The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can now be played on PC. The unofficial Tears of the Kingdom port is just one of the latest instances of classic Nintendo games, among others, being made playable off of their original hardware.
Tears of the Kingdom was extremely popular at release, and many gamers have already explored everything there is to see in the game. However, bringing the game to PC introduces a lot of new possibilities, like boosting the visuals of the game to a higher resolution than the original Switch version.
Tears of the Kingdom Comes to PC
A new project called SkyboundTOTK has been released by a creator called NotRexed on GitHub that allows gamers to enjoy Tears of the Kingdom on PC. At the moment, the project supports the 1.0.0 base game version of Tears of the Kingdom. Like the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate PC port, this project works by translating the AArch64 game code into the programming language C, which is then compiled locally into a native executable compatible with Windows 10 and 11. Interested gamers should be aware that the project is experimental, and that graphical glitches may occur, as well as gameplay hiccups that might prevent a complete playthrough.
Unlike some fan ports, SkyboundTOTK requires that players provide their own legally-obtained copy of Tears of the Kingdom in order to play. SkyboundTOTK is fully compatible with keyboard and mouse controls, and players can alter the display settings to experience the game in fullscreen or windowed mode, with an ultrawide mode also available, though it’s still in the experimental phase. The project itself doesn’t contain any game files, including saves, keys, or anything else. Accordingly, players will need to have enough storage space to hold the original game files, plus an additional 45GB to get the project set up. Gamers can learn more about how it was built and how it works on the project page.
Gamers who are interested in playing Tears of the Kingdom on PC may want to download SkyboundTOTK sooner than later. The exclusion of original game files may help it to avoid Nintendo’s ire for a time, but the developer may still end up issuing a takedown request. Even if a gamer were to buy a new copy of Tears of the Kingdom in order to play on PC, Nintendo may view this project as interfering with its ability to sell Switch consoles, and the company is known for protecting its IPs, whether through takedown requests or outright lawsuits.
While fans and modders have been bringing console-locked games to PC for years, the trend has accelerated in recent times. Although SkyboundTOTK doesn’t outright state that it utilized AI, some modders have looked to the new technology in order to produce projects like these at a much faster pace. Other recent examples that have gained attention in October alone include the aforementioned Super Smash Bros. Ultimate project, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and even P.T., the playable teaser for the canceled Hideo Kojima Silent Hills game.
- Released
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May 12, 2023
- ESRB
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Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
