Botw Update 1.6.0 Jun 2026

: Dropped from an average of 26 seconds down to just 14 seconds.

General fixes were implemented to improve the overall gameplay experience and address minor performance hiccups. Experiencing Hyrule in VR

The most infamous change in is the patch to the "Akh Va'quot" (Vah Medoh) Blight Cannon Skip. In previous versions, speedrunners could use a shield block reset to bypass the Windblight Ganon fight entirely, shaving minutes off the "Any%" run.

Loading times across the entire game were cut down significantly. Fast-traveling to dense areas like Korok Forest or Central Hyrule became roughly 5 to 10 seconds faster than in previous versions. The VR Experience: Innovation vs. Practicality botw update 1.6.0

But for a specific subset of players—the speedrunners, the completionists, and the glitch-hunters—one version number carries a heavy weight: .

The updates and fixes introduced in 1.6.0 aim to provide a smoother gaming experience for players. With the reduction in crashes and freezes, players can now explore the vast open world of Hyrule without interruptions. The fixes for textures and graphics ensure that the game's stunning visuals are displayed as intended.

New players

: This update utilizes a "Boost Mode" that temporarily increases the Switch's CPU clock speed during loading screens. Warping/Teleporting : Loading is roughly 37% faster , dropping from ~16 seconds to ~10 seconds. Shrine Entry : Loading times improved by approximately VR Labo Support : Version 1.6.0 introduced compatibility with the Nintendo Labo: VR Kit

Practical pickup

Example: Boss prep

The update officially enables cloud backups for Breath of the Wild , allowing Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to safely store and restore their save data across multiple consoles.

What changed

The headline feature of Version 1.6.0 was full compatibility with the . Unlike traditional VR titles built from the ground up, this update allowed players to experience the entire base game—excluding pre-rendered cutscenes—using the Toy-Con VR Goggles. : Dropped from an average of 26 seconds

As we look forward to the next generation of Zelda games, from Tears of the Kingdom to whatever the future holds, it’s worth appreciating the quiet care Nintendo put into polishing BOTW long after most developers would have moved on. Update 1.6.0 may not be flashy, but it’s a testament to the idea that even a near-perfect game can always get a little better.