With the release of the Switch 2 and the additional horsepower it brings to players' gaming experiences, Nintendo has gone back to some of its most popular games from the original Switch and given them a fresh lick of paint in the form of Upgrade Packs. Two of these are Link's epic adventures across Hyrule in the form of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. With both titles offering up hundreds of hours of playtime each, there's a good chance that players will want to revisit them on their Switch 2 to see what the system can do.

This guide will explain the process of getting the Zelda Switch 2 Upgrade Packs for both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

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How to Get the Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Upgrade Packs for Free

A Subscription Bonus

Both Breath of the Wild's and Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 upgrade packs are included as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. This grants players the ability to play their games online, gets them access to the libraries of retro Nintendo game consoles, and also nets players some additional expansions and content for some of Nintendo's biggest games.

Players with an Expansion Pack subscription can select the 'Nintendo Switch Online' option from their Switch 2's home screen and scroll down to the Expansion Pack option at the bottom of the sidebar. From here, tab over until the option for 'The Legend of Zelda Upgrade Packs' appears. With the video selected, players need to press A and then select the 'View Upgrade Packs' option.

This will take players to the Nintendo eShop where they can then select either Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom. Once the game has been chosen, subscribers will be given a 'Download' option next to the Switch Online + Expansion Pack logo. This will download the upgrade pack for the game onto the Switch 2 for free.

How to Buy the Zelda Switch 2 Upgrade Packs

A Small Price to Pay?

tears of the kingdom link underwater

Alternatively, those who don't have the Expansion Pack subscription can purchase them from this same page for $9.99 each. This page can also be accessed by going to the Nintendo eShop from the Switch 2 home screen, and searching for each game's title. The options that appear with the red Nintendo Switch 2 banner at the top of the cover art are the upgrade packs.

Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Pack prices vary from game to game. The Zelda titles are receiving $9.99 upgrades, while others such as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Switch 2 upgrades are free of charge.

What Are the Zelda Switch 2 Upgrade Packs?

As the name suggests, these packs upgrade the performance and visuals of their respective games. Players will notice the game runs at a higher resolution with improved frame rates and HDR support, helping bring the world of Hyrule to life.

Both games will also be compatible with Zelda Notes, accessed via the Nintendo Switch smartphone app. Zelda Notes includes the following features:

  • Navigation: Players can select a destination on the map and receive voice directions to reach it.
  • Voice Memories: Zelda's memories scattered throughout Hyrule can be listened to via audio recordings.
  • Item Sharing: Players can save items from the game and share them with their friends and other fans.
  • Photo Studio: Allows users to enhance images they've captured by adding QR codes and Zelda-themed stamps and frames to them.
  • Global Play Data: A breakdown of a player's stats in each game. They can also see how they compare to other players around the world.
  • My Play Data: This acts like an achievement system. Players progress will be tracked in the app and medals will be unlocked for achieving certain milestones.
  • Daily Bonus: Players can receive an effect that will help them in the game each day. These can range from being able to repair weapons or refilling hearts.
  • Amiibo Support: Any amiibo that are scanned in-game will appear in a collection on the Zelda Notes app. A bonus will be unlocked once an amiibo has been scanned five times.
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10 /10

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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Action
Adventure
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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
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Released
March 3, 2017
ESRB
E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
Havok
Cross-Platform Play
no
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Genre(s)
Action, Adventure