The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition Reverses Earlier Announcement

Since the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, fans have been buzzing about the announced upgraded versions of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. While Tears specifically has always been clear that no DLC content was coming, the upgraded versions at least add some extras to a game that make the gameplay more enjoyable for fans. Besides the ability to repair some weapons and a second save space, we reported many of the new features at the time:

The enhanced Switch 2 versions of the games will start like all new releases to the console, with improved frame rates and resolution. Colors will be more vibrant with HDR-supported capabilities. The biggest announcement is the addition of the new Zelda Notes app, contained within the Nintendo Switch app, which is exclusive to the Switch 2 versions. Features of this new application include voice navigation to undiscovered areas, game data tracking, QR Code image sharing, and voice memories.

The biggest change for many fans, however, comes from the Zelda Notes app and is specific to Tears of the Kingdom. For one of the first times in Nintendo history, players will have achievements to earn during their gameplay. As reported by Game Rant, “Previously, Nintendo didn’t offer anything comparable to PlayStation’s trophies and Xbox’s achievements feature, and even the Switch 2 at large will not feature a unified achievement system. The addition of achievements for the Switch 2 Editions of these Zelda games through Zelda Notes does at the very least inspire some confidence that Nintendo will at least offer something close to achievements on a case-by-case basis.”

This addition may seem small, but fans of Tears of the Kingdom are excited for the opportunity to finally work towards achievements, especially for the completionists out there. While in and of itself, none of these changes are the same as expanded DLC content, at least there are enough new features to appease players who have already played the games on the original Switch.

Final Thoughts

The Legend of Zelda is a consistent force in the video game industry, one that often paves the way for other games in the category. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have become pillars of the open-world genre, and it is exciting to see the games get a refresh on the powerful new Switch 2 console. The additional features should be helpful for fans, and achievements are a step in the right direction for Nintendo as a whole. The Switch 2 editions of the games will be released as launch date titles on June 5.