An interview with Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi has revealed some of the thought process behind the development of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For all that it expanded on the Zonai race hinted at in Breath of the Wild, TOTK left mysteries involving Sheikah technology unsolved in a way that confused and frustrated many. Of course, some Zelda mysteries have gone unanswered for decades, but in this case new information has clarified some of the more notable changes to Hyrule.
Several of TOTK’s smaller stories seem to be left unfinished as the series now moves forward, such as that of news reporter Penn, which seemed to feed into the unknown whereabouts of Rito bard Kass. It seemed that there was plenty of basis for DLC, and now it has been announced that such content is not planned. However, entries in the main series of games aren’t the only ways to receive clarification on events in Hyrule. Official supplementary material, such as the notable Hyrule Historia book, are just as valid sources as are interviews with those involved in the development of the games.
New TOTK Interview Reveals The Fate Of BOTW’s Sheikah Tech
One of the largest mysteries following the release of Tears of the Kingdom was the matter of the disappearing Sheikah Technology. Breath of the Wild concluded with Ancient Shrines and Sheikah Towers covering the landscape, not to mention the various Guardians and the four Divine Beasts. But by the time of TOTK, none of this remains in Hyrule, although Purah has done much to create new technology in the same vein. Now, in an interview with The Telegraph, TOTK director Hidemaro Fujibayashi has revealed what happened to all the Sheikah Tech in between the two games. According to Fujibayashi, it all “disappeared” from Hyrule in a single sweeping event.
It seems that after Link defeated Calamity Ganon, the Sheikah technology that had helped (and hindered) him so much in his journey vanished in response. Fujibayashi says that the people of Hyrule have interpreted this as being due to the Sheikah tech’s purpose being fulfilled with Ganon’s defeat, although it is also still considered something of a mystery. Even the Sheikah Guardians which were corrupted by Ganon were no exception to this, although some rusting parts can still be seen at the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab alongside an intact (albeit deactivated) Guardian mounted on the roof.
Of course, as appreciated as this explanation is, it is worth pointing out that it seems fairly shallow. Not one NPC in Tears of the Kingdom makes reference to this event, not even Princess Zelda or the Sages. It would be natural for those who were both closest to the freeing of the Divine Beasts and the effective successors to the Champions to make some reference to their ancestor’s immense war machines no longer being present, but no discussions of the sort arise. Combined with the fact that this event was not shown during the end of BOTW, it feels more like this is a justification after the fact.
Sheikah Tech Disappearing Isn’t Necessarily Unusual For Hyrule
On the other hand, as Fujibayashi goes on to note, “It is, anyway, commonplace for mysterious events and strange phenomena to occur in Hyrule.” From that perspective, the inhabitants of the magical kingdom would certainly be able to easily accept such events and move on with their lives afterward. It would hardly be unprecedented; in TOTK alone, members of the Zonai Research Team can be found stripping after mishearing a speech from Zelda, while others have fallen in love with a mushroom fashion craze. Hylians have a notable capacity for unusual behavior, and the other races of Hyrule can be equally quirky.
According to Fujibayashi, this is indeed the case, and the lack of in-depth knowledge about the inner workings of the Ancient Sheikah’s creations means that Hyrule’s people see no reason to doubt any reasonable explanation. Fujibayashi also comments that no one has thought to investigate further, which seems strange in isolation; Zelda, at the very least, seems unlikely to give up so easily given her intensely inquisitive nature, and Purah and Robbie likewise seem like they would lament the loss of so much. However, considering that Purah has developed TOTK’s series of Skyview Towers, and the Purah Pad with Robbie’s help, this could be the pair’s response to the event.
It is also worth taking into account that even the basic geography of Hyrule is notably subject to change. Although some of this can be seen as a result of details like intervening time periods and less restrictive hardware, prominent landmarks can still shift in improbable ways. For example, Death Mountain has been located in the North, East, and even West of Hyrule at various points throughout the franchise. In comparison, the brief appearance and disappearance of objects like the Sheikah Towers would practically be inconsequential to most of the populace.
The Absence Of Sheikah Tech In TOTK Clears The Way For The Zonai
In the end, Hyrule is a fantasy kingdom periodically beset by armies of monsters, demons, and evil sorcerers. Its people have faced threats like a magical invasion of Twilight and the prospect of being turned into paintings. As Fujibayashi says, they are quite simply used to strange things happening. After a century of Guardian attacks and the Divine Beasts’ own activations and subsequent firing of laser beams, it would hardly be surprising for many to even be glad that they were gone. Moreover, this allows TOTK’s Zonai Devices, Sages, and Secret Stones to not be overshadowed by the preceding BOTW’s own unique features.
The reveal of what happened to BOTW’s Sheikah Tech may be disappointing or even contentious for some, due to both the lack of in-game references and the simplistic nature of the actual explanation. In the context of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it is true that the Sheikah Tech disappearing is both convenient and all that is really needed to set the stage for the game, allowing development time to be spent on other areas. Furthermore, in order for the Zonai to properly take the spotlight, limiting the Sheikah’s own significance is arguably necessary, and the specific reasoning used does little to affect the gameplay experience.
Sources: The Telegraph, Nintendo of America/YouTube