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Expansion Pass Announced For Breath Of The Wild

by Donald Theriault - February 14, 2017, 5:22 am EST
Total comments: 41 Source: Nintendo

Both versions can add on more content throughout 2017.

For the first time ever, a mainline Zelda game will offer downloadable content.

Nintendo announced today that both the Wii U and Switch versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will feature an "Expansion Pass" available from day 1. For US$19.99/€19.99/£17.99, the pack will unlock three new treasure chests in the Great Plateau area immediately upon purchase, which contain exclusive clothing with a Switch-inspired design and "useful items".

The second part of the pass will launch in summer and add a hard mode, additional map features and a Cave of Trials challenge area. The final portion, slated to release before the end of the year, includes a new dungeon and story elements plus additional challenges.

Unlike previous Nintendo content bundles such as the Mario Kart 8 bundle, the Breath of the Wild packs will not be sold separately.

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Talkback

LemonadeFebruary 14, 2017

Wont be sold separately? I wont be buying it then. Maybe I will change my mind af the end of the year when the second pack is out and people say the new quest is good.

SorenFebruary 14, 2017

Nintendo just put hard mode behind a massive DLC paywall. I don't want to hear a word from anyone on this site trying to convince me that they're not attempting to nickel and dime off the backs of their hardcore fans.

ThestrategeryFebruary 14, 2017

Putting hard mode behind the pay wall is disappointing. Although I am not apposed to having additional content added later in the games life since it'll give me a reason to come back and visit it again. This is a first for them and hope they make it a substantial addition, for $20 it sounds like a good deal. Much better than what some other games charge for additional content.


I am wondering what the additional map feature could be though.

NintendoDadFebruary 14, 2017

Quote from: Lemonade

Wont be sold separately? I wont be buying it then. Maybe I will change my mind af the end of the year when the second pack is out and people say the new quest is good.

Why would you ever want to buy this but not the main game?

NintendoDadFebruary 14, 2017

Oh, I see what you mean, buying the DLC packs separate.

Anyway, easy solution to all those that are going to complain, don't buy it. If it upsets you that much boycott the entire Zelda game. Moving on...

TOPHATANT123February 14, 2017

Ideally I'd only want the 2nd pack with the bonus dungeon and story, but if it's not sold separately I can live without it.

I suspect I'll get my fill of Zelda for a while after I beat the game.  Then later this year, $20 could be a fair enough price in my mind for a new slice of story and other collectables. 


Sorry all, guess I'm part of the problem.  Especially considering how big the gaps between proper console Zelda games there seems to be.

Order.RSSFebruary 14, 2017

Is it really just the hard/hero mode though, or more something akin to a Master Quest dungeon rearrangement? If the latter, I could see why they would want to charge for that and wouldn't have a problem with it.

I've got no qualms buying an expansion pack for a game I have a lot of fun in.

ThestrategeryFebruary 14, 2017

I have a hard time understanding the logic behind not buying because you can't buy them individually. They set the prices and who knows what they would be if sold separately. $20 seems fair to me.


When I go to the movies its almost $20 and thats for 2 hours of entertainment...


Of course the DLC may completely be throw away nonsense, in that case yes...everyone complaining is completely right. I don't think they will screw it up that badly though.

ejamerFebruary 14, 2017

Nickel and dime?  If I had a nickel every time Nintendo made a stupid decision over the past 5 years I wouldn't have to worry about the DLC cost because it would be easy to afford.  Sadly not the case, also not a surprise.


Meh, I'll wait and see. If the game is good, and if the DLC gets strong reviews, then I'll consider buying... but my usual strategy with these things is to just ignore the post-release content, and that's mostly likely what will happen here as well.

Evan_BFebruary 14, 2017

From what I have already seen of the game, it's quite easy to die and difficulty is largely based upon how prepared you are for the attack. If this "Hard Mode" was nothing but enemies dealing double damage, I would be less-than-impressed. Maybe they're developing some sort of rogue-like mode where you lose all your stuff upon death?

Again, we literally know nothing about it at this point, so whining isn't the proper reaction. Double-damage modes are traditionally called "Hero Mode" and reinvented design is usually "Master Quest," so this might be something else entirely. If I spend 120 hours in this game, I'll have payed 50 cents for every hour of gameplay and seriously gotten my money's worth, like with Xenoblade Chronicles X. If the 20 dollar dungeon and story is substantial enough, I'll definitely bite on it.

SonofMrPeanutFebruary 14, 2017

Hard Mode is the only hangup to me, but here's how you make that a non-issue:  Include a Hero Mode as unlockable on the disc and make Hard Mode the 200cc version of that. 

If that's their approach, then I'm totally cool with it.  If they really are just doing one extra difficulty and putting it behind a paywall, though, then that's pretty lame.  Either way, I'm fine with everything else here.

Regarding the single dungeon, I'm wondering if it's a multi-parter akin to the DS games (though more fun to play through than PH's).

Mop it upFebruary 14, 2017

I'm not surprised, I have a feeling that this game could be the most-expensive game Nintendo have ever produced, so they want to make as much money on it as they can. I have close to $50 left in eShop currency at the moment with nothing in mind to spend it on, so I may bite at some point, but I'll want to see how significant is the content before committing.

OedoFebruary 14, 2017

There was quite an uproar when Nintendo initially announced their release plans for Fire Emblem Fates, and, for the most part, that worked out great. All we have right now is the basic outline for this expansion pass, and the value proposition could end up being great here as well.

Also, as others have already alluded to, I'm not exactly worried about this game shipping with a lack of content.

TheXenocideFebruary 14, 2017

Dude, everybody calm down. It's not like you have to buy it on day one. Just wait and see what the reports are like and make an educated decision about whether or not it's worth your money.

ThePermFebruary 14, 2017

This sounds great. So, Breath of the Wild is a gigantic game that is going to keep getting larger?

http://www.zeldainformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/tvHB6WH.jpg

Triforce HermitFebruary 14, 2017

Nintend00med

(Love new content being added to a Zelda game)

StratosFebruary 14, 2017

I'm just happy it is a single purchase expansion pack and not a bunch of micro transactions.


I always felt more games should go the expansion pack route back when DLC micro transactions were first getting big.

I am also assuming that the hard mode will be more of a Master Quest style remix of the dungeons and not an arbitrary "one heart" challenge.

LemonadeFebruary 14, 2017

Quote from: NintendoDad

Oh, I see what you mean, buying the DLC packs separate.

Anyway, easy solution to all those that are going to complain, don't buy it.

I dont mind buying DLC, but only if I think it is worth the cost. The only part of this DLC that Im interested is the second pack. I will have to wait and see what exactly that is before I decide on anything.

SorenFebruary 14, 2017

Nintendo bundled both packs together because I'm pretty sure even they know they can't sell the first pack as a standalone product.

KhushrenadaFebruary 14, 2017

I'm surprised there is a Hard mode. To me, the game seemed to be free enough for you to decide on your difficulty. Nintendo talked about you being able to immediately head towards the final boss and trying to defeat it so to me it seems like that would be the Hard mode or at least a path to minimal upgrades. At the same time, if I cover 70 - 80% of this game, am I really going to want to go back and do that all over again in a harder mode? Guess I'll find out after playing it but this is the kind of game where I feel I would complete it once and that would be it because of the size of it all. Personally, I've always liked Wind Waker and it's breezy difficulty. For me, its more about the adventure and exploration than the challenge although you do want a bit of difficulty to keep things interesting.

Quote from: Soren

Nintendo just put hard mode behind a massive DLC paywall. I don't want to hear a word from anyone on this site trying to convince me that they're not attempting to nickel and dime off the backs of their hardcore fans.

There's no doubt that Nintendo is trying to squeeze out more money from games they release these days. From a business standpoint, I understand why since it's easier to make some add-on content to a completed game and get some easy money from it rather then develop a whole new game that may not sell well like Project STEAM. Yet, as mentioned above, I (and other posters) still aren't clear what is meant by a hard mode. For myself, I'm not that bothered by it since I don't really care about a Hard mode so it does seem to be superfluous content to me but I can definitely understand for the gamers who would want that kind of challenge or experience why they'd be upset about having to pay an extra $20.00 to play a game that way.

I wonder if Smash Bros DLC has something to do with this. Perhaps people were skipping the Mii costumes and just going for the new fighters and stages. Rather than allow that same pick and choose strategy where gamers would most likely only focus on the new dungeon, story elements and maybe Hard Mode, Nintendo has decided to put all this content into one package to make it more tempting in that you get these other less desirable items included with the stuff you want to let a person believe they are getting value for the cost. That way Nintendo gets the full value they want out of their DLC offerings instead of only parts of the DLC selling. Not defending the practice but just trying to figure out more on the motivation of why it wouldn't be offered in chunks like usual.

EDIT: Soren's comment above that he posted while I was typing show that we sort of agree on that point.

nickmitchFebruary 15, 2017

Nintendo definitely wants to milk Zelda as much as possible.  They know the attach rate for Switch and BotW will be damn near 1.  But they can only sell as many copies as they do consoles.

I think the trick here is that they have a $20 DLC they want to sell you.  It's a dungeon, map, story events and they think it's great.  They also want to sell it to you immediately because it probably wouldn't be ready.  So, they put the pass together that gives you something on day one (nothing spectacular), then hard mode (brings you back to the game, is easy make), and lastly you'll get the thing they actually wanted to sell you.

steveyFebruary 15, 2017

Unless the exclusive clothing and useful items includes lens of truth sunglasses that makes everyone appear in their swimsuits, it's going to be a difficult sell.

I'm going to wait until the pack inevitably goes on sale this or next Christmas.

KhushrenadaFebruary 15, 2017

Quote from: nickmitch

Nintendo definitely wants to milk Zelda as much as possible.  They know the attach rate for Switch and BotW will be damn near 1.  But they can only sell as many copies as they do consoles.

Plus, look at the development time from WW - TP - SS - BotW. 4 games in a 15 year span. There's probably not going to be another Zelda again for awhile so milk this one for a few more dollars since they're already done re-releases of WW and TP.

Quote from: stevey

Unless the exclusive clothing and useful items includes lens of truth sunglasses that makes everyone appear in their swimsuits, it's going to be a difficult sell.

I'm so glad we still have great stevey gems like this gracing our forums.

SheckyFebruary 15, 2017

So will the DLC be good for both versions of the game? Wii U and Switch?

nickmitchFebruary 16, 2017

Quote from: Khushrenada

Quote from: nickmitch

Nintendo definitely wants to milk Zelda as much as possible.  They know the attach rate for Switch and BotW will be damn near 1.  But they can only sell as many copies as they do consoles.

Plus, look at the development time from WW - TP - SS - BotW. 4 games in a 15 year span. There's probably not going to be another Zelda again for awhile so milk this one for a few more dollars since they're already done re-releases of WW and TP.

They've even remade the N64 games recently, so it's not likely they'd go back that well either.

StratosFebruary 16, 2017

And Link Between Worlds was a "re-imagining" of Link to the Past. All they have left are the handheld titles and the first two Zeldas in terms of remakes, unless they want to try another Four-Swords game.

Luigi DudeFebruary 16, 2017

We'll get a Skyward Sworld HD in the next 5 years since the Joycons motion controls make it possible to release the game on the Switch with the controls mostly unchanged.  Hell the Joycons can probably make them even better since it's more advance then the Motion Plus was.

EnnerFebruary 16, 2017

I'm not opposed to Breath of the Wild getting an expansion pack, but I do think it is poor timing to announce and sell it before anyone knows if they enjoy the game first hand.

Quote from: Shecky

So will the DLC be good for both versions of the game? Wii U and Switch?

Sold separately.

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterFebruary 16, 2017

Quote from: Luigi

We'll get a Skyward Sworld HD in the next 5 years.

NO!

KhushrenadaFebruary 16, 2017

Your post says no but your wallet says yes.

KeyBillyFebruary 17, 2017

I'm still curious about the new Amiibo functionality.  They might ultimately be more useful than the treasure chests of promotional clothing.  When I first read these items, I thought I would just buy the story part.  Hard mode is only interesting if it is significantly different, as opposed to enemies taking more damage and that sort of thing.  If I want that, I'll just play the whole game naked.

At $20, the extra story content needs to be very substantial.  Since most of us will have beaten the main game and most of the side quests, having the end reward be a special weapon or armor would be meaningless.  It just needs to be fun and compelling for a long time.  If they do that, and it doesn't feel like they just left out content that should have been there to begin with, then I'll be happy with it.

SheckyFebruary 18, 2017

Wait, I just caught that there is a time lapse between these events.  So the $20 one would pay now include the yet to be released expansions.  If it's still $20, when expansion 2 hits, then I think this seems as fair as it gets for DLC.  I wish Smash had that approach... pay once and just get the new characters as they came out.  And at least it's not the buy orbs like Fire Emblem Heroes....

Now that said, a lot of these features have been included in past titles for no charge (Cave of Trials), so I can understand the bitter taste it leaves in fans of the series, myself included.

SheckyFebruary 18, 2017

Quote from: Shaymin

Quote from: Shecky

So will the DLC be good for both versions of the game? Wii U and Switch?

Sold separately.

Thanks, figured.

BiteThePillowMarch 10, 2017

I like BotW so much that I sort of just paid for this without asking questions and actually tried to shove some more money into the game slot on the console. I don't really know what I'm doing anymore, just please give me more of this game Nintendo!

ejamerMarch 10, 2017

Quote from: BiteThePillow

I like BotW so much that I sort of just paid for this without asking questions and actually tried to shove some more money into the game slot on the console. I don't really know what I'm doing anymore, just please give me more of this game Nintendo!

I can get behind this. When you really like something, it's worth supporting.
(That said, three days in and we've only played like 2 hours - mostly spent climbing trees and trying to catch fish with my kids. Not sure I need more content. At this rate we'll be playing for years...)

BiteThePillowMarch 10, 2017

Quote from: ejamer

I can get behind this. When you really like something, it's worth supporting.
(That said, three days in and we've only played like 2 hours - mostly spent climbing trees and trying to catch fish with my kids. Not sure I need more content. At this rate we'll be playing for years...)

For real.  I hear there is a town in the game, but rock climbing is where it's at. Also I cooked a mushroom and went over that way somewhere for a long time.

ejamerMarch 10, 2017

I'd like us to progress a little bit quicker... but tonight was 15 minutes of cutting grass, then a bunch of cooking, then running out of ingredients so we took a break to find more so we could cook again...


At some point I'm going to start playing without the kids. But they are loving it, and it doesn't make sense to get too far in before leaving for a business trip. For now, I'm good with the snail's pace approach.

StratosMarch 10, 2017

There is so much to do that you could really neglect a major portion of the game while pouring into something simple like cooking or exploring.

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