The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild continues to be a crown jewel within Nintendo’s rich gaming legacy. Through its immersive open-world design and groundbreaking mechanics, it revolutionized what gamers could look forward to from the Zelda franchise — and open-world games in general. But now, as hype builds around the Nintendo Switch 2, a decision by Nintendo has stirred up a fair bit of controversy: the Breath of the Wild DLC will not be included with Switch 2 versions of the game.

For longtime fans and new players alike, this unexpected choice has raised eyebrows and quite a few questions.

What You’re Going to Get with Breath of the Wild on Switch 2

According to early leaks and pre-release details from insiders, the version of Breath of the Wild that will be playable on the Switch 2 is essentially the same base game that launched in 2017. Yes, you’ll likely see faster loading times, smoother frame rates, and enhanced textures thanks to the new hardware… but that’s where the upgrades stop.

What you will not be getting is the DLC (which also comes with Nintendo’s Expansion Pass, which if you have it, you should get said DLC when you transfer over onto the Switch 2), which is made up of two major content packs: The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad. These DLCs contributed significantly to the game and are largely viewed as an intrinsic part of the full experience.

Breaking Down the Expansion Pass: What You’re Missing

If you haven’t seen it somehow, the following is a summary of what’s excluded if the DLC can be bought separately on Switch 2:

1. The Master Trials

• Trial of the Sword: A challenging combat test that, once completed, permanently boosts the Master Sword.
• Hero’s Path Mode: A map recorder that lets you view up to a 200-hour exploration history, super useful for completionists.
• Master Mode: A new difficulty level with improved enemies and floating platforms.
• Travel Medallion: Allows you to fast travel to a destination of your choice.
• New Armor Sets: Midna’s Helmet, Tingle’s Outfit, Phantom Armor, etc.

2. The Champions’ Ballad

• New Story Content: Expands upon the histories of Daruk, Revali, Urbosa, and Mipha.
• New Dungeons/Shrines: A decent challenge that is story-focused in its design.
• Master Cycle Zero: Link’s motorcycle. I mean, come on, do I need to say more?

Without these, players are missing a great deal of what finished Breath of the Wild for us.

Can You Transfer Your Breath of the Wild DLC?

Yes! Lucky for existing players who already bought the DLC, it will be transferred if you upgrade your game to Switch 2. Fans are still disappointed in Nintendo though, even more so with recent controversy and drama surrounding the Switch 2 prices.

Why Fans Are Frustrated — And They Should Be

The annoyance isn’t as much about paying money all over again — it’s about principle.

Several fans feel that this is something that Nintendo has had a chance to reward loyalty on and has lost said chance. The Expansion Pass became available back in 2017. Players have spent hundreds of hours on it. If a new player buys Breath of the Wild on the Switch 2 (ignoring said Switch 2 expense), it’s $60 for the game, adding that to obtain the enhanced version for $10, and buying the DLC for $20, that totals to an absurd $90 for a single game! It just seems so much like a massive cash grab, which is worse since Breath of the Wild has already raked in billions globally.

This also pales in comparison to other moves by competitors like PlayStation and Xbox, which have gone out of their way to include cross-gen entitlements and digital upgrades at no extra cost. To that effect, many people have commented that it’s a bit crappy that Nintendo still charges fans the full price (actually more!) of an 8-year-old game.

Will There Be a Complete Edition Someday?

More and more rumor emerges that one day Nintendo can create a “Definitive Edition” or a “Game of the Year” version of Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 that comes with the core game, DLCs, and enhanced graphics.

If you’re not in a hurry to replay the game, it could potentially be worth waiting for. Nintendo has a habit of re-releasing major titles with bundled content. They did it with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe.

But as always, Nintendo plays the long game. And that could mean waiting for a year or several.

What This Bodes for the Zelda Series Looking Forward

Nintendo’s handling of Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 sets a precedent and not so much a good one. With fans eagerly looking forward to whatever the next huge Zelda game is, be it a new installment or a port of Tears of the Kingdom, the community will be closely watching to determine whether or not this precedent is upheld.

Will DLC forever remain paywalled all over again? Will game content ever be able to easily pass from generation to generation?

These are questions Nintendo will eventually be forced to answer or abandon the support of one of its most passionate fan bases.

Final Thoughts: Is It Still Worth Playing on Switch 2?

Depending on what you’re like, it is or isn’t.

• If you’re a newcomer, Switch 2’s Breath of the Wild is still one of the all-time greats even without the DLC.
• If you’re already a fan, the better performance may be appealing, but factor in that you’ll have to pay to bring it over (with enhanced visuals and such).
• If you are a completionist, the lack of bundled DLC is a no-go, and you may consider waiting for an potential definitive edition.
• If you’re looking to play the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Age of Imprisonment game and would like to review the story beforehand, go for it!
• If your wallet can even stand looking at those prices… if it isn’t, well, it may be best to just stick to what you have.