touch to your profile, these new icons undoubtedly enhance the already thrilling Nintendo Switch Online experience.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Gameplay
Tears of the Kingdom maintains the captivating open-world action-adventure gameplay introduced in its predecessor, Breath of the Wild (2017). As the valiant Link, players embark on an exciting journey, exploring the vast expanse of Hyrule, along with two new intriguing regions—the Sky, featuring floating islands, and the Depths. Throughout their quest, players seek weapons, resources, and complete various quests, traversing by foot, horseback, climbing, or using a paraglider.
A noteworthy addition to the game is the introduction of Zonai devices, offering diverse functionalities for combat, propulsion, and exploration. The previous runes have been replaced by five new abilities: Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, Recall, and Autobuild. Ultrahand empowers players to manipulate and combine objects creatively, while Fuse allows Link to enhance his weapons and shields by combining materials.
Autobuild swiftly recreates devices, while Ascend grants the power to move upward through solid surfaces. Recall enables players to "rewind" an object's movement.Shrines and Korok seeds make a triumphant return, with shrines rewarding players with Light of Blessing, leading to increased hearts or stamina for Link. Korok seeds enhance Link's inventory capacity, allowing him to carry more melee weapons, shields, and bows.
A fresh challenge awaits in the Depths, accessible through chasms. Here, a hazardous substance called gloom poses a threat, temporarily decreasing Link's maximum hearts when he encounters enemies covered in it. Only by returning to the surface or seeking out lightroot plants can Link regain his full health.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Plot
Tears of the Kingdom unfolds several years after the events of Breath of the Wild, within the realm of Hyrule, at the conclusion of the Zelda timeline. Link and Zelda embark on a quest to investigate the cavern beneath Hyrule Castle, where gloom, a toxic substance, has been causing illnesses. Delving deeper, they uncover a mural narrating the founding of Hyrule and the ancient Imprisoning War against the enigmatic "Demon King." An awakened mummy attacks, leaving Link injured, Master Sword shattered, and Hyrule Castle lifted into the skies.
Zelda vanishes with a mysterious artifact, and Link gains a mystical arm on the Great Sky Island. Guided by Rauru, a Zonai spirit, Link ventures through temples, encounters ancient sages, and learns of Zelda's fate. After confronting impostor Ganondorf, defeating the Demon Dragon, and reuniting with Zelda, they restore peace to Hyrule, aided by the spirits of the past. Mineru bids farewell, and the sages pledge to safeguard Hyrule.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Development
The development of Tears of the Kingdom began in 2017 after the completion of Breath of the Wild. Initially conceived as downloadable content (DLC), it evolved into a standalone game due to an overflow of new ideas. The game's announcement as the sequel to Breath of the Wild was made at E3 2019, and its trailer, gameplay, and storyline were showcased at E3 2021, with an original release window set for 2022.
However, Nintendo later rescheduled the release to Q2 2023. More details were unveiled in a September 2022 Nintendo Direct, revealing the title as Tears of the Kingdom and confirming its release date as May 12, 2023. Further gameplay elements were teased in a February 2023 Nintendo Direct. Notably, a playable version of the game leaked online two weeks before the official launch as a disk image.
Tears of the Kingdom was led by director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and producer Eiji Aonuma, who were also at the helm of Breath of the Wild. The game emerged from the accumulation of unused concepts originally planned for Breath of the Wild's DLC.
One of its standout features includes floating islands above Hyrule, allowing players to traverse between them, akin to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011). Although Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Zelda, was initially involved in early demos, his contribution was limited due to scheduling conflicts arising from his role as a producer on The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023). He received credit as "general producer," a position he has held in the series since the late 2000s.
Nintendo Switch Online Subscribers Get Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - FAQ
Nintendo Switch Online subscribers have access to a delightful treat - exclusive game-specific icons themed around Tears of the Kingdom characters. These icons can be used as profile pictures within the online service, allowing players to personalize their profiles with their favorite characters from the game.
Tears of the Kingdom is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch in 2023. It serves as the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, featuring an expanded open-world concept in the kingdom of Hyrule.
To obtain the Tears of the Kingdom icons, subscribers can simply head to the "Missions & Rewards" section of the Nintendo Switch Online app. From there, they can select their desired character representation and apply it as their profile picture.
Yes, Nintendo has previously offered game-specific icons for various titles, including past Zelda games. This new addition focuses on the supporting characters from Tears of the Kingdom, allowing players to showcase their beloved favorites.
Aside from the Tears of the Kingdom icons, Nintendo Switch Online also offers an enriched classic Zelda game collection, providing more options for fans to immerse themselves in the iconic franchise's timeless adventures.