Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition Excludes DLC

Amid ongoing confusion and frustration among fans regarding the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games, particularly in the United States, a new detail has emerged that may catch some by surprise. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Nintendo Switch 2 edition does not include the Expansion Pass, meaning an additional $20 is required to access the DLC on the new system if you don't already own it.

To clarify, following last week's announcement about the Nintendo Switch 2's games and pricing, there has been considerable confusion about how everything will work. If you already own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Nintendo Switch, you can transfer and play it on your Nintendo Switch 2, including the DLC, without any issues.

However, there's also a Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild, which offers improved visuals and performance, achievements, and support for the new "Zelda Notes" service within the Nintendo Switch Online app. Existing owners of the game on the Switch won't automatically receive these enhancements but can purchase an "upgrade pack" for $10 to access them.

For those who don't yet own the game and are considering purchasing it on the Nintendo Switch 2, they can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild for $70, which is $10 more than its initial retail price. However, this version does not include the Expansion Pass DLC, which adds an additional $20 to the total cost, bringing the full experience to $90.

Nintendo confirmed this to IGN, stating, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition does not include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC. That DLC is available as a separate purchase."

While some might argue that this pricing is fair, considering it aligns with what existing owners have already paid plus the upgrade cost, it's worth noting that many other gaming publishers tend to reduce prices on older games or bundle DLC with enhanced editions for new systems to make it more affordable for new players. A total of $90 for a game released in 2017 on the Wii U seems steep, especially when compared to other high-profile titles like Mario Kart World, priced at $80, and the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, which may cost $450 or more depending on tariffs.

While it's possible that most potential players of Breath of the Wild already own the base game due to its widespread popularity, those waiting to purchase it or its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, for the new system should keep the cost of the highly regarded Expansion Pass in mind.