The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Complete Guide 2025

When Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May 2023, it didn’t just follow up one of the most celebrated games of the decade — it expanded on it in ways that surprised even longtime fans. Two years later, questions about platform availability, DLC, and performance on newer hardware remain central to the conversation. This article lays out the facts as they stand in 2025, based on official sources and verified reporting.

Developed by Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo, Tears of the Kingdom is the twentieth main installment in the Zelda series. It launched exclusively on Nintendo Switch and has since sold over 21 million copies, according to Nintendo’s fiscal reports. The game carries a Metacritic score of 96, placing it among the highest-rated titles of the decade.

When Is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Released and on Which Platforms?

• Direct sequel: Tears of the Kingdom is the direct successor to Breath of the Wild and the 20th main installment in the Zelda series.
• Fast-selling title: It sold over 20 million copies within the first year, making it one of the fastest-selling Switch titles.
• New mechanics: The game introduces Fuse, Ultrahand, Ascend, and Recall — abilities that significantly expand player creativity.
• No PC or DLC: Despite heavy demand, Nintendo has not released the game on PC or Steam, nor announced any paid DLC as of 2025.

The original release date of May 12, 2023, applied to all regions simultaneously. As of 2025, the game remains exclusive to Nintendo hardware. No official version exists for PC or Steam. Any PC play occurs through unofficial emulation, which Nintendo has not sanctioned.

How Does Tears of the Kingdom Compare to Breath of the Wild?

Both games share the same version of Hyrule and the same general art direction, but Tears of the Kingdom expands the world vertically and underground. The most visible additions are the sky islands floating above the map and the Depths, a large underground area beneath it. New traversal and building mechanics — Fuse, Ultrahand, Ascend, and Recall — fundamentally change how players interact with the environment.

New Abilities: Fuse, Ultrahand, Ascend, Recall

These four abilities replace the Sheikah Slate runes from Breath of the Wild. Fuse lets players attach materials to weapons and shields. Ultrahand allows building vehicles and structures. Ascend propels Link upward through ceilings. Recall reverses an object’s movement. Together, they enable creative problem-solving that goes far beyond the previous game’s physics system.

Expanded World: Sky Islands and Depths

The sky islands add a vertical layer of exploration with distinct biomes and puzzles. The Depths, a dark underground area, contains unique enemies, resources, and lore. These two new layers roughly double the explorable space compared to Breath of the Wild, though the surface map itself is largely the same landmass.

Performance Comparison

The original Switch version of Tears of the Kingdom received praise for its scope but faced some criticism for frame-rate drops in busier areas. The Switch 2 Edition, released on June 5, 2025, addresses these issues with smoother performance, faster load times, higher resolution, and HDR support. It also integrates with ZELDA NOTES, a companion feature accessible via the Nintendo Switch app. Some commentary suggests the sharper resolution can make texture limitations and pop-in more noticeable, particularly in Breath of the Wild assets. Tears of the Kingdom generally benefits more from the improved hardware because its original release was more demanding.

For players considering revisiting the earlier title, our Breath of the Wild complete guide covers everything from shrines to strategies. The two games share the same world foundation, but Tears of the Kingdom expands it substantially and performs better on Switch 2 hardware.

Will There Be Downloadable Content (DLC) for Tears of the Kingdom?

Nintendo has not announced any major paid DLC or expansion pass for Tears of the Kingdom, unlike Breath of the Wild, which received two expansion packs. As of 2025, the company’s post-launch focus has shifted instead to the Switch 2 Edition and companion features such as ZELDA NOTES.

Official Statements on DLC

No official announcement from Nintendo has confirmed a story expansion or additional content packs. In contrast to Breath of the Wild‘s Expansion Pass, which added The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad, Tears of the Kingdom has not received any comparable downloadable content.

Free Updates Already Released

Nintendo did release free updates, including a patch in July 2023 that added amiibo functionality and new paraglider fabrics. These updates were minor and did not introduce new story content or substantial gameplay additions.

Community Expectations

Speculation about potential DLC continues in fan communities, but no credible evidence from official sources supports an upcoming expansion. The absence of a traditional paid DLC model for this title marks a notable departure from Nintendo’s approach with Breath of the Wild.

What Are the Key Milestones in the History of Tears of the Kingdom?

1. June 2019 — Tears of the Kingdom (then known only as the sequel to Breath of the Wild) is announced at E3 2019.
2. September 2022 — The official title and release date are revealed in a Nintendo Direct.
3. May 12, 2023 — Worldwide release on Nintendo Switch.
4. May 2023 — First patch (ver. 1.1.0) addresses bugs and duplication glitches.
5. July 2023 — Free update adds amiibo functionality and new paraglider fabrics.
6. 2024 — No major DLC announced; Nintendo confirms no planned expansions as of early 2025.
7. June 5, 2025 — The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition launches alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 console.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Tears of the Kingdom?

Where Does Tears of the Kingdom Fit Within the Zelda Franchise?

Tears of the Kingdom builds directly on the open-world foundation established by Breath of the Wild. It introduces vertical exploration through sky islands and the Depths, along with deeper crafting and building mechanics. The game’s commercial success and critical acclaim have cemented it as one of the highest-rated titles of the decade.

The absence of DLC — a departure from Breath of the Wild‘s two expansion packs — has led to discussion about Nintendo’s shifting post-launch strategy. Exclusivity to Nintendo hardware continues to be a significant factor for consumers considering the platform. As a direct sequel set in the same version of Hyrule, the game picks up after the events of Breath of the Wild, placing it at the end of the official Zelda timeline, after all three timeline branches converge.

For more on the series’ broader context, the Zelda Wiki provides extensive lore documentation and community-sourced analysis of the game’s narrative placement.

What Do Critics and Official Sources Say About the Game?

Critical reception for Tears of the Kingdom has been overwhelmingly positive. The game holds a Metacritic score of 96, based on more than 110 critic reviews. Reviewers consistently highlight the scope of the world and the depth of the new mechanics.

“An unfathomable follow-up, expanding a world that already felt full beyond expectation.”

IGN Review

“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the twentieth main installment in The Legend of Zelda series.”

Zelda Wiki

“An epic adventure across the land and skies of Hyrule awaits.”

Nintendo.com

What Should Players Know About Tears of the Kingdom in 2025?

Tears of the Kingdom remains a Nintendo Switch exclusive with no PC or Steam version available. The game has not received any major paid DLC, and the focus of post-launch enhancement has shifted to the Switch 2 Edition, which offers improved performance, resolution, and load times on the newer console. Players should monitor official Nintendo channels for any future announcements. The community modding scene continues via emulation, though this is unofficial. For a broader selection of top titles, see our list of Best Nintendo Switch games 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tears of the Kingdom