Amid ongoing confusion and frustration among fans regarding the pricing of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its games, especially in the U.S., a new detail has emerged that might surprise some players. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Nintendo Switch 2 edition does not include the Expansion Pass. This means that if you want to access the DLC on the new system and don't already own it, you'll need to pay an additional $20.
To clarify, since the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2's games and their pricing last week, there's been a lot of confusion about how everything will work. If you already own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the original Nintendo Switch, you can play it on your Nintendo Switch 2, including the DLC, without any issues.
However, there's also a Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild, which offers improved visuals and performance, achievements, and support for the new "Zelda Notes" service in the Nintendo Switch Online app. If you own the original game on the Switch, you won't automatically receive these enhancements, but you can purchase an "upgrade pack" for $10 to gain access to them.
For those who don't yet own the game and are considering purchasing it on the Nintendo Switch 2, you can buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Enhanced Edition of Breath of the Wild for $70, which is $10 more than the initial retail price. However, this version does not include the DLC Expansion Pass, so if you want that as well, you'll need to spend an additional $20, bringing the total cost to $90 for the complete Breath of the Wild experience on the Nintendo Switch 2.
According to a statement from Nintendo to IGN, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition does not include The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC. That DLC is available as a separate purchase."
While some might argue this pricing is fair, considering existing owners have already paid similar amounts for the game and its DLC, it's worth noting that other gaming publishers often reduce prices on older games or bundle DLC with "enhanced editions" for newer systems. Paying $90 for a game that was released in 2017 on the Wii U can feel steep, particularly when compared to Mario Kart World's $80 price tag and the Nintendo Switch 2's potential cost of $450 or more, depending on tariffs.
While it's possible that most potential players of Breath of the Wild already own the game given its sales success, if you were holding off to buy it or its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, for the new, enhanced system, remember to factor in the cost of the Expansion Pass.
