the ability to use GameShare for multiplayer, but for BOTW and TOTK, these are full-scale, next-gen updates.

Zelda: BOTW and TOTK will have new features, new story content, a new tie-in app, and a whole lot more when upgraded for Switch 2. But they'll also have a full suite of graphical improvements, including in one much-needed area. It may be a small change, but it may have a great effect, and could go a long way in making one of BOTW's most poignant moments hit that much harder.

Breath Of The Wild On Switch 2 Can Handle Korok Forest

A Much-Needed Improvement

Previews of the Switch 2 upgrades for Zelda: Breath of the Wild seem to demonstrate much better performance in the Korok Forest area, a notorious sticking point for the original version's performance. It may be the lush foliage or the myriad hidden Koroks themselves, but you're basically guaranteed to see your performance degrade the moment you step into Korok Forest. Frame rates stutter, and Link is forced to stop as the world around him loads - but the problem persists until you engage with an NPC or leave the area.

But these issues may be a thing of the past. Blink and you might miss it, but during the trailer for the Switch 2 ports of BOTW and TOTK (at about the 28-second mark in the video above), Link is seen running through the Korok Forest at a clean, steady frame rate.

Again, it's not the biggest change made here. You really only spend a brief time in the Korok Forest during a regular playthrough of BOTW. But poor performance there is an incredibly common complaint, especially since the Korok Forest is the site of one of the game's most important story moments: when Link reclaims the Master Sword. Better performance is less likely to take you out of this moving and impactful scene.

And, if nothing else, it's a sign of how much more powerful the Switch 2's hardware really is. In fact, I'd bet that Korok Forest was a deliberate inclusion in Nintendo's BOTW on Switch 2 preview. When you promise better performance, most players' minds are inevitably going to go straight to Korok Forest as the archetypical example of BOTW's instability. Including footage of it running smoothly is both a clever in-joke, and a great way for Nintendo to double down on the Switch 2's big promises.

BOTW & TOTK Both Look Great On Switch 2

A Generational Improvement

We've only seen a little bit of them, but it's already undeniable that BOTW and TOTK look incredible on Switch 2. With a built-in screen that s frame rates up to 120 fps, and 4K when plugged into a TV dock, there's a lot to look forward to, even if you've already played both games.

For me, though, I think the biggest improvement comes in the form of Switch 2's HDR . I've always felt that the Switch's two mainline Zelda titles could benefit from higher contrast; things tend to get foggy in the middle distance, washing out the games' otherwise beautiful colors. Playing in HDR mode with a TV dock could fix that, making The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild as beautiful as it can be.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube