Nintendo just released the first two parts of its Ask the Developer Vol. 9 Developer Interviews for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The Q&A provide some helpful insights into new features like skydiving and how they will affect gameplay in the breath of the wild Consequence.

We took a look at the brand new Sky Diving feature in March Gameplay demonstration for Tears of the Kingdom, hosted by game developer Eiji Aonuma. However, Aonuma and the development team have since detailed the new feature, clarifying that players can now surface from Sky Islands to the surface of the overworld “non-stop”.

This is in contrast to similar features we’ve seen in previous installments of the franchise, viz Skyward Sword. In the 2011 title, you could travel from sky to ground via the map. However, this was not a feature that required player control.

In Tears of the Kingdom, skydiving is brought under control

Aonuma and other developers have explained in detail the importance of the all-new Sky Diving feature, explaining that they knew they wanted to expand the Kingdom of Hyrule in the sequel to breath of the wild instead of creating a new world.

Just like a place you know inside and out, we understand where everything in Hyrule comes from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and that’s why we believed it was possible to develop new gameplay. For this reason, in the original proposal, we clearly stated “the setting will not change” as an important concept.

Hidemaro Fujibayashidirector

Fujibayashi goes on to say that he’s wanted to add Sky Diving to the franchise ever since Skyward Sword. It seems the revolutionary feature is already being well received by franchise fans who are moving on Reddit. Most users share the same excitement expressed by the game’s director, while others are intrigued by how Sky Diving will expand the Kingdom of Hyrule beyond what we’ve seen breath of the wild.

As we near the much-anticipated release of Tears of the Kingdom This Friday, we’re excited to see how Sky Diving and other new features unfold. To read part One And Second part the Ask the Developer interview session on the Nintendo website and check for more updates in ours The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom hub.