Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC Release: 4 Things to Know

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was almost guaranteed to be a hit because of its launch on the then new Nintendo Switch. At least, that’s what some like to think. In reality, the game was a huge gamble for Nintendo. Breath of the Wild is a reimagining of what a Zelda game can be. It could have flopped. Lovers of the franchise could have hated it. Neither matters now though, the game was a huge success for Nintendo, so much so that there are tons of people waiting for Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC.

If the fact that there’s Breath of the Wild DLC on the way surprises you, you’re not alone in your amazement. Nintendo has always been slow to adopt new trends and new ways of making games. Many of its titles didn’t get downloadable content after release at all. The Nintendo games that did get DLC got it through purchasing Nintendo Amiibo figures that added upgrades for fans or as free smaller updates. Breath of the Wild DLC is unlike anything we’ve seen from Nintendo in recent memory. That is, it won’t be given away for free and you won’t have to pay for an Amiibo figure to unlock it. You’ll get it the same way you would upgrades for games on Xbox One and PS4.

Read: 15 Nintendo Switch Games Coming in 2017

Here are 4 things you need to know about the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC that’s on its way to Nintendo Switch and another Nintendo console soon.

• Why You’ll Have to Pay for Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC
• The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass & DLC Price
• Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC Release Date
• What’s in Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC Expansion Pass 1

Why You’ll Have to Pay for Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild was a huge release for Nintendo. It was the only must-have title that arrived in time for the Nintendo Switch launch. The game embraced a new style of gameplay, feature a fully open environment and lots of surprises. Other games have tried open worlds for years, but Breath of the Wild managed to get it right the first time.

Read: Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Amiibo Guide

Breath of the Wild’s world wasn’t the only thing that the wider gaming community influenced. Changes in the way we pay for games are finally being acknowledged by Nintendo. That’s why the Breath of the Wild DLC won’t be free.

Breath of the Wild will get free stability fixes and upgrades when necessary. These will be free. The extra downloadable content for the game won’t be free.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass & DLC Price

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass is how you’ll be able to get the new downloadable content that’s coming to the game. Nintendo confirmed the existence of the expansion pass shortly before Breath of the Wild arrived on store shelves.

The Breath of the Wild DLC Expansion Pass costs $20 from GameStop and the Nintendo eShop. We know that those who purchase the pass get access to a total of two expansions, one that’s already been detailed and another that Nintendo is remaining quiet about for now.

There’s no individual pricing because Nintendo has no plans to sell Breath of the Wild DLC separately. That is, you will not be able to purchase one expansion and skip another; it’s either all or nothing. The pass is available on the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Wii U.

Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC Release Date

Again, Nintendo is staying quiet about the Breath of the Wild DLC release dates, but we already know that one is due out soon. Nintendo’s latest updates on the game’s website say that the first expansion will arrive this “summer.”

What’s in Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC Expansion Pack 1

Trial of the Sword will be stuffed into the first expansion pack, Nintendo confirms in a recent blog post to the game’s website. Players move to new rooms to defeat increasingly dangerous waves of enemies. Complete the trial and the Master Sword is truly awakened.

A new Path Mode utility lets you track where you’ve been in the last 200 hours of gameplay. The feature should make it easy to spot the places you need to go back and explore. A new Hard Mode gives enemies the power to regenerate their health. They also increase their difficulty by a level. A Travel Medallion lets you create a custom fast travel point. Finally, there are 8 new chests containing armor from older games scattered throughout the in-game world. There’s also the Korok Mask, which helps you find Koroks hidden in the game.

This Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild DLC should be more than enough to tide users over until Nintendo has a chance to release another hit in the series. It’ll certainly give players something to do between major releases. Arms, Splatoon 2 and Super Mario Odyssey are all confirmed for this calendar year.

Sonic Forces

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Featuring three protagonists, Sonic Forces will offer platforming and an all-new story when it arrives on video game consoles – including the Nintendo Switch – in 2017. We know that Sonic Forces lets gamers create their own characters. Players must base this character on one of seven different classes that come with their own advantages and abilities. Sonic Team calls these custom characters "Avatars," and there are hundreds of cosmetic items for Sonic Forces players to add some style to their creation. You can skip the custom character mode and enjoy two generations of Sonic game play: 2.5D and 3D. The 2.5D mode offers the classic side-scrolling Sonic experience from your childhood. 3D Mode plays more like Sonic Unleashed. All game worlds and characters are three-dimensional, just like they would be in a modern game.

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