Nintendo has officially announced that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are getting improved editions for the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing a whole new level of visual fidelity and quality-of-life improvements to these beloved adventures.
Graphical Improvements
Players can expect higher resolution, improved textures, and full HDR support, making Hyrule look more breathtaking than ever. Performance has also been significantly boosted with higher frame rates and gameplay that feels better to make sure that every battle, glide, and puzzle is more fluid and responsive. And for those who have grown tired of long loading screens, warp times and general load speeds have been drastically reduced, making exploration even more seamless.
Quality-of-Life
One of the biggest quality-of-life changes is the addition of two manual save slots, allowing you to start a new game without worrying about losing any progress.
But the real game-changer is Zelda Notes, a completely new feature exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 editions. This in-game companion tool, available through the Nintendo Switch app, provides voice-guided navigation to help players locate shrines, hidden Koroks, and key points of interest. Voice memories have also been introduced, offering new insights and untold stories from Princess Zelda and other characters, expanding the lore beyond what was previously available.
Zelda Notes also introduces QR code sharing, letting you easily share Autobuild blueprints for vehicles and weapons, send in-game item gifts to friends, and even edit and decorate in-game photos before sharing them online.
For completionists, a Global Play Data feature tracks achievements, enemy defeats, and gameplay milestones, allowing players to compare stats with others worldwide. A daily bonus wheel has also been added, offering random in-game boosts each day.
If you are interested to see more, here is the official overview trailer:
Purchase the Upgrade Only
The Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will only be playable on the new console. However, players who own the original games can purchase an upgrade to enjoy these new features. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members will also have access to the upgrade at no additional cost.
With visual improvements, faster performance, and new features to improve the experience, returning to Hyrule is a very exciting prospect for Zelda fans!