Update 16 0 Zelda Botw 🚀
Zelda: Breath of the Wild Update 1.6.0: What It Actually Did (And Didn’t Do)
If you’ve seen references to “Update 16.0” for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, there’s a small clarification needed first: the final numbered update for the game is Version 1.6.0 (not 16.0). This patch was released in November 2019, nearly three years after the game launched.
Here’s what players should know about that update — and why some confusion persists.
Context: The Final Major Patch
- Release Date: November 8, 2019
- File Size: ~1.5 GB (varies by region)
- Why it mattered: This update dropped over two years after the game's initial launch (March 2017). It coincided with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Creating a Champion DLC pack 2? No – actually, it arrived alongside the standalone Breath of the Wild game card re-release including the Expansion Pass on cart, but more importantly, it came just before the launch of Luigi's Mansion 3 and during the lead-up to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
Most crucially, Update 1.6.0 primarily supported the Chinese/Traditional Chinese and Korean language audiences who had just received official localizations. update 16 0 zelda botw
How to Download the Update
If your Switch is connected to the internet, Ver. 16.0 should download automatically. To manually check:
- Highlight Breath of the Wild on the Home Menu.
- Press the + button.
- Go to Software Update > Via the Internet.
The file size is approximately 65 MB.
1. Added Korean & Chinese (Simplified/Traditional) Language Support
- This was the headline feature. Players with system language set to Korean, Simplified Chinese, or Traditional Chinese would now see all in-game text, menus, subtitles, and dialogue in those languages.
- Note: The voice acting remained in the original languages (Japanese, English, etc.) – only subtitles and text changed.
What Version 1.6.0 Actually Included
Nintendo’s official patch notes for Breath of the Wild Ver. 1.6.0 were minimal but specific:
- Support for The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening amiibo – The update added functionality for the Link’s Awakening (2019 remake) series amiibo, allowing players to scan them for in-game rewards.
- General stability improvements – As with most patches, minor bugs were fixed, though no major exploits (like infinite item glitches) were publicly removed at this stage.
No new gameplay features, quests, dungeons, or quality-of-life changes were introduced in 1.6.0. Zelda: Breath of the Wild Update 1
The Patch Notes (Official)
According to Nintendo’s official support page, the changes in Ver. 16.0.0 include:
- General system stability improvements to enhance the user's experience.
- Fixed an issue where players would occasionally encounter a black screen when transitioning from the Great Plateau to the main Hyrule map.
- Adjusted save data compression to reduce loading times when fast traveling to highly populated areas (e.g., Korok Forest or Tarrey Town).
4. Removal of a Hidden Debug Menu (Important for Modders)
Prior to 1.6.0, modders using Atmosphere or custom firmware could access a residual debug menu by holding L + R + Left Stick during the title screen. Update 16.0 completely removes this leftover code. This suggests Nintendo is tidying up their master branch, possibly to use the same engine assets for future projects (or simply to prevent exploits). Release Date: November 8, 2019 File Size: ~1
Comparison to the Sequel
Playing BotW after TotK can feel jarring. You miss the verticality of Ascend, the creativity of Fuse, and the sheer depth of the Depths. The weapon durability system feels more punishing in BotW because you cannot simply tape a rock to a stick; you have to scavenge constantly.
However, BotW has a cohesiveness that the sequel sometimes lacks. The Sheikah Shrines and Towers fit the lore of a technological civilization rising from the ground, whereas TotK’s Zonai structures can feel somewhat "gamey" by comparison. The map, while reused, feels distinct—quieter, lonelier, and more mysterious.
