Botw Update 1.6.0 __exclusive__ ❲High-Quality❳
The 1.6.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a surprise "gift" for fans, arriving on April 25, 2019. It is best known for making the world of Hyrule more immersive and efficient than ever before. 👓 A New Way to See Hyrule The headline feature was compatibility with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit Go to product viewer dialog for this item.
. Players can now enable a "VR Goggles" option in the system settings to see the entire game through Link's eyes (excluding pre-rendered cutscenes). ⚡ The "Secret" Speed Boost
While the VR mode was the official focus, players quickly discovered a hidden technical improvement: drastically faster load times.
CPU Overclocking: The update triggers a "Boost Mode" that temporarily increases the Nintendo Switch’s CPU clock speed during loading screens.
Faster Travel: Loading a save or fast-traveling between Shrines is significantly quicker. In some tests, wait times dropped from 26 seconds down to just 14 seconds. 🛠️ Stability and Glitches
Performance: Minor graphics and effect file changes were made to support the VR rendering.
Glitches: Speedrunners often prefer this version because it remains "mod-friendly" and maintains many popular glitches like BLSS (Bow Lift Smuggle Slide) that were allegedly affected by much later 2025 updates.
The 1.6.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , released on April 25, 2019 , primarily introduced support for Nintendo Labo VR
. This update allows players to experience the entire game through the Toy-Con VR Goggles, offering a new perspective on Hyrule. Zelda Wiki Key Features of Update 1.6.0 Labo VR Support
: Players can toggle "VR Goggles" on or off via the in-game System Options. Improved Loading Times
: While not explicitly detailed in official patch notes, users and analysts noted a significant reduction in loading times when fast-traveling or entering shrines. Stability Adjustments
: General fixes were included to improve the overall gameplay experience. Zelda Wiki How to Update
If your game hasn't updated automatically, follow these steps on your Nintendo Switch: Nintendo Support Highlight the Breath of the Wild icon on the HOME Menu. button on your controller. Software Update Via the Internet
For more detailed information and technical guides, explore these topics: Official Patch Notes VR Experience Modding & Utilities Official Update Documentation Nintendo Support
provides the official breakdown of version 1.6.0, including instructions on how to toggle VR settings.
A historical timeline of all updates and their specific contents can be found on the Zelda Wiki at Fandom botw update 1.6.0
For news coverage regarding the release and technical impact of the VR update, refer to Nintendo Everything Labo VR Integration
The primary draw of 1.6.0 is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit compatibility. Details on the kit itself are available on the Official Nintendo Labo website Community Mods and Compatibility
Because update 1.6.0 changed file structures, many mods required updates. Developers on
track compatibility for tools like durability mods and save editors. Are you looking to set up the Nintendo Labo VR goggles , or are you troubleshooting a specific technical issue with the 1.6.0 update?
The Evolution of Hyrule: A Deep Dive into Breath of the Wild Update 1.6.0
Released on April 25, 2019, the Version 1.6.0 update for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild marked a unique milestone in the game’s post-launch history. While earlier patches focused on massive DLC expansions like The Champions' Ballad, this update introduced a surprising new way to experience Link's journey: through the lens of Virtual Reality. Virtual Reality Arrives in Hyrule
The headline feature of Version 1.6.0 was full compatibility with the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. Unlike traditional VR titles built from the ground up, this update allowed players to experience the entire base game—excluding pre-rendered cutscenes—using the Toy-Con VR Goggles.
How to Enable: Players can toggle the mode via the System/Options menu under the "VR Goggles" setting.
Gameplay Impact: The VR mode provides a 360-degree view of the world, though it maintains the standard third-person camera perspective. It uses the Switch's gyro sensors to let players look around the environment while controlling Link normally.
Accessibility: This feature is available to all Switch owners who have updated their game, regardless of whether they own the Expansion Pass. Drastic Loading Time Improvements
Beyond the VR integration, Update 1.6.0 was lauded for a significant technical achievement: reduced loading times. Digital analysts and speedrunners noted that the update implemented a form of "overclocking" during load screens, allowing the Switch to pull data faster than in previous versions.
Speed Comparison: Tests showed that loading a save file or teleporting between shrines became roughly 30-40% faster compared to Version 1.5.0.
The "Fast Load" Bug: While beneficial for most, some speedrunners initially had to account for these changes as they affected timing in certain competitive categories. Technical Fixes and Polish
As is standard with Nintendo's "Various fixes to improve the gameplay experience," Version 1.6.0 addressed several niche bugs.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) Update 1.6.0 The 1
, released in April 2019, was a transformative patch for Nintendo Switch and Wii U players. While primarily known for introducing VR support via the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, it also brought technical optimizations that fundamentally changed the speedrunning community. 🕶️ Key Feature: Nintendo Labo VR Support
Update 1.6.0 added the ability to play the entire game in virtual reality using the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit.
Toggleable Mode: Players can switch the VR mode on or off via the "System" settings menu at any time.
360-Degree Perspective: Link’s world is viewed through the VR goggles, with the camera responding to the movement of your head.
Third-Person VR: Unlike standard VR games, BotW remains a third-person experience; you watch Link from behind rather than seeing through his eyes. ⚡ Performance: The "Boost Mode" Update
Perhaps the most significant "hidden" change in 1.6.0 was the implementation of a CPU Boost Mode for the Nintendo Switch.
Faster Loading: Loading times for shrines, fast travel, and opening the game were reduced by 5 to 10 seconds per instance.
How it Works: The Switch's CPU clock speed is temporarily increased from 1.0 GHz to 1.75 GHz specifically during loading screens to process data faster.
Speedrunning Impact: This update created a "split" in the speedrunning community. Runners on 1.6.0 have a distinct advantage in categories that involve multiple loading screens (like All Shrines) compared to those on older versions. 🛠️ Glitch & Mod Compatibility
For technical players, 1.6.0 remains the stable "end of life" version for the Switch.
Stability: This version fixed various minor bugs and improved overall system stability to ensure a smoother experience during intensive gameplay.
Active Glitches: Popular exploits like Menu Overloading (for item duplication), Bow of Light glitches, and Wall Clipping (Dark Beast Ganon) still function perfectly on this version.
Modding Baseline: Most modern Switch mods, such as the BotW Randomizer, are built specifically to run on the 1.6.0 update. 📝 Technical Patch Notes Summary VR Support
Adds compatibility with the VR Goggle Toy-Con from the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit. Load Times
Significantly decreased through CPU overclocking during load screens. Game Version Final major content/feature update for the game. Bug Fixes ✅ Update to 1
Improved general gameplay stability and addressed minor logic errors. If you're interested, I can:
Walk you through how to trigger the Menu Overload glitch on 1.6.0.
Explain how to set up the VR mode for the best visual experience.
Compare the loading time differences between the Switch and Wii U versions.
Let me know which aspect of the update you'd like to explore further! BOTW Randomizer by Waikuteru
Here’s a draft write-up for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild update Version 1.6.0, written in a news / patch notes style.
✅ Update to 1.6.0 if you:
- Own Nintendo Labo VR and want to experience Hyrule in stereoscopic 3D (even with low resolution).
- Want the most stable experience with fewer crashes, especially during long sessions.
- Plan to use cloud saves or transfer data between multiple Switch consoles.
- Prefer your game to be glitch-free (i.e., you don’t exploit the game’s physics).
- Want the best possible particle performance and minor frame-pacing fixes.
The Speedrunner Apocalypse
For the Breath of the Wild speedrunning community, 1.6.0 is an extinction-level event.
- "Moon Jump" glitch: Patched.
- "Shield Clip" into shrines: Patched.
- "Infinite Arrow" exploit: Removed.
- "Wrong Warp" to Trial of the Sword: Hardlocked.
The new physics engine recalculates momentum on a frame-by-frame basis using a different precision model. In layman’s terms: the game no longer confuses a Stasis-launched tree with a rocket ship. Any run that relied on "wind bombing" (the act of launching Link across the map via two bombs) now fails, as the second bomb no longer inherits velocity from the first explosion.
The community is currently split. There is a "1.6.0 Any%" category that is essentially a brand new game, and a "1.5.0 Legacy" category that will live on in emulation. The first 1.6.0 Any% world record was set four hours ago: 4 hours, 12 minutes. That is almost three hours slower than the old record. Hyrule just got bigger again.
How to Update (And Why You Might Not Want To)
If you are a casual player who just wants to see the Korok Forest run smoothly and the Master Sword feel legendary again: Update immediately. The game has never looked or played better.
If you are a speedrunner, a glitch hunter, or someone who enjoys breaking Hyrule over your knee: Turn off automatic updates. Disconnect your Switch from Wi-Fi. 1.6.0 is beautiful, but it is a prison.
To update, simply highlight Breath of the Wild on your Switch home menu, press +, go to Software Update, and select "Via the Internet." The 48MB download will take 30 seconds. The realization that you are about to replay 200 hours of a game you thought you were done with will take a lifetime.
2. The Trial of the Sword Shield Clip Fix
The Master Trials DLC features the brutal Trial of the Sword. Players discovered a glitch that allowed them to clip through a wall in the "Beginning Trials" using a shield jump, exiting the arena and walking directly to the final Hinox (Trial 3).
BotW 1.6.0 patched this specific collision glitch. While a few alternative clipping points exist, the "easy" shield clip is gone. If you are struggling with the Trial of the Sword on 1.6.0, you must either master the combat or use the more complex "skew" clipping—which 1.6.0 also partially nerfed.
The Legacy of Version 1.6.0
In the grand history of Breath of the Wild, Update 1.6.0 is the forgotten patch. It’s not revolutionary like 1.3.0 (which added Master Mode). It’s not controversial like the arrow-glitch fixes. Instead, it serves as a fascinating time capsule of Nintendo’s late-Switch experimental phase – when Labo VR was being frantically supported before being abandoned entirely.
For the average player who finished BotW in 2017 or 2018, 1.6.0 changes nothing. For completionists, it’s a mandatory download that polishes an already gleaming masterpiece. And for those willing to strap a plastic VR headset to their face and endure 20 FPS split-screen Hyrule Field… well, it offers a glimpse of what Tears of the Kingdom might have looked like in VR.