Nintendo and Dark Horse Comics have officially pushed back the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Secrets of the Zonai. Originally slated to hit store shelves this October, the massive hardcover volume will now arrive in April 2027. The publisher cited the need for additional production time to meet quality expectations as the primary reason behind the shift.
The 472-page publication represents the definitive deep dive into the world design, mechanics, and backstory of Nintendo’s 2023 title. Retailing at $59.99, the volume features extensive developer interviews, developer notes, character sketches, and rough concept art tracing the project’s evolution. Crucially, the book allocates over 80 pages specifically to the lore of the ancient Zonai tribe, filling in significant narrative gaps surrounding the founding era of Hyrule.
While the delay creates a brief lull in print releases, Nintendo’s schedule for the Zelda intellectual property remains active. The franchise is currently anchoring a busy period driven by the 40th anniversary celebrations, alongside ongoing support for the updated Switch 2 editions of both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The revised timing positions the art book to launch ahead of Nintendo’s broader long-term plans for the brand, ensuring that interest in the latest mainline entry stays high.
For dedicated collectors, pre-orders remain open across major retailers. Alongside the standard hardcover, Dark Horse is producing a $119.99 Hero’s Edition, which bundles the core art book with an exclusive slipcase, a cloth map depicting the Depths of Hyrule, an art print, and a replica Secret Stone. Retailers will fulfill pre-orders as stock ships in late March and early April 2027.
