: The patch included various minor fixes to improve the overall gameplay experience and system stability. Performance Comparison Feature Version 1.5.0 Version 1.6.0 VR Support Full Game Compatibility Loading Speeds Significantly Faster (up to 30%+ reduction) Availability All Platforms Exclusive to Nintendo Switch
Released on April 25, 2019, is an official patch for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Nintendo Switch. Its primary function was to integrate the game with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit .
Breath of the Wild thrives because it trusts players to roam, to experiment, and to tell their own stories. Update 1.6.0 is part of the ongoing promise that those stories can continue to be told without undue interruption. It’s the equivalent of a gardener pruning a tree: nothing about the tree’s fundamental nature changes, but the overall health, safety, and long-term growth prospects improve.
While Nintendo's official patch notes highlighted the Labo VR support, the community quickly discovered a massive undocumented feature hidden inside the update: . Faster Loading Screens zelda botw 1.6.0 update
By late 2021, Breath of the Wild was over four years old. Most studios would have stopped patching. But Nintendo had two incentives:
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 's version , released on April 26, 2019 , is a significant technical patch for the Nintendo Switch version. It primarily introduced support for the Nintendo Labo VR Kit and substantially improved technical performance. Key Features & Changes
Have you explored Hyrule in VR, or noticed the difference in the loading times after the update? Share your stories in the comments below : The patch included various minor fixes to
Watch this comparison to see the dramatic difference in load times between version 1.5.0 and the 1.6.0 update: 02:28
: Entering shrines became approximately 21% to 37% faster , creating a much smoother gameplay loop for completionists. Bug Fixes and Legacy
By enabling "VR Goggles" in the system options, you can use the Nintendo Labo VR Kit to view the game in 3D. Breath of the Wild thrives because it trusts
. This update allowed players to experience the entirety of Hyrule—excluding pre-rendered cutscenes—through the Labo VR Goggles Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
The Labo VR goggles do not feature a head strap. Players must physically hold the Switch console up to their faces while simultaneously pressing buttons on the attached Joy-Con controllers, making long play sessions tiring. Additional Patch Notes and Fixes
Behind the scenes, version 1.6.0 took advantage of a Nintendo Switch firmware update that allowed games to temporarily overclock the system's CPU during loading screens. This hidden feature significantly optimized the gameplay loop: