Daily Debate: What Device is Zelda Holding in the Latest Tears of the Kingdom Artwork?
Posted on February 17 2023 by Leslie Jacobson
Fans of the Zelda series were blessed on February 8th with a whole new trailer for Tears of the Kingdom, and several official artworks. One artwork that captured my attention was the one of Zelda. In the new art, she looks a lot like she did in the first trailer with a torch in her right hand, but there’s something new in her left hand.
The device appears similar to a Sheikah Slate in design, however, it is not the Sheikah Slate from Breath of the Wild. The original Sheikah Slate looks more like a Wii U gamepad and this slate seems to be shaped more like a Nintendo Switch with its rounded corners and slim rectangular design. The left and right side even have what appear to be Joy-Cons. The bottom of the Joy-Con we can see even has a reddish tint even though on an actual Switch that would be the blue controller.
On the back of the device in the center is a circle that resembles a half-closed eye. An “eyelid” is halfway down and a blue light seems to come from beneath the eyelid. Three arrows resemble eyelashes. Each arrow is connected to its own ring. The rings appear as though they could turn or spin around the eye like the hands of a clock.
As of right now, there is no official information about this device. Fans have been guessing at what this device could be and could mean for the game. Does Zelda use it like the slate from Breath of the Wild ? Since it’s a different model, could there be new Sheikah Slate powers that are better suited for Zelda? Could Zelda have her own quests where she needs a slate? And on the back of that, could Zelda be a playable character in Tears of the Kingdom?
What do you think? Is this more evidence for a playable Zelda? Could the item that Zelda holds be an upgrade for the Sheikah slate? Is this an ancient device like the Sheikah slate and Divine Beasts, or is it new? Tell us what you think in the comments!
Leslie is a mom, a cosplayer, an educator, and a fervent fan of The Legend of Zelda series. She lives in an area of the United States that reminds her of the Akkala region in the fall and Hebra the other 11 months of the year. She owns The Legend of Zelda t-shirts older than most of her students.
