Botw Update 160 -
The most user-facing change. Before 1.6.0, cloud saves for Breath of the Wild were notoriously slow to sync. The update optimized how the game packages save data for the NSO cloud service, reducing the time it takes to back up your 100+ hour file.
If you are trying to update your game to the latest version, Version 1.5.0 is the final official patch released by Nintendo. It included:
The most interesting fan theory surrounding BOTW update 160 is that it secretly lays the groundwork for save-data bonuses in Tears of the Kingdom. While Nintendo never confirmed this, data miners found a new, empty string in the executable named TOTK_BONUS_FLAG. When the update dropped, this was dismissed as a placeholder. However, after Tears of the Kingdom launched in 2023, players who had completed Breath of the Wild on the same console received stable-registered horses and a photo of the Champions. Update 1.6.0 was almost certainly the mechanism that tagged your save file as "eligible" for that transfer.
Several third-party Amiibo emulation devices (like the popular TagMo and JoyCon Droid) stopped working after 1.6.0. Nintendo quietly patched the NFC handshake protocol, breaking many unofficial Amiibo cards. Official Amiibo (and licensed PowerTags) continued to function normally.
For the average player, this means nothing. For speedrunners, 1.6.0 was a disaster.
Nintendo fixed two major memory corruption exploits:
If you see a Breath of the Wild any% speedrun with a time under 24 minutes, it was likely performed on Version 1.5.0 or earlier. 1.6.0 killed the most powerful glitches.
Yes, but only partially. The Wii U version of Breath of the Wild received a corresponding patch, but it was labeled differently in the system menu. Because the Wii U’s online infrastructure is deprecated, the Wii U’s "160" update only included the Master Cycle Zero fix and the save-data cleanup. It did not receive the NSO cloud save features.
The Sheikah Slate hummed on Link’s hip, a familiar weight. For three years, it had been his map, his camera, his bomb dispenser. But tonight, as he sat by a fire on the Great Plateau, the Slate glowed an ominous orange.
A text box appeared, floating in the air.
Software Update: Ver. 1.6.0 Downloading…
Link blinked. He hadn’t connected to a tower. He was a hundred feet from the nearest decayed Guardian, roasting an apple.
A loading wheel spun. Then, a new message:
Update complete. New features added:
The fire crackled. The apple was perfect. But a chill ran down Link’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
He stood up. The forest around him was too quiet. No crickets. No distant bokoblin grunts. botw update 160
Then he saw the deer.
It was standing at the edge of the firelight, staring directly at him. Deer never stared. They bolted. This one’s head tilted, its eyes reflecting the firelight with an unnerving intelligence. It took a step forward, then another. Then it spoke.
Not with words. With a sound. A low, guttural hum that vibrated in Link’s chest. The Sheikah Slate translated:
[Hunger. Fear. The red moon rises inside me.]
Link drew the Master Sword. The deer bolted—not away, but past him, straight into the flames of his campfire. It didn't burn. It dissolved into a puff of red smoke, and where it stood, a single, perfect, glowing apple remained.
He didn’t eat it.
He ran. He paraglided off the Plateau, landing in the wet grass of Hyrule Field. The first thing he noticed was the sky. The Blood Moon wasn't rising—it was already there, hanging low and wrong, like a bloodshot eye staring at the ground at noon.
A bokoblin camp near the Outskirt Stable. Normally, three blue bokoblins and a moblin. Link crept closer.
There were no bokoblins.
Instead, the moblin was sitting on a rock, cross-legged. In its huge, club-like hands, it held a tiny, crushed flower. It was weeping. Thick, black tears rolled down its snout and sizzled when they hit the grass.
Link’s sword hand wavered.
The moblin looked up. Its eyes weren't the usual vacant yellow. They were a deep, sorrowful blue. It opened its mouth and the same guttural hum came out. The Slate translated:
[She took my horn. My brother. The metal one with the wheel. He is gone. The silence is a scream.]
Link remembered. Last week, he had destroyed a Guardian Stalker right here. Its parts were probably still scattered in the field.
He looked at his inventory. Three Guardian cores. Five gears. A single, intact horn. The most user-facing change
The moblin pointed a trembling finger at him. Not accusing. Asking.
[You. The silent one. Do you also hear the new song? The one under the ground?]
Before Link could react, the ground shook. Not a tremor. A shift. The grass in a perfect circle around the stable turned from green to a dead, ashen gray. A hole opened—not a cave, but a wound. From it came a sound: not a roar, but a melody. Slow. Sad. Played on a piano with half its keys missing.
A new quest marker appeared on the Slate. Not a yellow dot. A deep, pulsing black.
Major Test of Regret: Enter the Well of Silence.
Link hesitated. He had fought Ganon. He had tamed the Divine Beasts. But this—this wasn't a battle. This was a confession.
He took a step toward the hole.
The moblin stood up. It handed him the crushed flower. It nodded once. Then it turned and walked into the ashen circle, humming the sad piano melody as it descended into the dark.
Link looked at the flower. Its description had changed.
Tired Silent Princess. A rare flower that once symbolized courage. Now it only grows where something has been forgotten. Use with caution.
Update 1.6.0 didn't add new weapons or dungeons.
It added memory. And in Hyrule, some memories were better left sleeping.
He dropped the flower, turned off the Sheikah Slate, and sat down in the silent field under the blood-shot sky, waiting for a sunrise that might not mean the same thing anymore.
The "1.6.0" update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a major release specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch 2
. This update (or standalone "Switch 2 Edition") significantly enhances the game's visuals and performance compared to the original 2017 release. Key Features of Update 1.6.0 Resolution Boost : The game now runs at when docked and in handheld mode. Performance : It targets a consistent 60 frames per second (fps) , providing much smoother motion than the original. HDR Support If you see a Breath of the Wild
: High Dynamic Range (HDR) is now supported, making the colors of Hyrule "pop," especially during Blood Moons and near shrines. Improved Clarity
: Character models look significantly sharper, though the higher resolution can make some original textures (like rocks and logs) look basic by comparison. How to Update If you are playing on a Nintendo Switch 2
or original console connected to the internet, you can update your software through the following steps: Nintendo Support and highlight the Breath of the Wild + or - Button on your controller. Software Update Via the Internet Post-Game Content
The update maintains the classic post-game structure. Once you defeat Ganon, your save file will be marked with a
, and a completion percentage counter will appear on the Sheikah Slate's map. You can continue exploring to reach 100% completion, which includes finding all Korok seeds, completing all shrines, and finishing all side quests. price difference between the upgrade and the standalone Switch 2 Edition?
This update primarily prepared the game for the first DLC pack, The Master Trials. Key additions included:
The Master Trials (DLC 1) Support: Enabled access to the Trial of the Sword, Master Mode, Hero's Path Mode, the Travel Medallion, and new armor pieces for those who purchased the Expansion Pass.
Expansion Pass Menu: A dedicated menu was added to the title screen to manage and view DLC content.
General Fixes: Various minor gameplay adjustments and bug fixes were implemented to improve the overall experience. How to Install Updates
Nintendo Switch: Select the game icon on the HOME Menu and press the + or - button, then choose Software Update.
Wii U: Connect to the internet and launch the game from the Wii U Menu; the update will download and install automatically.
Cemu (Emulator): You can install update files manually by going to File > Install Game DLC or Update and selecting the folder containing the v160 update data.
If you are interested in modifying game text or exploring more advanced updates like the BOTW Randomizer, these tutorials provide a direct demonstration:
Update 1.6.0 for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) was a major technical milestone released on April 25, 2019. While BotW has received subsequent updates (such as Version 1.9.0 in 2026 adding Thai support and Switch 2 compatibility), Version 1.6.0 remains historically significant for introducing full Virtual Reality (VR) support through the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit. Key Features of Update 1.6.0
The primary focus of this update was to integrate the game with the Toy-Con VR Goggles. Unlike other VR experiences that offer limited mini-games, BotW version 1.6.0 allows players to experience the entirety of Hyrule in VR.