Botw Update 1.6.0 -

BotW update 1.6.0 is a bittersweet artifact. It represents Nintendo closing the book on one of the greatest open-world games ever made. For the average player, it provides a smoother, crash-free journey from the Shrine of Resurrection to the final confrontation with Dark Beast Ganon.

But for the glitch hunters and speedrunners, it’s a wall—a sign that the "wild" days of flying boat launches and infinite Ancient Arrows are over.

Whether you install it or stay offline to preserve the chaos, one truth remains: Version 1.6.0 is the end of an era. It is the last time Nintendo spoke to Breath of the Wild before saying goodbye.

Final Tip: Before you click "Update," back up your save data. Then, go shield-surf down a mountain. Because once patch 1.6.0 installs, Hyrule will be just a little bit more... stable.

Have you noticed any changes in BotW 1.6.0? Let us know in the comments. For more Zelda deep-dives, guides, and patch history, subscribe to our newsletter.

1.6.0 update The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released on April 25, 2019

. While seemingly a minor patch, it introduced a significant new feature and behind-the-scenes performance improvements for the Nintendo Switch. Major New Features Nintendo Labo VR Support : The update added compatibility with the Toy-Con VR Goggles Nintendo Labo VR Kit How to Enable System > Options in the in-game menu and toggle VR Goggles The Experience : Unlike most VR titles, this mode allows you to play the entire game

in VR using existing save data. Note that pre-rendered cutscenes remain in 2D. Significantly Faster Load Times

: Although not officially in the main patch notes, testing revealed that version 1.6.0 drastically reduced loading screen times. This was achieved by implementing "Boost Mode," which temporarily increases the Switch CPU's clock speed during loading. Technical Fixes botw update 1.6.0

Anyone know what the new BOTW update for? : r/Breath_of_the_Wild

The 1.6.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a surprise "gift" for fans, arriving on April 25, 2019. It is best known for making the world of Hyrule more immersive and efficient than ever before. 👓 A New Way to See Hyrule The headline feature was compatibility with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit Go to product viewer dialog for this item.

. Players can now enable a "VR Goggles" option in the system settings to see the entire game through Link's eyes (excluding pre-rendered cutscenes). ⚡ The "Secret" Speed Boost

While the VR mode was the official focus, players quickly discovered a hidden technical improvement: drastically faster load times.

CPU Overclocking: The update triggers a "Boost Mode" that temporarily increases the Nintendo Switch’s CPU clock speed during loading screens.

Faster Travel: Loading a save or fast-traveling between Shrines is significantly quicker. In some tests, wait times dropped from 26 seconds down to just 14 seconds. 🛠️ Stability and Glitches

Performance: Minor graphics and effect file changes were made to support the VR rendering.

Glitches: Speedrunners often prefer this version because it remains "mod-friendly" and maintains many popular glitches like BLSS (Bow Lift Smuggle Slide) that were allegedly affected by much later 2025 updates. BotW update 1

The Master Trials DLC features the brutal Trial of the Sword. Players discovered a glitch that allowed them to clip through a wall in the "Beginning Trials" using a shield jump, exiting the arena and walking directly to the final Hinox (Trial 3).

BotW 1.6.0 patched this specific collision glitch. While a few alternative clipping points exist, the "easy" shield clip is gone. If you are struggling with the Trial of the Sword on 1.6.0, you must either master the combat or use the more complex "skew" clipping—which 1.6.0 also partially nerfed.

Beyond content, the “general stability” line is doing heavy lifting. On the original 2017 Switch hardware, Breath of the Wild famously dropped to 20 FPS in Korok Forest. Post-1.6.0, the forest runs at a locked 30 FPS.

But on the Nintendo Switch 2 (announced last year), the game now supports a Dynamic 1440p/60 FPS mode. Nintendo never announced this. It simply activates when the cartridge is inserted into the new hardware. The draw distance has doubled. Volumetric fog now casts shadows. The "pop-in" of distant shrines is gone.

It appears that 1.6.0 is less a patch for Breath of the Wild and more a Next-Gen Upgrade Patch disguised as maintenance.

This tutorial dissects Nintendo’s Breath of the Wild update 1.6.0: what changed, why it matters, how it affects playstyles, and how to adapt fast. It assumes you’ve played BotW and want a focused, actionable breakdown that keeps things interesting with tips, examples, and a short hands-on checklist.

To understand 1.6.0, you must understand what came before. Breath of the Wild launched in March 2017 at Version 1.0.0. The early patches focused on:

Then... silence. For over a year and a half, Nintendo abandoned numbered updates for BotW. Players assumed the game was complete. Then, on November 18, 2019, Version 1.6.0 dropped without warning. Have you noticed any changes in BotW 1

Let’s cut straight to the chase. According to Nintendo’s official patch notes (famously vague), Version 1.6.0 includes:

Yes, that’s the official line. But dataminers and dedicated fans discovered much more under the hood. Here is the real changelog.

What changed

Example tactic

If you have been playing offline or on a used Switch cartridge, you might not be on 1.6.0.

How to check:

Current Version: 1.6.0 (as of 2025, no further updates are planned or expected).

How to update:

Note for Wii U owners: The final patch is also 1.6.0, but due to Wii U eShop closure, you must have downloaded it before March 2023.