Convergence/New Timeline
Perhaps the most intriguing theory is that Breath of the Wild will either produce a new timeline or be the first connection of all three since Ocarina of Time. The latter is perhaps one of the most plausible since Breath of the Wild is clearly pulling themes and ideas from all of the different Zelda titles. It would also help Nintendo manage their storylines better going forward. Trying to force titles into one of three slightly different timelines can be quite troublesome from a narrative perspective, and a convergence could act as a nice reset for the Zelda games.
It’s also possible that Nintendo just adds a fourth timeline that starts 100 years after the events of Ocarina of Time. While this could lead to confusion later down the road, it would allow Nintendo to work in different styles and themes through their Zelda games and still utilize the different timelines to justify them. Yet, we won’t fully know where this title stands in The Legend of Zelda’s grand story until release. In the meantime, let us know where you think Breath of the Wild exists in the comments below.
