The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild may be over eight years old by the time the Nintendo Switch 2 hits shelves, but that hasn’t stopped Nintendo from attaching a premium price tag to one of its most beloved titles. Slated for re-release on June 5, the Switch 2 Edition of Breath of the Wild will cost $69.99 — a full $10 more than the standard Switch version, and it doesn’t even include all the content.
What’s New in the Switch 2 Edition?
While it may seem like a steep ask, Nintendo has added a few extras to the upgraded version:
- Improved Performance tailored for the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware
- Zelda Notes integration, adding achievements and quality-of-life enhancements via the Nintendo Switch app
Despite the enhancements, this $70 re-release is still not the complete experience, as it does not include the original game’s two major expansions.
DLC Still Sold Separately
To access all the post-launch content, you’ll need to fork over another $19.99 for the Expansion Pass, which includes:
The Master Trials
- Trial of the Sword challenge
- Master Mode
- Hero’s Path mode
- Travel Medallion
- Korok Mask
The Champions’ Ballad
- New story content
- Additional dungeon
- The Master Cycle Zero (yes, Link’s motorcycle)
Altogether, this brings the total cost of the complete Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild to $90 — for a game released in 2017.
Upgrade Path – A Slight Relief
There is a silver lining for longtime fans. If you already own Breath of the Wild on the original Switch, Nintendo is offering an upgrade path:
- $10 Upgrade Fee: Bring your Switch 1 version forward to Switch 2 with all the performance upgrades.
- Free for Expansion Pack Subscribers: If you’re subscribed to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier, the upgrade comes at no additional cost.
While this does help mitigate the sticker shock, it also underlines Nintendo’s continued shift away from its old practice of offering discounted re-releases, as seen in past console generations like the GameCube’s Player’s Choice label.
Final Thoughts
Nintendo fans eager to replay Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 will be getting a technically superior version of the game — but at a price. With no bundled DLC and a higher base cost, it’s clear Nintendo is betting on Zelda’s legacy to carry the sales.
For some, the nostalgia and visual enhancements may justify the price. For others, it’s hard to ignore the reality: paying $90 for an eight-year-old title isn’t exactly the Hero’s Path most fans were hoping for.
