The enduring success of The Legend of Zelda franchise, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, continues with a new publication. Nintendo maintains the series' relevance through both major games and unique spin-offs, and now fans have another noteworthy release to anticipate.

Official Announcement: Secrets of the Zonai Art Book

Dark Horse Comics is set to release a substantial new reference book focusing on the recent era of the franchise. The official title is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—Secrets of the Zonai. This hardcover volume promises extensive behind-the-scenes content for dedicated fans.

Content Deep Dive and Lore Exploration

The book boasts an impressive 424 pages filled with valuable material. This includes concept art, designer notes, storyboards, and various sketches drawn from Tears of the Kingdom. Furthermore, it will feature 80 pages dedicated to "Hyrule History," offering lore information set prior to the events of Tears of the Kingdom.

Key Zelda figures, including Eiji Aonuma, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, and Satoru Takizawa, are scheduled to contribute to the book's content. The Zonai, an ancient and mysterious civilization central to the Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom continuity, are heavily explored.

Release Details and Editions

The Zonai civilization significantly impacts subsequent kingdoms, with their presence strongly felt, and often directly referenced, in Tears of the Kingdom. Their timeline was also explored in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—Secrets of the Zonai is scheduled for release on October 20, 2026. As with many Zelda publications, both a standard edition and a deluxe edition will be available for purchase.

Pre-orders for the book are expected to go live soon on the official Dark Horse website and through other major online retailers.

The 40th Anniversary Context

The announcement arrives as the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda is in full swing. Initial celebrations included the reveal of the Ocarina of Time LEGO set.

While major game announcements have been slow, speculation suggests Nintendo might reveal or release an Ocarina of Time remake later this year. Such a remake would significantly mark the franchise's 40th milestone, even if only merchandise is revealed otherwise.