The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomare coming to Switch 2, and Nintendo has already proven they know exactly what fans want out of these enhanced ports. During and after a Direct revealing more about the upcoming console, Nintendo announced that several Switch originals would be gettingenhanced updates on Switch 2. For most games, these are simple performance improvements that also unlockthe ability to use GameSharefor multiplayer, but forBOTWandTOTK, these are full-scale, next-gen updates.
Zelda: BOTWandTOTKwill have new features, new story content, a new tie-in app, and a whole lot more when upgraded for Switch 2. But they’ll also have a full suite of graphical improvements, including in one much-needed area. It may be a small change, but it may have a great effect, and could go a long way in making one ofBOTW’s most poignant moments hit that much harder.
Breath Of The Wild On Switch 2 Can Handle Korok Forest
A Much-Needed Improvement
Previews of the Switch 2 upgrades forZelda: Breath of the Wildseem to demonstrate much better performance in the Korok Forest area, a notorious sticking point for the original version’s performance. It may be the lush foliage or the myriad hidden Koroks themselves, but you’re basically guaranteed to see your performance degrade the moment you step into Korok Forest. Frame rates stutter, and Link is forced to stop as the world around him loads - but the problem persists until you engage with an NPC or leave the area.
But these issues may be a thing of the past. Blink and you might miss it, but during the trailer for the Switch 2 ports ofBOTWandTOTK(at about the 28-second mark in the video above),Link is seen running through the Korok Forest at a clean, steady frame rate.
Again, it’s not the biggest change made here. You really only spend a brief time in the Korok Forest during a regular playthrough ofBOTW. But poor performance there is an incredibly common complaint, especially since the Korok Forest is the site of one of the game’s most important story moments:when Link reclaims the Master Sword. Better performance is less likely to take you out of this moving and impactful scene.
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And, if nothing else, it’s a sign of how much more powerful the Switch 2’s hardware really is. In fact, I’d bet that Korok Forest was a deliberate inclusion in Nintendo’sBOTWon Switch 2 preview. When you promise better performance, most players' minds are inevitably going to go straight to Korok Forest as the archetypical example ofBOTW’s instability. Including footage of it running smoothly is both a clever in-joke, and a great way for Nintendo to double down onthe Switch 2’s big promises.
BOTW & TOTK Both Look Great On Switch 2
A Generational Improvement
We’ve only seen a little bit of them, but it’s already undeniable thatBOTWandTOTKlook incredible on Switch 2. With a built-in screen that supports frame rates up to 120 fps, and 4K support when plugged into a TV dock, there’s a lot to look forward to, even if you’ve already played both games.
For me, though, I thinkthe biggest improvement comes in the form of Switch 2’s HDR support. I’ve always felt that the Switch’s two mainlineZeldatitles could benefit from higher contrast; things tend to get foggy in the middle distance, washing out the games' otherwise beautiful colors. Playing in HDR mode with a TV dock could fix that, makingThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildas beautiful as it can be.
