Botw Update 160
You might be wondering: "Why update a game from 2017?"
The answer is simple: Preservation and Accessibility. With the massive success of Tears of the Kingdom, thousands of new players are going back to play the original BOTW. Re-releasing the Xenoblade armor (which was originally a limited-time event) ensures that new players aren't locked out of cool content. Furthermore, the bug fixes ensure the game runs smoothly on the latest Switch hardware.
The Sheikah Slate hummed on Link’s hip, a familiar weight. For three years, it had been his map, his camera, his bomb dispenser. But tonight, as he sat by a fire on the Great Plateau, the Slate glowed an ominous orange.
A text box appeared, floating in the air.
Software Update: Ver. 1.6.0 Downloading…
Link blinked. He hadn’t connected to a tower. He was a hundred feet from the nearest decayed Guardian, roasting an apple.
A loading wheel spun. Then, a new message:
Update complete. New features added:
The fire crackled. The apple was perfect. But a chill ran down Link’s spine that had nothing to do with the cold.
He stood up. The forest around him was too quiet. No crickets. No distant bokoblin grunts.
Then he saw the deer.
It was standing at the edge of the firelight, staring directly at him. Deer never stared. They bolted. This one’s head tilted, its eyes reflecting the firelight with an unnerving intelligence. It took a step forward, then another. Then it spoke.
Not with words. With a sound. A low, guttural hum that vibrated in Link’s chest. The Sheikah Slate translated:
[Hunger. Fear. The red moon rises inside me.]
Link drew the Master Sword. The deer bolted—not away, but past him, straight into the flames of his campfire. It didn't burn. It dissolved into a puff of red smoke, and where it stood, a single, perfect, glowing apple remained.
He didn’t eat it.
He ran. He paraglided off the Plateau, landing in the wet grass of Hyrule Field. The first thing he noticed was the sky. The Blood Moon wasn't rising—it was already there, hanging low and wrong, like a bloodshot eye staring at the ground at noon.
A bokoblin camp near the Outskirt Stable. Normally, three blue bokoblins and a moblin. Link crept closer.
There were no bokoblins.
Instead, the moblin was sitting on a rock, cross-legged. In its huge, club-like hands, it held a tiny, crushed flower. It was weeping. Thick, black tears rolled down its snout and sizzled when they hit the grass.
Link’s sword hand wavered.
The moblin looked up. Its eyes weren't the usual vacant yellow. They were a deep, sorrowful blue. It opened its mouth and the same guttural hum came out. The Slate translated:
[She took my horn. My brother. The metal one with the wheel. He is gone. The silence is a scream.]
Link remembered. Last week, he had destroyed a Guardian Stalker right here. Its parts were probably still scattered in the field.
He looked at his inventory. Three Guardian cores. Five gears. A single, intact horn.
The moblin pointed a trembling finger at him. Not accusing. Asking.
[You. The silent one. Do you also hear the new song? The one under the ground?]
Before Link could react, the ground shook. Not a tremor. A shift. The grass in a perfect circle around the stable turned from green to a dead, ashen gray. A hole opened—not a cave, but a wound. From it came a sound: not a roar, but a melody. Slow. Sad. Played on a piano with half its keys missing.
A new quest marker appeared on the Slate. Not a yellow dot. A deep, pulsing black.
Major Test of Regret: Enter the Well of Silence.
Link hesitated. He had fought Ganon. He had tamed the Divine Beasts. But this—this wasn't a battle. This was a confession.
He took a step toward the hole.
The moblin stood up. It handed him the crushed flower. It nodded once. Then it turned and walked into the ashen circle, humming the sad piano melody as it descended into the dark.
Link looked at the flower. Its description had changed.
Tired Silent Princess. A rare flower that once symbolized courage. Now it only grows where something has been forgotten. Use with caution.
Update 1.6.0 didn't add new weapons or dungeons.
It added memory. And in Hyrule, some memories were better left sleeping.
He dropped the flower, turned off the Sheikah Slate, and sat down in the silent field under the blood-shot sky, waiting for a sunrise that might not mean the same thing anymore.
There is no official "Update 160" for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The final major version released by Nintendo was Version 1.6.0, which arrived on April 25, 2019. Key Update Features: Version 1.6.0
The primary "piece" of this update was the introduction of VR support for the Nintendo Labo VR Kit.
VR Goggles Support: Added a "VR Goggles" option to the Settings menu. This allows you to play the entire game in a basic VR mode using the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit. botw update 160
Third-Person VR: Unlike typical first-person VR, this mode maintains the game’s standard third-person camera but allows you to look around the world by moving your head.
Toggle-able: You can switch this mode on or off at any time from the in-game options. Other Version 1.6.0 Changes Outside of the VR functionality, the update was minor:
Bug Fixes: Addressed several unnamed "issues" to improve the overall gameplay experience.
Stability: General performance improvements for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions.
The primary driver behind BOTW update 160 was the launch of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack’s Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis libraries. But how does that relate to Breath of the Wild?
The update included background telemetry that allowed BOTW to detect if your account had access to the Expansion Pack. This wasn’t for in-game bonuses—it was to enable a specific feature: Save Data Cloud interoperability with the NSO mobile app. Previously, BOTW saves were notorious for being locked down. Version 1.6.0 finally allowed full, encrypted cloud backups for the first time without manual transfers.
Before we dive in, make sure you actually have the update.
Based on datamines and Nintendo’s official patch notes (vague as they are), here are the confirmed modifications in 1.6.0:
Update 1.6.0 is maintenance with meaning: modest on paper, meaningful in practice. It won’t rewrite your memories of that first thunderstorm or the thrill of a late-night shrine discovery, but it will help future nights feel just as good. In a game defined by freedom, sometimes the best update is the one that simply keeps the world running smoothly.
If you want, I can adapt this column to a specific outlet tone (news brief, fan blog, or editorial) or shorten it to social media copy. Which format do you prefer?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 's Update 1.6.0, released alongside the VR goggles support, is celebrated in the gaming community as the "End of an Era" patch. This update represents the final narrative and technical bookend for the game before Nintendo shifted its full focus to its successor, Tears of the Kingdom. The "Legend" of the Last Patch
For many players, the story of Update 1.6.0 is one of bittersweet closure. While it didn't add new story quests like the Champions' Ballad DLC, it finalized the world of Hyrule that millions of players had inhabited for years.
VR Support and Immersion: The headline feature was the integration of Nintendo Labo VR support. This allowed players to view the familiar landscapes of Hyrule through a headset, creating a "new story" for veterans who could now stand on the Peak of Awakening or look up at the Dueling Peaks in a pseudo-3D space.
The Technical Polish: It served as the final stability layer for the game's massive engine. According to reports, this version refined performance in historically laggy areas like the Great Hyrule Forest (Korok Forest), ensuring that Link’s journey felt smoother for future generations of players.
The Legacy of Version 1.6.0: In the speedrunning community, version 1.6.0 is often cited as a critical milestone. While later minor adjustments or regional dubs (like the Portuguese addition in version 1.8.0) changed some technical aspects, 1.6.0 remains a foundational version for many who spent hundreds of hours aiming for 100% completion. Historical Context: The Great Calamity
While the update provided technical closure, the game's actual story concludes with the resolution of the Great Calamity. This event, which took place 100 years prior to the game's start on Princess Zelda's 17th birthday, is what players spent years exploring. The 1.6.0 update ensured that this narrative world—from the silent ruins of the Temple of Time to the heights of Hyrule Castle—would remain a "flawless masterpiece" for years to come. There's a NEW Update for BOTW!
You're referring to the "BotW Update 1.6.0" guide!
For those who might not know, BotW stands for "Breath of the Wild," which is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles.
Update 1.6.0 was a significant patch released for the game, which brought several changes, fixes, and improvements. Here are some of the key highlights:
What's new in Update 1.6.0:
To apply the update, players simply need to connect their Nintendo Switch or Wii U console to the internet, and the update will be automatically downloaded and installed.
Keep in mind that this information might be outdated, as the guide you mentioned could be from an older source.
Are you a BotW player looking for specific information or tips? I'd be happy to help!
The prompt " botw update 160 " typically refers to the final significant software version for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) on Nintendo Switch, which is Version 1.6.0
. This update, released in April 2019, served as a "final polish" for the game rather than a content expansion. The Legacy of Version 1.6.0
Released on April 25, 2019, Version 1.6.0 is most notable for introducing VR support via Nintendo Labo and significantly improving the game's loading performance
. While minor technical patches have appeared since, 1.6.0 marked the functional end of the game's active development cycle as Nintendo pivoted focus to its sequel. Technical Enhancements & VR Support Nintendo Labo VR Integration
: The primary feature allowed players to experience Hyrule in a specialized "VR Mode" using the Toy-Con VR Goggles Loading Speed Optimization
: This update implemented a "Boost Mode" that overclocked the Switch's CPU during loading screens, reducing wait times significantly when fast-traveling or entering shrines. Common Errors: The "160-XXXX" Code Users often search for "BotW 160" because of the 160-0103 error code on the Wii U.
: This indicates that system memory may be corrupted or the software update data is incomplete.
: Nintendo recommends manually deleting the update data in storage management and re-downloading it to ensure a clean installation. Modern Context: Switch 2 "Enhanced Editions"
Recent developments in 2025 and 2026 have shifted the conversation toward Switch 2 updates Digital Foundry Performance Upgrades
: New "Enhanced Editions" provide HDR support and higher frame rates, effectively acting as the "modern" equivalent of a major version update. : These upgrades are often sold as separate Upgrade Packs for existing owners rather than free patches. Digital Foundry If you are trying to fix a specific error , let me know: Are you seeing the 160-0103 error code on a Wii U? Are you trying to update the game on Cemu (emulator) Nintendo Switch Switch 2 enhancements
The "1.6.0" update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a major release specifically designed for the Nintendo Switch 2
. This update (or standalone "Switch 2 Edition") significantly enhances the game's visuals and performance compared to the original 2017 release. Key Features of Update 1.6.0 Resolution Boost : The game now runs at when docked and in handheld mode. Performance : It targets a consistent 60 frames per second (fps) , providing much smoother motion than the original. HDR Support
: High Dynamic Range (HDR) is now supported, making the colors of Hyrule "pop," especially during Blood Moons and near shrines. Improved Clarity
: Character models look significantly sharper, though the higher resolution can make some original textures (like rocks and logs) look basic by comparison. How to Update If you are playing on a Nintendo Switch 2
or original console connected to the internet, you can update your software through the following steps: Nintendo Support and highlight the Breath of the Wild + or - Button on your controller. Software Update Via the Internet Post-Game Content
The update maintains the classic post-game structure. Once you defeat Ganon, your save file will be marked with a
, and a completion percentage counter will appear on the Sheikah Slate's map. You can continue exploring to reach 100% completion, which includes finding all Korok seeds, completing all shrines, and finishing all side quests. price difference between the upgrade and the standalone Switch 2 Edition? You might be wondering: "Why update a game from 2017
Several third-party Amiibo emulation devices (like the popular TagMo and JoyCon Droid) stopped working after 1.6.0. Nintendo quietly patched the NFC handshake protocol, breaking many unofficial Amiibo cards. Official Amiibo (and licensed PowerTags) continued to function normally.
While not a content expansion, 1.6.0 focuses on stability and quality-of-life improvements. Players who’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring Hyrule know how jarring a rare crash or visual hiccup can be; this patch tightens those loose ends so the world feels more seamless. For a game built on emergent systems, reliability is everything — fewer interruptions means more uninterrupted wonder.
