While support for a cardboard VR headset seemed like a quirky, niche addition, the "system stability" portion of the patch actually hid the most substantial performance upgrade the game had ever received. The Hidden Upgrade: "Boost Mode" and Faster Load Times
The Zelda BotW 160 update, or version 1.6.0, is a significant patch that was released to improve the overall gaming experience of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This update addresses various issues, adds new features, and enhances gameplay mechanics. The patch notes for this update were released by Nintendo, detailing the changes and improvements made to the game.
The 1.6.0 update represented Nintendo's willingness to experiment with hardware and software synergy. While the VR mode was viewed by many as a novelty rather than the definitive way to play the 100-hour campaign, the technical optimizations—specifically the improved loading times—left a permanent, positive impact on all players, whether they owned a VR kit or not. To help tailor more Zelda content for you, let me know: Do you need help finding ?
You can play the entire game, from the Great Plateau to the final battle with Calamity Ganon, in VR.
Press the or - button on your controller to open the options menu. Select Software Update and then choose Via the Internet . zelda botw 160 update full
For the technical and modding community, v1.6.0 is defined less by its features and more by what it removed. BotW was built on a modified version of the Havok engine, and early versions of the game were riddled with physics exploits that became staples of speedrunning.
The camera follows Link in a third-person perspective. Moving your head tilts and rotates the game camera, providing a sense of scale.
Unlike standalone VR games built from the ground up, BotW’s VR mode acted as a visual overlay for the existing game. Players could toggle the feature on or off at any point during their adventure through the system settings menu. Mechanics of the VR Mode
The primary highlight of the 1.6.0 update is full integration with the . While support for a cardboard VR headset seemed
(released in April 2019), which primarily added compatibility for the Nintendo Labo VR Kit
Beyond these specific fixes, the update resolved a range of unspecified issues affecting game stability. Players in the speedrunning community noted that many of the game's timing windows and trigger mechanisms became more consistent after the update, leading to a more predictable environment for high-level play.
Playing in a chair that rotates freely allows you to easily look around Hyrule without straining your neck. 5. Legacy and Impact
, which was released to improve technical performance rather than to add new story content. Version 1.6.0 Update Details Release Date: April 26, 2019. VR Support: This update added compatibility with the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit The patch notes for this update were released
Fortunately, Version 1.6.0 did not patch major movement tech exploits. Highly advanced movement strategies—such as (Bow Lightscan Sliding), Windbombs (Bomb Impact Launches), and Shield Surfing clipping tricks —remain fully operational on this current firmware build.
When entering a loading screen—such as fast-traveling across the map or exiting a Shrine—the update instructs the console's CPU to temporarily overclock its speed from its normal 1.02 GHz up to . This sudden burst of computing power effectively cuts the game's notoriously long load times nearly in half. Fast Travel Load Time Comparison Action / Location Version 1.5.0 Load Time Version 1.6.0 Load Time Total Time Saved Temple of Time (Fresh Spawn) ~25.5 Seconds ~13.5 Seconds 12.0 Seconds Shrine to Overworld Fast Travel ~28.0 Seconds ~15.2 Seconds 12.8 Seconds Entering a Shrine ~12.5 Seconds ~8.1 Seconds 4.4 Seconds
Players can toggle the "VR Goggles" setting under the System > Options menu at any time using existing save data.