Botw Update 1.6.0 'link'

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Update 1.6.0 – What It Really Did (And Didn't Do)

When Nintendo pushed out Update Version 1.6.0 for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) in late 2019, the Zelda community held its collective breath. Was this it? Was this the long-awaited performance patch for the dreaded "Master Mode lag"? A graphical upgrade for the upcoming Switch Pro (which didn't exist yet)? Or perhaps a secret teaser for the then-upcoming Tears of the Kingdom?

The reality, as many veteran players discovered, was both more mundane and surprisingly specific. Nearly six years after its release, Update 1.6.0 remains one of the most misunderstood patches in the game's history. This article will break down exactly what changed, what broke, and why you still need this update installed today.

What Exactly is BotW Update 1.6.0?

First, let’s clear the air. Breath of the Wild update 1.6.0 is the last significant patch released for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U versions of the game, preceding the launch of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and the eventual announcement of Tears of the Kingdom. botw update 1.6.0

File Size: Approximately 450MB (varies slightly by region) Release Date: November 18, 2019 (NA/EU) / November 19, 2019 (JP)

Crucially, this update is free. You do not need the Master Trials or Champion’s Ballad DLC to install it, though the patch does include compatibility fixes for the DLC content. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Update 1

2. The Mysterious "Anti-Glitch" Crusade

Nintendo used 1.6.0 to silently patch several popular glitches, particularly those that allowed sequence breaking in speedruns. Notable removals include:

Infinite Jump Glitch (Horses) – A complex series of inputs that let Link launch a horse into the stratosphere. Patched.
Shield Clipping in Shrines – Removed several clipping points used to skip major puzzle sections.
Weapon Duplication (Early Version) – The specific timing on the "menu overload" duel-wield duplication was adjusted.
Wattson’s "Skew" Launch – This devastating speedrunning technique (using a shield skew to launch Link across the map) was not fully removed, but several key launch angles were nerfed.

For the average player, these changes were invisible. For the speedrunning community, 1.6.0 was a disaster. The community officially split, with most top runners staying on Version 1.5.0 for records, while casual players updated. What Exactly is BotW Update 1

Final Verdict

While not exciting for veterans who have already completed every shrine and quest, 1.6.0 is a welcome quality-of-life patch—especially for those managing save files across multiple Switch units. It’s a quiet but solid update for a modern classic.

Note: As of today, the official current version for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is 1.5.0 (which introduced the "The Champion's Ballad" DLC). Version 1.6.0 is currently hypothetical, leaked, or exclusive to the Wii U emulation scene. I have written this draft to be adaptable for rumor reporting or emulation news, depending on your source.

How to Check and Install Version 1.6.0

On Nintendo Switch:

Highlight Breath of the Wild on the home menu.
Press the + button.
Go to Software Update → Via the Internet.
The console will download Ver. 1.6.0 (approx. 450 MB – surprisingly large for a stability patch).
After installation, your version number on the title screen (bottom right) will read Ver. 1.6.0.

On Wii U: You cannot. Update 1.6.0 was never released for Wii U. The last Wii U version remains 1.5.0.