In case you missed it, the 2017 masterpiece, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo promoted the re-release of a nearly decade-old game on its new hardware via the first official Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, something that delighted many fans who are just keen on replaying it, while frustrating those who wanted to see more new first-party titles. Wherever you sit on the fence, it would be very hard to argue that getting to do a playthrough of a better-looking version of BOTW is a bad thing.

Breath of the Wild isn't just getting ported to the Switch 2. Instead, it is getting the Switch 2 upgrade treatment, something that it and only a handful of first-party games get to enjoy. Fans can expect HDR , improved visuals, better framerates, quicker load times, and more, although no new gameplay innovations. That's a decent upgrade, at least for those who couldn't stomach BOTW's arguably timeless visuals. Unfortunately, despite the high cost, this upgrade is missing a key feature, showcasing yet again that Nintendo has seemingly lost touch with its fans.

The Switch 2 Version Of BOTW Won't Include The DLC

It Is Just The Base Game

One would expect that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Breath of the Wild, which people who already own the game have to pay to , would include everything from the base game and its slew of updates to the somewhat unspectacular yet nevertheless enjoyable DLC. Unfortunately, the Switch 2 version of BOTW lacks both DLC packs, meaning that not only are people paying for the exact same experience twice, albeit with better visuals, but the Switch 2 version can't even be called the definitive experience. It is a monumental mistake, and one that has only further angered fans.

It isn't clear whether players who already own both DLC packs will need to buy them again on Switch 2 to be compatible with the new version or if they'll be able to use their current DLC. Nintendo has only expressly said that the DLC won't be included in the enhanced edition, and that players who want to buy the DLC can do so for $20. One would assume that you'd be able to use the original Switch version of the DLC alongside the enhanced edition; however, considering Nintendo's current approach, it wouldn't be surprising if the inverse were true.

Even disregarding that, the fact that Nintendo is charging $70 for BOTW on Switch 2, a game that came out in 2016 and looks only marginally better on the new console, and $20 for the DLC, is egregious. Horizon Zero Dawn's remaster - a game which also came out in 2017 - offered more impressive improvements over the original, cost less than the Switch 2 port of BOTW, and included its DLC, which is substantially larger than Breath of the Wild's. Those who paid the $10 upgrade cost also got the DLC, even if they didn't own the original version.

Nintendo Is Becoming The Worst Part Of Itself

It Is Nickel-And-Diming Its Players

It is hard to argue that the Switch 2 versions of both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are worth it, especially when compared to the likes of Horizon Zero Dawn remastered. As frustrating as Sony's era of remasters is, at least it more appropriately prices them, and fans can expect discounts in the future. How are we still paying full price for an eight-year-old game that has never once dipped below 33% off? The Switch 2 versions of BOTW and TOTK haven't justified the exorbitant price, and that is a huge failure on Nintendo's behalf.

However, this isn't exactly new for Nintendo. Back in 2021, Nintendo released a remaster of Skyward Sword, changing very little about the base experience, and charged $60 for it. In 2020, Nintendo released the Super Mario 3D All-Stars Collection, a triple-pack of great Mario titles that was released for a limited time before being pulled from shelves. Of course, fans had to pay $60 for those three games that came out well over a decade ago. Nintendo has slowly garnered a reputation for nickel-and-diming its consumers, and the Switch 2 era is doing little to dissuade people from that notion.

The company is ludicrously Switch 2's expensive price feels like it's making it even harder to access gaming as a hobby.

Nintendo Has Lost Touch With What Its Fans Want

It Could Hurt The Switch 2 Era

All of this makes it feel like Nintendo has completely lost touch with its fans. Of course, at the end of the day, Nintendo is a private business that wants and needs to make a lot of money, and it'll do anything it can to achieve that. However, it had always felt that there was some level of integrity to Nintendo, which is what ultimately led to many ing it in the first place. That has slowly been lost over the past few years, and Nintendo's somewhat tone-deaf comments regarding the Switch 2 have only served to worsen its reputation.

A large reason for these price hikes is due to the increasing financial difficulties the world over is suffering from. From drastic inflation to changing tariffs, companies are forced to increase their prices to ensure they don't suffer. However, these problems are affecting consumers too, as little has been done to ensure that the scales remain balanced. People are paying more and earning less, and eventually, that's going to prevent them from accessing hobbies as expensive as gaming.

Nintendo could have justified the price of the Switch 2 and increasing the base cost of its first-party exclusives if it had made some concessions. Agreeing to discount older games, sell the upgraded version of original Switch titles for less, include the DLC for games like BOTW, and make Welcome Tour a tie-in title would all go a long way in making fans feel respected. Nickel-and-diming players who are already struggling financially on a game as old as Breath of the Wild is a bad move and one that will only serve to hurt Nintendo in the long run.