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 where costs are continually changing, a new charge has come to light that might surprise some. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Nintendo Switch 2 edition does not include the Expansion Pass, which means an additional $20 is required to access the DLC on the new system if you don't already own it.

To clarify, since the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2's games and pricing last week, there's been no shortage of confusion about how it all works. If you already own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Nintendo Switch, you can play it on the Nintendo Switch 2, including the DLC, without any issues if you've previously purchased it.

However, there's also a Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild, which features improved visuals and performance, achievements, and supports the new "Zelda Notes" service within the Nintendo Switch Online app. If you already own the game on the original Switch, these enhancements aren't automatically included, but you 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, you can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild for $70, which is $10 more than the original retail price. However, this edition does not include the DLC Expansion Pass, so if you want that, it will cost an additional $20, making the total cost for the full Breath of the Wild experience on the Nintendo Switch 2 $90.

According to a statement from Nintendo to IGN, "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 one might argue that this pricing is equitable, considering that existing owners have already paid similar amounts for the game and its upgrades, it's worth noting that other gaming publishers often reduce prices for older games or bundle DLC with enhanced editions for newer systems to ease the financial burden on players. Paying $90 for a game that was released in 2017 on the Wii U seems steep, especially when compared to the $80 price tag of Mario Kart World and the potential $450 cost of the Nintendo Switch 2 itself, which may increase due to ongoing tariff issues.

Although it's possible that most potential players of Breath of the Wild already own at least the base game, given its strong sales, those who have been waiting to buy it (and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom) for the new, enhanced system should be aware of the additional cost of the very well-received Expansion Pass.