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Can I play Zelda Tears of the Kingdom early?

Looking to explore Hyrule early?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is one of the most anticipated games of 2023, especially for die-hard Zelda fans. The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will release on May 12, 2023. However, fans are eager to dive into Hyrule once again, leaving them wondering if there is a way to play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom early.

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How to play The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom early

While there is no official way to play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom early. However, you can adjust the time on your Nintendo Switch by changing your timezone. This typically allows you to play games ahead of your normal release time in your time zone. This does not always work, but it may allow you to play Tears of the Kingdom early.

Related: How much does Zelda Tears of the Kingdom cost

Other than this, there isn't much you can do to play the game early. Sometimes a distributor may ship the game early, as fans have received copies of other Nintendo games early. Some have even gotten the game a few days early by asking local game shops and even Walmart if they have any copies in stock. Of course, there is not any guarantee that these will work, but it doesn't hurt to hope and try.

Finally, if The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaks, like other Nintendo games such as Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. If this happens, you can potentially play the game early, but you do so at your own risk. Sharing information or spreading illegal copies of the game can lead to legal action by Nintendo, so we recommend waiting until full release.

For more information on The Legend of Zelda, check out Is Zelda Tears of the Kingdom coming to PC or Steam? and Are there mounts in Zelda Tears of the Kingdom? on Pro Game Guides.


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Author
Image of Justin Joy
Justin Joy
Justin has been diving into fantasy worlds since he can remember. He is a certified nerd who has a deep love of reading, writing, and hiking. He has been writing since his college days, but specifically in gaming for two years. His favorite games are The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Hollow Knight, Celeste, and Banjo Kazooie.