The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an unsurprising success

Is there anyone out there who thought Nintendo’s latest The Legend of Zelda wouldn’t be successful? If so, you were so wrong it’s not even funny.

Tears of money

Released just last week, on May the 12th, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom seems to have caught on with fans. Of course, that’s a massive understatement as the game’s been just about as much of a smash as it possibly could have been.

One of the few “Zelda” titles to be a direct sequel, the game picks up where Breath of the Wild left off. It’s the same world and version of Hyrule, though it’s definitely different. The landscape is bigger this time, with vertical elements, and it certainly looks though the challenge is much greater, as Link battles Gannondorf and his monstrous army one more time.

“Many players are returning to Hyrule with all its new mysteries and possibilities, and with the record-breaking launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for Nintendo Switch, we can’t wait to see what they’ll create in the game and the stories they’ll share next,” said Devon Pritchard, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communications. “We’re grateful for all of our fans who’ve shown their passion for The Legend of Zelda over the years, and these sales numbers for the latest installment continue to show the strong momentum for both the franchise and Nintendo Switch this year.”

Devon Pritchard, Nintendo of America’s Executive Vice President of Sales

What you don’t get a really get a good look at in that video are the new building possibilities contained in Tears of the Kingdom. Link can now gain the ability to actually create stuff. And that ranges from massive bridges used to circumvent pitfalls to… uh, well to other things that shall remain nameless here. But if you haven’t seen some of the gameplay clips from fans, let’s just say it’s some of the silliest stuff we’ve ever seen somebody make in a game.

A smashing young elf

To say that all of this has equated to a big opening… well once again that’s an understatement. According to Nintendo, Tears of the Kingdom has become the fastest selling title in The Legend of Zelda catalog.

That’s some feat, when you consider the history that the series has. Started 35 years ago on the NES, The Legend of Zelda name has hosted titles like Link to the Past, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, and many more.

But in just 3 days on sale, TotK has bested all of those, including its predecessor (and neo-classic) Breath of the Wild. To what degree? Well, it’s apparently moved some 10 million copies since launch. Yes, 10 million. No, that’s not a typo.

There are a few ways to get The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, if you’re one of the few yet to take the plunge. As most Nintendo fans probably would prefer, there’s both the base and Collector’s Editions of the game, which both come in physical form. But then there’s also the eShop digital edition, should those aforementioned carts be sold out.

Additionally, there’s a new Switch console you might be interested in. An OLED model Switch, the new console is emblazoned with Tears of the Kingdom art, and is priced in at $359.99 USD. Not enough? Well there’s a Pro Controller too, and a Switch carrying case to boot. Plan accordingly.