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: . 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.
The update smoothed out real-time head-tracking latency when looking through the VR goggles.
Released primarily to coincide with the launch of Nintendo Labo VR, version 1.6.0 introduced a unique way to experience the vast landscapes of Hyrule. While many fans hoped for new quests or items, this update was strictly focused on technical integration and minor performance stability.
: 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.
The centerpiece of the 1.6.0 update was the integration of the Nintendo Labo VR Kit. This allowed players to experience the vast kingdom of Hyrule in a completely new perspective. By toggling the "Toy-Con VR Goggles" setting in the options menu, the camera shifts to a stereoscopic view. botw update 160
The patch notes from various Nintendo support pages listed two main features:
Link remembered. Last week, he had destroyed a Guardian Stalker right here. Its parts were probably still scattered in the field.
While innovative, the execution received mixed reviews from the community:
This is not a two-way transfer. Playing Age of Calamity does not unlock anything new in Breath of the Wild . The update included background telemetry that allowed BOTW
By pushing more raw power to data streaming when Link travels across Hyrule, load times dropped dramatically across the board: Loading Scenario Pre-Update (1.5.0) Post-Update (1.6.0) Performance Boost ~15 - 18 seconds ~11 - 12 seconds ~30% Faster Fast Travel (Cross-Map) ~26 - 31 seconds ~19 - 21 seconds ~32% Faster Entering a Shrine ~12 - 14 seconds ~9 - 10 seconds ~25% Faster Respawning After Death ~20 - 24 seconds ~14 - 16 seconds ~33% Faster Impact on the Speedrunning Community
A loading wheel spun. Then, a new message:
General bug fixes improved the overall "polish" of the game, ensuring that the physics engine—the "Chemistry Engine"—ran without hiccups during complex interactions. How to Check Your Version
The best update for Breath of the Wild was always 1.3.0 (which added Hero's Path and Master Mode). But 1.6.0 is the quiet, stable sunset that allows the game to run smoothly on modern hardware. Version 1
upgrade, which brings significant technical enhancements to the 2017 classic.
. This allowed players to experience the entirety of Hyrule in virtual reality (excluding pre-rendered cutscenes) by toggling the "VR Goggles" option in the in-game system settings. Improved Loading Times
First, let’s manage expectations. It contains zero new shrines, zero new armor pieces, and zero new story content.
This only applies to the (now discontinued) Wii U version of BotW. Update 1.6.0 corrected a rare memory leak that caused the GamePad screen to stutter when switching between TV mode and Off-TV play.