Botw Update 1.6.0 Today

What changed

Example: Boss prep

What changed

A new side-quest has appeared in the Korok Forest. It is not marked on the map. To trigger it, you must stand on the Deku Tree’s root with the Korok Mask equipped during a blood moon.

A Korok named Makora (Seed #901) appears. Unlike the others, Makora does not want a maracas dance. Makora whispers: “You found me. Now… hide me.” The quest tasks you with burying a “Cursed Nut” in the Lost Woods. If you complete it, you receive the Tarnished Bag: a key item that doubles your melee weapon inventory from 20 to 40 slots. botw update 1.6.0

This breaks the game’s original memory limitations, suggesting Nintendo has recompiled the entire inventory engine for modern Switch hardware (or the Switch 2).

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.

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. What changed

When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (BotW) launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in March 2017, it was already a masterpiece. Over the next two years, Nintendo carefully curated a series of patches. Most were minor bug fixes, while the 1.3.0 and 1.5.0 updates laid the groundwork for the Champion’s Ballad DLC.

But for a specific subset of players—the speedrunners, the completionists, and the glitch-hunters—one version number carries a heavy weight: BotW update 1.6.0.

Released quietly in late 2019, version 1.6.0 wasn’t advertised with a cinematic trailer or a new feature log. It was a maintenance update. Yet, its ripples are still being felt in the community today. This article breaks down everything you need to know about update 1.6.0: what it fixed, what it broke, and why it remains the definitive "final patch" for millions of players.

BotW update 1.6.0 is a bittersweet artifact. It represents Nintendo closing the book on one of the greatest open-world games ever made. For the average player, it provides a smoother, crash-free journey from the Shrine of Resurrection to the final confrontation with Dark Beast Ganon. Example: Boss prep What changed A new side-quest

But for the glitch hunters and speedrunners, it’s a wall—a sign that the "wild" days of flying boat launches and infinite Ancient Arrows are over.

Whether you install it or stay offline to preserve the chaos, one truth remains: Version 1.6.0 is the end of an era. It is the last time Nintendo spoke to Breath of the Wild before saying goodbye.

Final Tip: Before you click "Update," back up your save data. Then, go shield-surf down a mountain. Because once patch 1.6.0 installs, Hyrule will be just a little bit more... stable.

Have you noticed any changes in BotW 1.6.0? Let us know in the comments. For more Zelda deep-dives, guides, and patch history, subscribe to our newsletter.