Fast-travel load times dropped significantly. Teleporting to massive regions dropped from an average of 16 seconds to just 10 seconds (a 37% speed increase). Shrines saw their loading screens cut down to just over 6 seconds .
: It officially added the long-promised Portuguese dub and introduced compatibility for new ecosystem features like Zelda Notes . The Speedrunner's Dilemma
In conclusion, while Update 1.6.0 may not have added new armor sets or quests like the DLC packs before it, its importance is undeniable. It served as the final necessary maintenance for a masterpiece, fixing lingering technical issues, resolving a troublesome battery bug, and gracefully retiring the Wii U version of the game. It ensured that Breath of the Wild would be preserved in its most playable form, solidifying its legacy as one of the greatest video games ever made.
: Although not detailed in the official patch notes, technical tests by GameXplain NintendoSoup
For most players, made no noticeable difference to gameplay. For modders, however, it shifted memory addresses, breaking several popular cheat engines until they were updated. botw update 160 upd
The entire UI messaging system and text boxes were subtly adjusted to scale correctly when split into the dual-lens layout required for VR. Update 1.6.0 Comparison: Before vs. After Feature Metrics Version 1.5.0 (and earlier) Version 1.6.0 (Upd) Overworld Fast Travel ~16 to 18 seconds ~10 seconds Shrine Entrance Loading ~8 seconds ~6 seconds VR Compatibility Full Labo Support CPU State on Loading Stock Clock Speeds Temporary Overclock Platform Availability Switch & Wii U Nintendo Switch Exclusive 💻 The Importance of 1.6.0 in the Emulation Scene
Full compatibility with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit.
Unlike other games that only offered small VR mini-games, 1.6.0 allowed players to experience the entire main campaign of BOTW in stereoscopic 3D.
While the VR support grabbed the headlines, the community discovered a massive undercover upgrade hidden within the 1.6.0 code: . Fast-travel load times dropped significantly
Version 1.6.0 for Wii U is rare. Nintendo stopped pushing updates to the Wii U eShop shortly after this release. Unlike the Switch version, the Wii U 1.6.0 update is often just a placeholder that increases the version number in System Settings but changes almost no game data.
The most relevant update corresponding to "160" is the , which was released on April 25, 2019.
| Feature | Status in 1.6.0 | | :--- | :--- | | | PATCHED (No longer works) | | Bow of Light duplication | Works (Same as 1.5.0) | | Trial of the Sword skip | Works (The wall clip is intact) | | Shield clipping (Wii U) | PATCHED (Nerfed specifically in 160) | | FPS++ (Cemu mod) | BROKEN (Requires updated graphics pack) |
: The update was designed to make the game run significantly better on next-generation hardware. Players reported a "night and day" difference, with the game running at a smooth 60fps and featuring improved shading that makes the world look "gorgeous". : It officially added the long-promised Portuguese dub
Many users reported that the . Nintendo seemed to optimize how the game handles data, likely to help the Nintendo Switch manage the high-rendering demands of the VR mode, resulting in faster load times throughout the entire game. Performance and Stability
Officially distributed by Nintendo, Nintendo Support Patch Notes outline two primary pillars for the 1.6.0 ecosystem:
Loading times were slashed by nearly 50% in some cases. Fast traveling to a shrine that once took 26 seconds was reduced to roughly 14 seconds. 3. Stability and Minor Fixes
While the primary focus was on Labo VR, reports and user experiences suggested that the update included subtle improvements under the hood. Drastically Faster Load Times