The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will receive a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition when the system launches June 5. But the open-world game might feature “certain improvements such as faster load times” even for players who don’t pay for the enhanced upgrade. That’s because original Switch titles could get performance boosts without spending extra money on Switch 2.
Speaking with GameSpot, Takuhiro Dohta was asked whether it was possible to see a performance boost in Zelda: Breath of the Wild without upgrading to the Switch 2 Edition. “First I’ll start with what happens when you play a game without applying the update, which is that, and this will depend heavily on how the original game was created and also how it was designed. But I think you can expect certain improvements such as faster load times, maybe improved frame rate. But again, it’ll depend on how that game was built,” explained Dohta, who’s the Switch 2 director and previously served as technical director on Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (another title with a Switch 2 Edition).
The Legend of Zelda games – Nintendo Switch 2 Editions & ZELDA NOTES – Overview Trailer
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Last week, Nintendo noted that some Switch games will receive free updates for Switch 2, such as Super Mario Odyssey and Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics. It’s unknown exactly what will improve for each title, but Clubhouse Games will get GameChat functionality, for instance.
Dohta discusses how these free and paid updates will work on Switch 2. “And when you use the update and make the title specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2, what it basically does is replace part of the programming so that it can really leverage the capabilities of the Nintendo Switch 2. So with that comes better improvement,” Dohta said.
Nintendo has previously promised that Switch versions of games will still work after upgrading to Switch 2 Editions. For instance, if you own Zelda: Breath of the Wild currently on Switch and decide to pay for the enhanced Switch 2 version, you can still play the old version on your old hybrid system.
As for the system’s $450 price tag, Nintendo talked about why Switch 2 is more expensive. Keep in mind that Switch 2 preorders in the US have been delayed due to the Trump Administration’s new tariffs. In addition, it doesn’t sound like there will be an official achievement system. For more, check out GameSpot’s hands-on Switch 2 preview.