Zelda Botw 160 Update: Full !exclusive!

Investigations by the modding community revealed the technical reason behind these improvements. Version 1.6.0 appears to allow the Switch's CPU to utilize a "boost mode" capable of reaching up to 1.7 GHz in short bursts, officially called "boost mode." This feature was likely implemented to ensure smooth VR performance but benefited the entire game. As a result, players experienced not only shorter loading screens but also "noticeably less overworld lag" when moving through dense environments.

| Action | Time Before 1.6.0 | Time After 1.6.0 | Improvement | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | 31 seconds | 21 seconds | 10 seconds saved | | Fast Traveling | 19 seconds | ~11 seconds | ~8 seconds saved | | Entering a Shrine | ~13 seconds | ~10 seconds | 3 seconds saved | | Exiting a Shrine | 17 seconds | 11 seconds | 6 seconds saved |

is one of the most historically significant patches for the game, as it introduced official Virtual Reality (VR) support via the Nintendo Labo VR Kit and accidentally revolutionized loading screen speeds across Hyrule. Released on April 25, 2019, this update changed how players interact with the game world and remains a crucial baseline for the speedrunning community. zelda botw 160 update full

On paper, Nintendo's official changelog for Version 1.6.0 was incredibly brief, focusing primarily on its brand-new hardware ecosystem integration:

: Significantly reduced loading speeds make traversing between shrines and fast-travel points far more efficient. New Features and Content | Action | Time Before 1

If your Nintendo Switch is connected to the internet and Auto-Updates are enabled, the update should install automatically.

If you already have v1.5.0 or v1.6.0, you are missing nothing in terms of gameplay. The “full” version simply means you can scan 2019’s amiibo and have the last crash fixes. No new quests. No new map. No new story. New Features and Content If your Nintendo Switch

The speedrunning community officially splits into two categories:

While the 1.6.0 patch was generally well-received for its VR support and speed boosts, it did not arrive without a few hiccups. The community had to navigate a few specific issues that were introduced with this version.