Today I’m going to go through some of the latest news from the Zelda franchise, including Nintendo filing new patents for the latest Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom losing the top ranking for 2023’s metacritic top-spot plus we’ve got some free gifts in game including a free golden apple from Nintendo.

Without further delay let’s dive into the latest news.

Nintendo Patents Link’s abilities from Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo has secured patents for features within Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, including Link’s Ultrahand and Fuse abilities. Recent reports from Automaton indicate that Nintendo has chosen to publicly disclose a series of its registered patents, totaling 31, which are associated with the latest installment of the Zelda franchise.

While a significant portion of these patents relate to Link’s primary set of capabilities, there are also some more unconventional and broad-ranging patents. Among these is a patent covering the game’s loading screen mechanics.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, one patent is directed at Link’s behavior when positioned on a mobile object, ensuring his movement aligns with the object’s trajectory and pace, thereby removing the need for additional player input.

Another patent has been granted that prevents Link from deploying his Ultrahand to seize an object while on top of it. This safeguarding of distinct interactions underscores Nintendo’s proactive approach to preserving innovative game features. While it is reasonable for Nintendo to safeguard the most distinctive aspects of the game through patents, some observers find the quantity and intricacy of these patents somewhat extensive.

Citing a 2022 report from Patent Result, Automaton reveals a ranking of Japanese companies based on the number of patents that could potentially be contested by rivals. In this ranking, Nintendo stands fifth, having secured 180 patents, though it trails behind Konami (343), Bandai Namco (325), Sony (236), and Sega (206).

In terms of commercial success, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has impressively achieved sales exceeding 18 million units on a global scale. This milestone signifies that the game has already attained over half the sales volume of its predecessor, Breath of the Wild.

Tears of the Kingdom loses metacritic top-spot for 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3 has surged ahead of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the Metacritic scoreboards, emerging as the top-rated game of 2023 thus far.

The race for the coveted title of 2023’s Game of the Year had already begun to intensify even before the year had fully unfolded. Notable contenders like Tears of the Kingdom, Starfield, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have occupied many gamers’ shortlists.

While the latter two are yet to make their debut, a new contender has thrown its hat into the ring for the Game of the Year contention – Baldur’s Gate 3. This role-playing masterpiece has not only made impressive strides on the sales charts but has also generated a surge in pre-order sales on PSN due to its positive word-of-mouth.

Baldur’s Gate 3 has not only resonated well with players but has also garnered widespread acclaim from critics, who have been lavishing it with praises. In a surprising turn of events, this acclaim has propelled the game past The Legend of Zelda’s latest escapade on Metacritic.

Previously, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had comfortably held the throne with a stellar Metascore of 96, making it the highest-rated game of the year. For a brief period, Baldur’s Gate 3 shared this commendable Metascore.

However, the landscape has shifted in recent days. Larian’s latest grand endeavor, Baldur’s Gate 3, has now soared to a remarkable 97 on Metacritic, firmly establishing itself as the best-rated video game of 2023 up to this point.

It’s important to acknowledge that these rankings remain subject to change, particularly in the context of Baldur’s Gate 3. After all, not every review outlet has yet weighed in on the RPG (including Dexerto), and significant voices such as IGN are providing ongoing updates with their “Review in Progress.”

Nevertheless, it’s evident that Baldur’s Gate 3 has etched its name into the annals of 2023’s most critically acclaimed gaming experiences.

Tears of the Kingdom selling better than hotcakes

Nintendo has unveiled its financial results for the initial quarter of the fiscal year 2024, providing an updated insight into the sales performance of its games and hardware up to June 30th, 2023.

While not entirely unexpected, the success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is impressive. In under two months, the game has achieved a sales tally of 18.51 million copies. It is important to note that as we enter August, this figure has almost certainly surged even higher.

A noteworthy revelation from Nintendo is that Tears of the Kingdom contributed to nearly fifty percent of all software sales during Q1. The majority of these sales were attributed to existing owners of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. However, an increasing portion of sales originated from players who had not previously played Breath of the Wild.

The sequel to the highly anticipated Breath of the Wild (itself having attained a sales record of 30.65 million units) made its debut on May 12th, 2023, impressively achieving an impressive 10 million units sold within a mere three days of release.

Free Golden Apple’s for everyone

Recently, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had an update, introducing a new feature that allows Switch users to get items from the system’s news channel directly into the game.

Nintendo has been making use of this feature ever since – with a number of free item giveaways. In case you missed it, the latest Zelda news channel post is now live. This time it runs players through the basics of taking a selfie, using a picture of Link with Purah as an example. If you read through the story, at the bottom you’ll be able to redeem a special “Golden Apple” in the game.

Here’s how to redeem the item

Nintendo: “We’d like to present you with a Golden Apple. Maybe you can use it in your cooking…? To claim it, simply launch the game using the link”

How to redeem items from the Switch News Channel

• On your Switch Home Menu select the ‘News’ icon
• Scroll to the Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom news story “Smile for the Camera!”
• Click ‘Play Now’ within the news article
• Boot up Zelda, load your game file
• Receive a “Golden Apple”

Furthermore, the following is a depiction of the Golden Apple, from Zelda Dungeon:

“Golden Apples flourish on the very trees that yield regular Apples, yet they are notably more scarce. When consumed raw, they replenish an additional half heart beyond what a typical Apple offers. Over an open flame, they can be transformed into a Baked Golden Apple. In select instances, vanquishing an Evermean might yield a Golden Apple as a reward.”

To get news channel items, make sure you have updated Tears of the Kingdom to the latest version (1.2.0).

Let me know in the comments what you think.