# Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was so secret within Nintendo, most employees found out about it for the first time at its E3 reveal: “We popped off”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-was-so-secret-within-nintendo-most-employees-found-out-about-it-for-the-first-time-at-its-e3-reveal-we-popped-off/
- Published: 2026-07-17T15:15:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-22T08:15:50+00:00
- Original publisher: GamesRadar+
- Original article: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/the-legend-of-zelda/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-was-so-secret-within-nintendo-most-employees-found-out-about-it-for-the-first-time-at-its-e3-reveal-we-popped-off/
- Topics: Entertainment, Gaming

## Key points

- Nintendo staff mostly learned of Tears of the Kingdom at its E3 reveal
- Most employees weren't briefed internally before the public unveiling
- Staff reportedly reacted with the same excitement as fans online

## Summary

Nintendo kept development of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom so tightly under wraps that most of its own staff had no idea the game existed until it was unveiled at E3. Rather than being briefed internally beforehand, employees reportedly learned about the sequel to Breath of the Wild alongside the public, watching the reveal trailer for the first time along with fans around the world.

According to accounts from within the company, the reaction inside Nintendo mirrored the excitement seen online, with staff describing themselves as having "popped off" upon seeing the announcement. The secrecy reflects Nintendo's broader reputation for guarding its biggest projects closely, even from its own workforce, underscoring just how significant Tears of the Kingdom was treated as a release for the company.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.