There was that bird musician guy from the little gameplay thing they had a while back, too.
This looks like after the WindWaker timeline. It would explain a ruined Hyrule, and would explain the existence of the Rito musician.
In WindWaker, they establish that the Zora evolve into the Rito. However, if the Rito actually has wings, it means the red dragon Valoo is still kickin it. (they need one of his scales to perform the metamorphosis, and grow the wings.)
Similarly, the kokiri evolve into the little wood sprite things. (forget what they are.) They too are seen. This suggests that Breath of the Wild takes place after Wind Waker.
Looks like chronologically, this takes place between WindWaker, and Spirit Tracks, or perhaps between WindWaker and PhantomHourglass.
This would have the Sheika being the alternate timeline parallels of the Twili, and the denizens of the dark world, from the other two timelines. (In the adult link timeline, the sheika do not suffer a fall the same way they would have in child link, and fallen hero timelines) However, with the flooding of hyrule, they may have either been sequestered in the frozen time state depicted in Windwaker, or have departed while the King of Red Lions did his boat shapeshifting thing waiting for a time to properly defeat Gannon. (again.) Most likely this latter, as they appear to have greatly refined their magical powers. Upon returning, they may have been seen initially as a valuable asset (Hyrule in decrepit repair), but then seen as dangerous (seriously OP compared to the frozen, and descendent hylians), and with the return of Gannon, they would be the obvious power he would seek to corrupt for his domestic army. This would explain the machine/magic war, and why so many shrines are dedicated to the returning hero. (A civil war within the Shieka))
It would again explain the Deus Ex Machina being invoked-- Gannon's return before the Hero reincarnates, Causes all kinds of shit. Shieka are divided-- some attempt to resurrect the hero (notice the name and type of place link wakes up in), and secure a means of defeating Gannon, while others join his army of darnkess. The Gods send a machine army and new guardians to hold Gannon until that appointed time when the cycle can once again unfold.