Highlights

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom removed the Sheikah technology, there is still intrigue in its origins and potential future exploration.
  • Sheikah technology in Breath of the Wild has a wide range of uses and could be utilized in new ways in future Zelda games.
  • Future Zelda games could bring back Sheikah technology through time travel elements or a Tears of the Kingdom prequel, providing greater insight into th lore.

Though The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has seemingly wiped the Sheikah Slate clean after it introduced its Zonai alternative, this shouldn't stop a future Zelda game from exploring the mystery behind the Sheikah and their ancient technology. As an integral part of Breath of the Wild, it had been initially unclear how a direct sequel would address the remnants of the Sheikah technology scattered across Hyrule. However, following the focus on Tears of the Kingdom's Zonai history and future, it seemed that Nintendo's solution to its Sheikah predicament was to reset everything and pretend as if nothing happened.

This hasn't prevented players from still scratching their heads over it, something which eventually led to Tears of the Kingdom's director commenting that the Sheikah technology mysteriously disappeared with Calamity Ganon's defeat "cleansing" Hyrule. Yet this convenient explanation only raises more questions and draws more intrigue from fans about the Sheikah and its strange technology. Since the Sheikah is already one of Zelda's various recurring elements alongside the likes of the Gerudo, the Zora, or the Rito, there would be nothing to stop a future Zelda game from picking things up where Breath of the Wild left off.

The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Master Sword with Question Marks
Related
Why Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom May Present an Uncertain Future for the Master Sword

The Master Sword has long been a key symbol of the Zelda series, but Tears of the Kingdom continues a trend that may alter the item's future.

The Mystery of the Sheikah in Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Zelda: Breath of the Wild Teased A Buried Sheikah Legacy

From the first encounter with a Guardian Stalker to defeating each Divine Beast, Sheikah technology was arguably the most memorable part of Breath of the Wild, which is why fans have taken such close interest in its origins. But while the game offers some information about where the technology was found buried underground, it maintains the mystery of how exactly the Sheikah became so technologically advanced, especially when Zelda games don't traditionally fit the sci-fi genre. With additional context from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's past and present, it seems that there was much more to unearth about the Sheikah from Breath of the Wild.

Sheikah Technology Shouldn't be Wasted on One Zelda Game

But there is more to Sheikah technology than the mysteries it brings with it, as Breath of the Wild demonstrated that this technology has a wide range of uses. If the only limit was Nintendo's imagination, then the technology could be utilized in new ways, such as new Guardian forms, new Divine Beasts, or even new runes for the Sheikah Slate. From a gameplay standpoint, this could be highly beneficial, as future Zelda games may try to replicate the same experience that Tears of the Kingdom or its predecessor provided, so a revival of Breath of the Wild's Sheikah technology would be a straightforward solution.

How Future Zelda Games Could Bring Back Sheikah Technology

Since it's been suggested that the Sheikah's ancient technology disappeared after Breath of the Wild, there are two options a Zelda game could take if it were to make a comeback. The first would be to lean back on Zelda's time travel elements as seen in games like Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask, so that any games set after Tears of the Kingdom could imply that the Sheikah technology moved forward or backward in time. Alternatively, as both Zelda Switch games are meant to be the endpoint of its current branching timelines, a Tears of the Kingdom prequel could explore Hyrule's history and the Sheikah's origins instead.

Regardless of which direction Nintendo takes, either could provide greater insight into the Sheikah themselves and their technology, similar to Tears of the Kingdom's in-depth look into the Zonai from Princess Zelda's perspective. Between their ongoing appearances throughout other Zelda games and now Breath of the Wild's additional enigmatic layers to their history, a dedicated exploration into the Sheikah feels long overdue. With the added benefit of Breath of the Wild's revamping both the Sheikah Slate and the Guardians, the next Zelda game that brings back Sheikah technology might even rival the story and scale of Tears of the Kingdom itself.