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Though The Legends of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is still a month away from release, the game has already garnered numerous awards and nominations for just how highly anticipated it is. Needless to say, gamers are incredibly hyped for this upcoming title. But will Tears of the Kingdom possibly be making its way to Xbox?
Is Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Releasing on Xbox
Unfortunately for Xbox gamers, the answer to this question is “no”. The soon-to-be-released Tears of the Kingdom is going to be a Nintendo Switch exclusive title, meaning it will not be seeing a release on the Xbox One or Game Pass. Considering how The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo’s flagship franchises that pretty much put the company on the map, it’s quite clear why this is so.
More N4G Unlocked: Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Will It Release On PlayStation
Nintendo is quite protective of its property and practically never ports its first-party titles over to its competitors. By keeping their most popular games exclusive to their own hardware, Nintendo establishes a distinct competitive advantage, setting their products apart in an increasingly crowded market. This strategy ultimately reinforces Nintendo’s reputation for delivering unique and immersive gaming experiences that are not playable on any other system.
Could Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Be Ported To Xbox?
The answer to this question as well is another almost definite “no”. One of the only times a Nintendo property has ever been ported to Xbox hardware was with Banjo Kazooie under very specific circumstances. Banjo-Kazooie, an iconic platformer game crafted by Rare, initially debuted as an exclusive for the Nintendo 64. However, this status changed when Microsoft purchased Rare in 2002, marking the end of Banjo-Kazooie’s exclusivity to Nintendo.
Aside from similar fringe cases where a previously Nintendo-owned studio was sold to a competitor, their first-party titles never really release on third-party platforms. This makes a Zelda release on the Xbox One a near impossibility since the franchise is synonymous with Nintendo, who would therefore never want it sold off to a direct competitor.