While there were no major gameplay expansions in 2021, the game remains on version (Switch) and 1.5.0 / v208 (Wii U), which includes all previously released DLC and the VR support update. Smaller stability patches have occasionally been noted by the community, such as a minor update in 2025 that addressed background fixes alongside its sequel.
: Updated internal ROM structures, allowing specific game objects and "actors" to utilize a larger instance heap, preventing performance degradation during dense gameplay segments. The 2021 Cartridge Phenomenon
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, commonly referred to as BOTW, has been a phenomenal success since its release in 2017. The open-world masterpiece has captured the hearts of gamers worldwide, and its vast, beautiful world has kept players engaged for hundreds of hours. Even years after its launch, Nintendo continues to support the game with periodic updates, the latest of which being the BOTW update 1.6.0 of 2021. botw update 160 2021
: Implemented a hidden "boost mode" that temporarily increases the Nintendo Switch CPU clock speed during loading screens. This under-the-hood tweak dramatically reduced fast-travel and shrine transition wait times.
updates is often a point of confusion for players. Most "updates" players noticed in 2021 were actually Nintendo Switch system stability updates rather than changes to the game itself. While there were no major gameplay expansions in
Because 2021 was long after the game's active development cycle, the community investigated why Nintendo issued this patch. Security analysts and data miners discovered that update 1.6.0 was part of a company-wide initiative to patch a critical system vulnerability. The "ENet" Vulnerability
Unlike massive expansions, Update 1.6.0 was a technical patch focused on system integration and backend stability. Nintendo's official patch notes highlighted two primary changes: The 2021 Cartridge Phenomenon The Legend of Zelda:
Updating the internal links to the Expansion Pass as Nintendo shifted its digital storefront layouts. The Legacy of Breath of the Wild's Final State
July 15, 2021 Game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch & Wii U)
If you have the VR Kit, it's an interesting experiment. If not, it's just a footnote in the history of a modern classic. For a comprehensive list of every update ever released for Breath of the Wild , you can refer to the detailed archives compiled by fans.
While the notes mentioned “adjusted VR camera behavior,” the reality was a complete rewrite of the stereoscopic rendering pipeline. Previously, VR mode capped the game at 30 FPS with heavy reprojection. Update 1.6.0 introduced: