"Zelda: Breath of Wild Switch 2 Edition Excludes DLC"

Amid ongoing confusion and frustration among fans about the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games, particularly in the United States, a new detail has emerged that might catch some by surprise. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's edition for the Nintendo Switch 2 does not include the Expansion Pass, meaning players will need to spend an additional $20 to access the DLC on the new console if they haven't already purchased it.

To clarify, since the announcement of Nintendo Switch 2 games and their pricing last week, there's been considerable uncertainty about how everything will function. Current information indicates that if you already own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Nintendo Switch, you can transfer and play that same game on your Nintendo Switch 2, including the DLC if you've previously bought it, without any issues.

However, a Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild is also available, featuring enhanced visuals and performance, achievements, and support for the new "Zelda Notes" service in the Nintendo Switch Online app. Owners of the original Switch version don't automatically receive these enhancements but can purchase an "upgrade pack" for $10 to gain access to these new features.

For those considering purchasing the game for the first time on the Nintendo Switch 2, the Enhanced Edition is available for $70, $10 more than the original retail price, essentially combining the cost of the game and the upgrade pack. However, this version does not include the Expansion Pass, so adding that will cost an additional $20, totaling $90 for the complete Breath of the Wild experience on the Nintendo Switch 2.

This information comes from a statement Nintendo provided to IGN, which reads: "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 it might seem reasonable, considering existing owners have already paid for similar upgrades and DLC, it's worth noting that other gaming publishers often lower the price of older games or bundle DLC with enhanced editions for newer systems to ease the financial burden on new players. Paying $90 for an updated version of a game released in 2017 on the Wii U feels steep, especially with Mario Kart World priced at $80 and the Nintendo Switch 2 itself potentially costing $450 or more, depending on tariff decisions.

Although it's possible that most potential players already own at least the base version of Breath of the Wild, given its sales success, those waiting to purchase it and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, for the new, improved system should be aware of the additional cost for the Expansion Pass.