Describing the disappearance of Sheikah technology in Tears of the Kingdom as simply "disappeared" is a way to avoid providing a proper explanation and is seen as a cop-out

As the release of Tears of the Kingdom drew near, the last few trailers placed significant emphasis on the game's narrative, set several years after the events of Breath of the Wild. Being a direct sequel, myself and numerous others anticipated a closer connection between the two games in terms of storyline.

Apart from the presence of familiar characters and the shared setting of Hyrule, Tears of the Kingdom doesn't have many direct connections to Breath of the Wild. In fact, many individuals who delved into the sequel without playing its predecessor might find themselves at an advantage.

Calamity Ganon and Sheikah technology no longer hold significant relevance in Tears of the Kingdom, except for occasional passing references. The most noticeable indication of this disassociation lies in the absence of Guardians and Divine Beasts scattered across Hyrule—they have mysteriously vanished without a trace.

The director of Tears of the Kingdom, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, recently stated, "It is believed that following the vanquishing of the Calamity, the Sheikah technology also faded away as its purpose had been fulfilled."

I apologize, but what you're saying is that they simply "disappeared"? While it may make sense from a gameplay perspective to remove Sheikah technology and shift the focus to Zonai technology, when it comes to crafting a believable world, the explanation of "they're gone" appears to be the simplest and least satisfying answer they could have given.

There were numerous possibilities for removing Sheikah technology in a manner that would enhance the credibility of Hyrule. Given the ease with which Calamity Ganon took control of the Guardians and Divine Beasts once they were reactivated, one plausible explanation could be that people, driven by fear of a recurrence, chose to dismantle the technology to prevent such a disaster from happening again.

What troubles me the most is that the game itself contradicts Fujibayashi's explanation. If you visit the Hateno Ancient Tech Lab, you'll find a Guardian positioned on the roof. Why didn't this particular Guardian "disappear" like the rest? The only reasoning I can come up with is that it has decayed and become non-functional, much like the majority of the other Guardians in Breath of the Wild.

In the interview, Fujibayashi further mentioned that the citizens of Hyrule are accustomed to "mysterious events and strange phenomena," and thus, they were not overly concerned about the sudden absence of Sheikah technology. While this may hold some credibility, I find it difficult to believe that "no one... has tried to explore the matter further." Are you telling me that not a single person in Hyrule would show interest or curiosity? Not even Purah, Robbie, or the NPC who displayed a strong fascination with Guardians in Breath of the Wild?

It wouldn't be challenging to incorporate an NPC's commentary on the peculiar vanishing of the Sheikah technology, particularly in a location like Tarrey Town, where the construction site is established atop what was once a field of Guardians. Alternatively, a side quest could have been introduced, involving an investigation into the fate of the technology, even if it only resulted in discovering hints or small clues. Zelda has a remarkable ability to intertwine storytelling with exploration, so it is disheartening that such an attempt was not made in this case.

Although the disappearance of Sheikah technology may seem like a minor aspect in the overall scope of Tears of the Kingdom, especially considering the abundance of new lore, the lack of continuity becomes noticeable. It appears that the developers dedicated significant effort to ensuring the game is accessible to those who haven't played Breath of the Wild, but in the process, they seemingly overlooked the fact that this is indeed a sequel.

There seems to be a lack of consensus regarding the time gap between the conclusion of Breath of the Wild and the commencement of Tears of the Kingdom. Kass, a beloved character whom players encountered multiple times throughout their initial journey in Hyrule, is conspicuously absent in the sequel, and the game's inhabitants appear unfazed by his disappearance as well.

The frustration is amplified by a few minor details that indicate the developers had some awareness of the previous game but chose not to explore it further. Examples include horses from a Breath of the Wild save appearing in your stables, as well as the presence of a photograph featuring Link and the Champions in Link's house if you completed the DLC.

If Tears of the Kingdom were an independent game, unrelated to Breath of the Wild except for being part of the same series, I might have enjoyed it more. However, in its current state, the Sheikah technology's "disappearance" is another aspect that reinforces my preference for Breath of the Wild's story over Tears of the Kingdom's.