Many fans have been waiting for Nintendo to announce the name of the sequel to Breath of the Wild, and at a September 2022 Direct, they finally got their wish. Teaser footage for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom, which is scheduled for release in May 2023, barring additional delays, shows Link leaping into a mystery glider, tapping into the game’s focus on flight.
As a result, Hyrule’s terrestrial races will need to adapt their exploration strategies, which might be a fantastic opportunity to elevate the status of the Rito.
After clearing the Great Plateau in Breath of the Wild, Link can make a beeline for Hyrule Castle and face Calamity Ganon. It is implied by the story that Link will save the Divine Beasts of the four great Hylian races from corruption. Previous trailers for Tears of the Kingdom emphasized Master Sword, hinting that it is also canon that Link retrieves his legendary weapon, meaning that the citizens of Hyrule would require fresh difficulties to overcome. Likewise, the flying Rito will have minor trouble adjusting to their new home.
This is most likely because the Rito are revealed to be the offspring of the Zora in The Wind Waker, making them ineligible for the Ocarina of Time’s “Adult” era after Link defeats Ganondorf. Link’s sidekick Medli is shown to be a direct descendant of the Zora sage Laruto, contradicting the theory that the Rito can only exist in one timeline. The Rito’s ability to fly makes them better able to visit individual islands across the Great Sea as mail carriers. It may seem contradictory for an aquatic character to evolve into a bird due to global flooding.
The Rito can help Link mechanically, and there is also excellent story potential in translating an avian race to a vertical setting. For example, players may need the assistance of a figure like Teba to reach some floating islands where they can acquire additional Stasis rune upgrades.
