The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Switch 2 Delivers Dramatically Faster Load Times and Smoother Performance

Nintendo has once again reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the player experience with the upcoming launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, and nowhere is this more evident than in the updates for acclaimed titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

During a recent Treehouse event, the company shined a spotlight on the dramatic improvements players can expect from the Switch 2 Edition of this best-selling adventure game. The original The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, first released for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, quickly became a landmark title, winning multiple Game of the Year awards and helping to drive hardware sales past 140 million units worldwide.

As anticipation builds for the next generation of Nintendo hardware, developers have focused on refining the user experience, taking full advantage of upgraded hardware capabilities. At the latest Nintendo Treehouse presentation, side-by-side comparisons revealed that load times in the Switch 2 Edition of Breath of the Wild are now significantly reduced.

In a showcase scene including Link’s teleportation animation, the Switch 2 completed the loading process approximately eight seconds quicker than the original version.

This notable speed boost means players can return to action without extended waiting periods—providing, as a Nintendo spokesperson summarized, "more time exploring and less time staring at loading screens." Beyond load times, Nintendo representatives also highlighted improvements in menu navigation and overall performance.

Activities such as opening menus and switching between tabs now feel smoother and more responsive thanks to higher frame rates and enhanced processing power in the Switch 2 hardware.

In the words of Nintendo staff, "Navigating menus and swapping between interface tabs is markedly quicker on the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition than on the earlier system." For fans interested in these upgrades, access to the enhanced version of Breath of the Wild requires either a dedicated Switch 2 upgrade purchase or an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.

Additional features of these new editions include HDR support and crisper, higher-definition graphics for a visually richer experience. The improvements are not limited to individual games—the Nintendo Switch 2’s faster internal architecture also brings notable enhancements to the Switch eShop, making digital storefront navigation more efficient and responsive for users. Looking ahead, Nintendo is expected to optimize more first-party titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, as they leverage the full potential of Switch 2’s next-generation performance.

As the upgraded hardware prepares for launch, both long-time fans and new players have ample reasons to revisit Hyrule and experience classic adventures with superior speed and visual fidelity.

Nintendo Switch 2 Zelda Nintendo Switch Breath of the Wild Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild The Legend of Zelda Switch 2 Legend of Zelda Switch Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Zelda: Breath of the Wild