PSA: Zelda Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades are free for Switch Online subscribers

The Nintendo Switch’s two massive open world Zelda games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have both received chunky Nintendo Switch 2 Editions on launch day, transforming the games into something that feels entirely new — and if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber, you can get the new upgrades for free.

This is obviously only possible on a new Nintendo Switch 2 console, and only if you already own one or both of the original games.

The fact that the new upgrades were going to be free for Expansion Pack subscribers, along with the new Nintendo GameCube Classics titles, completely flew over our heads, and if you missed that memo too, then you might be at risk of actually purchasing an upgrade that you simply don’t need.

Simply access the Nintendo Switch Online menu from the Nintendo Switch 2 home screen, and then look at the Expansion Pack section at the bottom. Along with Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics app, you’ll see The Legend of Zelda Upgrade Packs. Click through to the store pages for the upgrades, and you’ll see that they’re freely available to download for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription members — though they’re also available to purchase at the same time, so make sure not to buy if you don’t have to.

The games will only be playable if you have the original versions on your account or if you have a physical version of the game inserted into the console. Alternatively, these upgrades are also available as physical versions for Nintendo Switch 2.

For more great games, check our list of every Nintendo Switch 2 game releasing on launch day.