Version 1.6.0 update The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , released on April 25, 2019
, is one of the game's most unique patches, primarily introducing integration for the Nintendo Labo VR Kit
. While it did not add new story content, it significantly altered the technical landscape of the game through immersive viewing modes and underlying performance improvements. 1. Principal Feature: Nintendo Labo VR Integration
The standout feature of this update was full support for the Toy-Con VR Goggles Toggle Mechanism
: Players can activate VR mode at any time via the "Options" menu under the "System" tab. Perspective
: Unlike traditional first-person VR, this mode maintains the game’s standard third-person perspective but allows players to move the in-game camera by physically looking around with the goggles. Compatibility
: The mode is compatible with all existing save data, meaning players can explore any part of Hyrule they have already unlocked in 3D. Limitations
: While the "whole game" is playable in VR, pre-rendered cutscenes remain in standard 2D. 2. Technical Performance: Faster Load Times
Beyond the VR gimmick, the 1.6.0 update introduced a significant "hidden" benefit: vastly improved loading speeds Boost Mode zelda botw 1.6.0 update
: The update utilized a "CPU Boost Mode" during loading screens, increasing the Switch’s clock speed temporarily to pull data faster from the storage. Comparison
: Loading times when fast-traveling or entering shrines were reduced by approximately
compared to version 1.5.0. For example, teleporting from the Great Plateau to Kakariko Village became noticeably swifter. 3. Bug Fixes and Stability
As with most Nintendo patches, version 1.6.0 included several minor adjustments to "improve the gameplay experience".
The 1.6.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was released on April 25, 2019, specifically for the Nintendo Switch version. While the official patch notes were brief, the update introduced two major changes that significantly impacted gameplay. Key Features of Version 1.6.0
Nintendo Labo VR Support: Players can now experience the entire game (excluding pre-rendered cutscenes) in VR using the Toy-Con VR Goggles from the Nintendo Labo VR Kit.
Significantly Faster Load Times: Although not explicitly detailed in Nintendo's notes, technical analysis revealed that this update uses a "boost mode" that increases the CPU clock speed during loading screens.
Fast travel times were cut nearly in half in some instances (e.g., from 26 seconds down to 14 seconds). Loading into shrines and the overworld is notably quicker. Version 1
General Fixes: Minor bug fixes were included to improve the overall gameplay experience. How to Enable VR Mode
If you have the VR Kit, you can toggle this feature by going to the System menu, selecting Options, and finding the VR Goggles setting. You can use this with your existing save data at any time.
Watch this technical comparison to see exactly how much the 1.6.0 update improves the game's loading performance:
Nintendo is notoriously protective of the intended experience. While many players enjoyed Apparatus Storage as a creative tool, the glitch could also:
By mid-2019, speedruns using Apparatus Storage had shattered previous world records. Any% runs dropped below 24 minutes. Nintendo likely saw this as harmful to the game’s integrity—especially with Breath of the Wild still selling millions of copies.
Thus, update 1.6.0 was born. And with it, the end of an era.
+ and select "Software Update" > "Via the Internet."Published by: Hyrule Historian Tech Date: June 2024 (Retrospective Analysis)
In the pantheon of modern video games, few titles have achieved the legendary status of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Released in 2017 as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch, it redefined open-world design. Over the years, Nintendo released a steady stream of updates, mostly to enhance the "Game Experience" (stability) and support DLC. However, one update stands out as the final major patch before the game was officially "retired" to make way for its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Corrupt save files if performed incorrectly
That update is Version 1.6.0.
While not as flashy as a DLC pack, the 1.6.0 update carries significant weight for speedrunners, glitch hunters, and players revisiting Hyrule in the modern era. This article will dissect everything you need to know about Update 1.6.0: what it did, why it mattered, and how it changed the landscape of Breath of the Wild forever.
To understand 1.6.0, we must look back at the timeline. The last major content drop for Breath of the Wild was The Champions' Ballad DLC in late 2017. Following that, updates focused on:
For two years, the game sat at Version 1.5.0. Many assumed development was complete. Then, in November 2019, Nintendo dropped Version 1.6.0 out of the blue. It arrived with patch notes so cryptic they became legendary in the community:
- General: Fixed several issues to make for a more pleasant gaming experience.*
That was it. No mention of specific bugs, no new features. In Nintendo's typical style, they gave nothing away. But the modding and speedrunning communities immediately began reverse-engineering the 19MB download.
On November 8, 2019, Nintendo rolled out Version 1.6.0 for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. For a game released in 2017, a patch arriving over two and a half years later seemed unusual. The official patch notes were characteristically sparse: “General stability improvements” and “Several issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.” To the average player, it appeared to be housekeeping—a minor sweep of code before Nintendo shifted its full attention to the highly anticipated sequel, Tears of the Kingdom.
However, dismissing 1.6.0 as a routine update would be to miss the forest for the trees. In the context of Breath of the Wild’s lifecycle, this patch represented a quiet but definitive turning point. It was not about adding new swords or shrines; it was about preparing for the future, enhancing a specific peripheral feature, and ultimately closing the book on a game that had redefined open-world design.