We've updated the following list with even more details that we have noticed since the gameplay trailer dropped — and you can see them all in the video above courtesy of the lovely Alex-from-Nintendo-Life. For the big announcements and the blink-and-you'll-miss-it hints, this list has it all (or at least, all that we could see)...
Unlike the trailers that we have seen over the past few months, this was all about some of the new features that we can expect to come across in the Breath of the Wild sequel. This is a Hyrule that will look familiar, it is true, but it certainly seems like there have been a number of changes between the two Switch titles.
If you made it to the end of the gameplay trailer and found yourself instantly stuck for exactly what you just saw — "there was some kind of little Guardian-type guy and, uh, Link has sticky hands now, I think?" — then you have come to the right place. Below, we have laid out all of the new details that we were able to pull from the latest showcase, including Link's new abilities, fresh enemies, and just what is happening with those weapons.
There's much more besides, so read on to find out every new feature and detail revealed for Tears of the Kingdom.
Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Gameplay Trailer - Every New Detail Revealed
New Controls
Image: Nintendo
Right from the get-go, we can see that the Breath of the Wild control system has had a little bit of a Sheik up. The up button on the d-pad now seems to be all about materials with the apple symbol sitting there throughout the duration of the trailer.
This is distinct from Link's new abilities (don't worry, we'll get into them later) which are now mapped to the L button.
Map Coordinates
Image: Nintendo
Yes, one of the first things that we noticed in this trailer might also be one of the most pedantic, but it looks like the map finally has coordinates!
Just check out the lower edge of the mini-map in the bottom right corner and you will spy three ever-changing numbers and Link moves. No more will we be describing a location in Hyrule to our friends by vague landmarks — "it's just over the hill and next to that one tree, you know?" — we have precise longitude, latitude, and altitude to play with now.
Campfire Smoke?
Image: Nintendo
It's true, we have seen campfire smoke in Zelda games before, but the distinct puffs in this gameplay trailer suggest that something new is going on here. Whether it is just an easier way of spotting campfires or something completely new remains to be seen. But we'll keep our enthusiasm burning nonetheless.
Koroks Are Back!
Image: Nintendo
We had assumed that Koroks would be making their almighty return in Tears of the Kingdom long before this trailer was released, but it is nice to get some confirmation all the same.
You can spot one by the side of the road as Link rides past, seemingly with a Side Quest attached to him. What's more, he even has a little backpack on! Now that's the kind of adorable innovation that we were hoping for!
New Areas - Sky Islands
That's right, we just said "altitude" and for the first time since this game was announced, we actually feel like we have some idea of what we're talking about.
The trailer gave us a whistle-stop tour of some of the game's Sky Islands showing off some of what we can expect to see up there. We'll go into more detail on the things we spotted in just a moment, but from the brief look that we got this is ultimately looking like BOTW's Hyrule just on another level. Highrule, if you will... we're sorry...
Dragons On Tour
Image: Nintendo
As Link arrives on the first Sky Island, you can see a dragon (we think Naydra) flying in the distance, but wait a minute, doesn't it seem mighty far from its usual circuit of Mount Lanayru?
Is this another dragon that we're looking at here, or are the original trio simply packing their bags and heading on a longer flight path in this one?
Yellow Trees
Image: Nintendo
We won't lie, the yellow trees on the Sky Islands probably would have passed us by if it wasn't for Aonuma flagging it up: "you won't see many of those yellow trees on the surface".
Do these trees hold some purpose that those measly normal trees on the surface do not? Maybe! There certainly seems to be a lot of them up there, so we can't imagine anything too special.
New Enemies - Constructs
Image: Nintendo
A brand new enemy introduced in the gameplay trailer, Constructs have something of a Guardian-like appearance about them, only much smaller and a little less intimidating.
While the trailer highlighted these robot rivals on the Sky Islands, we spotted a couple more of them down on terra firma too, so it looks like there will be little chance of escape.
We also couldn't help but notice what seems to be one of these Constructs in a state of decay a little later on in the trailer. While we might be reaching a little here, seeing all of those robot parts on the floor really reminded us of Skyward Sword's Robots from Lanayru Desert (in their crumbled, 'future' state, of course).
A mere coincidence? Probably. But there's no denying a certain rusted robot reference there. It even looks like some of the Constructs are an all-around friendlier bunch, maybe pointing towards more Lanayru connections than might immediately meet the eye.
More Signs Of The Zonai
Image: Nintendo
We're assuming that the Constructs are made of Zonai tech based on the items that they drop when destroyed. Notice the 'Zonai Charge' that Link collected after dispatching each of them? A lot of our speculation about the game so far has circulated around these mythical creatures (not to mention the two tail-gobbling ones in the game's logo) so might they have something to do with these new baddies?
Weapon Degradation Returns - Yay!/Nooooo! (delete as applicable)
Image: Nintendo
This might not be the news that everyone wanted to hear, but yes, weapon degradation is back in Tears of the Kingdom.
Just a few swings of that stick in the gameplay trailer was enough to send it splintering into, uh, splinters, but it looks like not all weapons will be going down quite so easily this time around...
