Nintendo has kicked up a fuss with its recent announcement regarding The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the upcoming Switch 2 console. The gaming giant revealed that this new version of the beloved title will not include the downloadable content that was released for the original game, despite commanding a higher price tag than its initial 2017 launch.
Originally released for both Wii U and the first Nintendo Switch, Breath of the Wild quickly became one of the most acclaimed games in the Zelda franchise. The game later received two major DLC expansions: “The Master Trials” and “The Champions’ Ballad,” which added new challenges, story content, and items to the base game.
Many fans have taken to social media to express their frustration, pointing out that the game is now approaching its eighth anniversary. At this point in a game’s lifecycle, many publishers typically include all additional content when porting to new platforms, especially when charging premium prices.
“How can they charge more for a game that’s nearly a decade old and still not include the DLC?” wrote one upset fan. Another commented, “Nintendo sure seems to be burning a lot of goodwill lately.”
The Switch 2 version will allow players to transfer their save files from the original game, including DLC progress—but only if they already purchased the expansions on the original Switch. This has fueled speculation that Nintendo plans to sell the DLC separately again, creating another revenue stream from content created years ago.
Nintendo has historically maintained high prices for its first-party titles long after release, rarely offering significant discounts even for older games. This approach stands in contrast to many other publishers who typically reduce prices over time or release “complete editions” that include all additional content.
Nintendo’s golden goose named Zelda
The decision fits into a pattern that critics have highlighted in recent years, where Nintendo leverages its dedicated fanbase and beloved franchises to maximize revenue.
The company knows that Zelda fans will likely purchase the game regardless, given the series’ strong popularity and the anticipation surrounding the Switch 2.
The upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 represents the next generation of Nintendo hardware, promising improved performance and graphics capabilities. However, this DLC controversy has somewhat dampened enthusiasm among some of the most dedicated Nintendo supporters, who question whether the company is truly putting players first.
