If your Nintendo Switch Online subscription has been quietly renewing in the background like a Korok hiding under a suspicious rock, it may be time to check exactly which tier you have. Why? Because your membership might include Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs for two massive Legend of Zelda adventures: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
The important word is might. These upgrades are not included with the basic Nintendo Switch Online plan. They are included at no additional cost for active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members, provided you already own the original Nintendo Switch version of the game. In other words, Nintendo is not handing out free copies of Hyrule like party favors. You need the base game first, then the Expansion Pack membership can unlock the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack.
For Zelda fans moving to Nintendo Switch 2, this is a pretty meaningful perk. The upgrade packs improve performance, visuals, loading times, and add access to Zelda Notes, a smart-device companion feature designed specifically for the Switch 2 Editions. It is not a brand-new game, but it can make revisiting Hyrule feel much fresher, smoother, and less like your poor console is trying to cook an omelet while loading a sky island.
What Are the Two Zelda Games Getting Upgrades?
The two games covered by this Switch Online + Expansion Pack benefit are:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack
Both upgrade packs are built for Nintendo Switch 2. They do not turn your original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, or Switch OLED into a Switch 2 by magic. Sadly, no Great Fairy can perform that hardware upgrade. You need a Nintendo Switch 2 system to use the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition features.
If you already own either game on cartridge or digitally, the upgrade pack lets you play the enhanced Switch 2 Edition. If you do not have the Expansion Pack subscription, the upgrade packs are available as separate paid purchases. In the U.S., the upgrade packs have been listed at $9.99 each, making the subscription perk especially useful for players who own both games and already pay for the premium online tier.
What Does Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Actually Include?
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is the higher-tier version of Nintendo’s online service. The basic Nintendo Switch Online membership includes benefits such as online multiplayer, cloud saves for supported games, access to classic NES, Super NES, and Game Boy titles, special offers, and the Nintendo Switch app.
The Expansion Pack tier adds more. It includes additional classic game libraries such as Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, and, on Nintendo Switch 2, access to Nintendo GameCube classics. It also includes select downloadable content and upgrade packs at no additional cost while your membership is active. That last phrase matters: while your membership is active.
For Zelda fans, the headline benefit is simple: if you have Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, own Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, and play on Nintendo Switch 2, you can access the corresponding Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack without buying it separately.
What Do the Zelda Switch 2 Upgrade Packs Improve?
The Zelda upgrade packs focus on performance and presentation rather than adding a huge new campaign. Do not expect Nintendo to suddenly drop a secret 40-hour quest where Link opens a bakery in Hateno Village. The upgrades are more about making two already enormous open-world games run and feel better on new hardware.
Higher Resolution and Cleaner Visuals
Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom benefit from enhanced resolution and textures on Nintendo Switch 2. That means Hyrule should look sharper, cleaner, and more detailed, especially on larger screens. The original Switch versions were impressive for their time, but they were also working within 2017-era portable hardware limits. The Switch 2 Editions give those worlds more room to breathe.
Smoother Frame Rates
Frame rate matters in open-world games. It affects camera movement, combat, traversal, aiming, and even the simple joy of galloping across a field while pretending you are not about to get distracted by yet another shrine. The Switch 2 upgrades bring smoother performance, helping exploration and action feel more responsive.
Faster Loading Times
Loading times are another major improvement. Fast travel, reloading after a failed combat encounter, entering certain areas, and moving across the map should feel quicker. This may sound like a small change, but in games as large as these, seconds add up. Anyone who has repeatedly launched Link off a cliff with “experimental” physics knows the value of faster reloads.
HDR Support
The Switch 2 Editions also support HDR, which can improve contrast and color range on compatible displays. In practical terms, bright skies, glowing shrines, fiery combat effects, and gloomy caverns can appear more vivid and dynamic. HDR will matter most to players using displays that support it properly, but it is still part of the overall visual upgrade package.
An Additional Save Slot
Both Switch 2 Editions include an additional save slot. This is a welcome quality-of-life feature for players who want to start fresh without wiping their existing adventure. Maybe you want one file for serious completion and another for chaotic “what happens if I attach rockets to this” science. Zelda is, after all, a respected physics laboratory with dragons.
There is one caveat: the second save file created in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition cannot be transferred back to the original Nintendo Switch version. If you start a new Switch 2 Edition save, think of it as living in the upgraded version of Hyrule.
What Is Zelda Notes?
Zelda Notes is one of the more interesting additions tied to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It is a game-specific service available through the Nintendo Switch app on a compatible smart device.
Zelda Notes can help players navigate Hyrule, receive voiced guidance, track adventures, interact with certain features, and use smart-device functions connected to the upgraded versions. It is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of these two games. However, it is worth clarifying a common point of confusion: using the Nintendo Switch app or Zelda Notes itself does not require a Nintendo Switch Online membership. What the Expansion Pack membership can provide is access to the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack, which is what makes Zelda Notes available for these games.
That distinction is important. Think of it this way: the app feature is like a fancy Sheikah Slate accessory, but you need the Switch 2 Edition doorway open first. The Expansion Pack can open that doorway if you meet the requirements.
Do You Own the Upgrade Forever?
This depends on how you access it. If you buy the upgrade pack separately, it works like a normal digital purchase tied to your Nintendo Account. If you access the upgrade through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, you need an active Expansion Pack membership to keep using that included benefit.
If your membership ends, your original Nintendo Switch game does not disappear. You still own your base game, whether it is physical or digital. What may pause is access to the subscription-included upgrade pack. In that situation, you can renew the Expansion Pack membership or buy the upgrade pack separately.
This is similar to how other included Expansion Pack benefits work. The membership gives access while active; it does not permanently gift every included DLC or upgrade forever. Nintendo may be generous with Hyrule, but it is not that generous.
Does the Upgrade Include Breath of the Wild DLC?
No, the Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack is not the same thing as the original Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass DLC. That DLC, which includes content such as The Master Trials and The Champions’ Ballad, remains separate.
If you already own the DLC, you should still have access to what you purchased. But buying or accessing the Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack does not automatically bundle every piece of older paid DLC. This is one of the biggest “read the label before you swing the Master Sword” details in the whole arrangement.
How to Check Whether You Can Get the Zelda Upgrades
Before spending extra money, check three things:
- Your membership tier: You need Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, not just basic Nintendo Switch Online.
- Your game ownership: You must own the Nintendo Switch version of Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom.
- Your hardware: You need Nintendo Switch 2 to play the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades.
If all three boxes are checked, go to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch 2 and search for the relevant Zelda title. Look for the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack. Some players may see the $9.99 price displayed, but eligible Expansion Pack members should also see an option to download through the membership benefit. Make sure you are signed into the correct Nintendo Account, especially if your household has multiple accounts, profiles, or that one cousin who somehow created three accounts and remembers none of the passwords.
Is the Expansion Pack Worth It Just for Zelda?
If you only own one Zelda game and have no interest in classic games, online features, included DLC, or family sharing, buying the upgrade pack separately may be simpler. At $9.99 per Zelda upgrade pack in the U.S., the math is easy for a single game.
However, the equation changes if you own both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Buying both upgrades separately costs more than buying one, obviously, because that is how numbers continue to betray us. If you also want access to Nintendo 64, Game Boy Advance, SEGA Genesis, GameCube classics on Switch 2, and included DLC for other games, the Expansion Pack can be a better overall value.
The family plan can also change the value calculation. A Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack family membership can cover multiple Nintendo Accounts in a family group, making the cost per person much lower if several people actually use it. If only one person plays, the value is more personal. If several people in your household are racing in Mario Kart, visiting Animal Crossing islands, playing retro games, and returning to Hyrule, the premium tier starts to look more practical.
Why These Zelda Upgrades Matter
Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are not ordinary ports. They are two of the defining games of the Nintendo Switch era. Breath of the Wild helped launch the original Switch in 2017 and changed expectations for open-world design. Tears of the Kingdom expanded that formula with sky islands, underground depths, Ultrahand construction, and the delightful ability to build machines that look like they were designed by a sleep-deprived raccoon with an engineering degree.
Because these games are so large and replayable, performance upgrades matter more than they would for a short linear adventure. Players spend dozens or hundreds of hours climbing, gliding, cooking, fighting, experimenting, and getting distracted by suspiciously placed rocks. Improved frame rates, faster loading, and clearer visuals can make those hours feel better without changing what made the games special.
This also reflects Nintendo’s broader Switch 2 strategy. Instead of leaving all original Switch games behind, Nintendo is giving certain high-profile titles upgraded versions. Some upgrades are free, some are paid, and some are included through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. It is a flexible approach, though not always perfectly clear at first glance. The Zelda upgrade situation is one of the better perks, but only if players understand how to claim it.
Common Questions About the Zelda Switch 2 Upgrades
Do I get the full Zelda games for free with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack?
No. You need to own the base game. The membership can include the upgrade pack, not the full game.
Can basic Nintendo Switch Online members get the upgrades at no additional cost?
No. The included Zelda upgrade packs are a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack benefit.
Can I use the upgrade on the original Nintendo Switch?
No. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrades are only playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
What happens if my Expansion Pack subscription expires?
Your base game remains playable, but access to the subscription-included upgrade pack may pause until you renew or purchase the upgrade separately.
Is Zelda Notes available on the original Switch versions?
No. Zelda Notes is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Practical Experience: What It Feels Like to Revisit Hyrule With the Upgrade
The best way to understand the appeal of these upgrades is to imagine returning to Breath of the Wild after years away. You remember the opening: Link waking in the Shrine of Resurrection, the camera pulling back, the music breathing softly as Hyrule stretches into the distance. On the original Switch, that moment was already magical. On Nintendo Switch 2, the sharper image and smoother motion make it feel less like a memory and more like a proper return trip.
The upgrade does not need to reinvent the game to matter. In fact, that is part of the charm. The world is still the same Hyrule, with its lonely ruins, rolling hills, rainy cliffs, and enemies who can still humble you with a stick if you become too confident. But faster loading changes the rhythm. Fast travel becomes less of a coffee break. Reloading after a bad decision becomes less painful. And in Zelda, “bad decision” can mean anything from fighting a Lynel too early to attaching the wrong object to a flying machine and discovering gravity’s excellent customer service.
In Tears of the Kingdom, the improvement may feel even more noticeable because the game is mechanically busier. You are not just exploring; you are building, fusing, diving, launching, rewinding, and occasionally creating vehicles that violate both physics and good taste. Smoother performance helps those systems feel cleaner. When you are steering a homemade aircraft over the Depths or trying to line up an Ultrahand construction before enemies interrupt your architectural masterpiece, responsiveness matters.
Zelda Notes adds another layer for players who enjoy guided exploration or completionist goals. Some longtime fans may prefer to wander without help, and that is perfectly valid. Getting lost is part of the Zelda tradition, right next to breaking pots and ignoring the main quest for 35 hours. But for players returning after a long break, voiced navigation and smart-device support can reduce friction. It is especially useful if you want to track down remaining shrines, revisit major locations, or re-enter a save file and remember what on earth you were doing before life interrupted your heroic duties.
The additional save slot is also more valuable than it sounds. Many players hesitate to restart these games because their original save files are packed with progress, rare gear, completed quests, and sentimental horses with names like “Beans.” A second save slot gives you permission to start over without erasing your legacy. You can replay the Great Plateau or the sky-island opening with fresh eyes while keeping your old file intact.
The experience is not perfect for everyone. If you are not interested in replaying Zelda, the upgrade will not magically create new enthusiasm. If you do not own a Switch 2, it is irrelevant for now. And if you only want permanent ownership, buying the upgrade separately may feel better than relying on a subscription. But for existing Expansion Pack members, the value is hard to ignore. Two of the best games Nintendo has ever made receive cleaner performance and useful extras at no additional charge. That is not a tiny bonus. That is a treasure chest with a very satisfying jingle.
Conclusion
Your Nintendo Switch Online subscription might include upgrades for two Legend of Zelda games, but only if you have the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack tier. If you own Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom and play on Nintendo Switch 2, you may be able to download the corresponding Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack at no additional cost while your membership is active.
These upgrades are not full-game giveaways, and they do not include every older DLC purchase automatically. But they do offer meaningful improvements: smoother frame rates, faster loading, enhanced visuals, HDR support, an additional save slot, and access to Zelda Notes. For players heading back into Hyrule, that is a strong reason to check your subscription before paying extra. After all, the only thing better than finding a hidden upgrade is realizing you may have already paid for it.
Note: Membership benefits, pricing, and availability can change by region and over time. Always check the Nintendo eShop and your Nintendo Account membership status before purchasing or downloading an upgrade pack.
