Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update gives the 2019 Switch remake better image quality and HDR support on Nintendo Switch 2. If you already own Link’s Awakening, you don’t need to buy a new edition or pay for an upgrade pack.
The update arrived in June 2025 and works with your existing physical game card or digital copy. Nintendo has improved the picture for Switch 2’s screen and high-resolution TVs, while HDR is available when playing in TV mode on a compatible television.
Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update: graphics and HDR improvements
Nintendo’s UK free-update list dates the Switch 2 enhancements to 5 June 2025. The game’s own update notes give version 1.1.0, released 4 June 2025. Check that version when deciding whether your copy is up to date.
Nintendo says the update optimises the image for Switch 2’s built-in screen and high-resolution televisions. HDR improves brightness and contrast on compatible TVs in docked mode. There are no confirmed new frame-rate or native-resolution figures in Nintendo’s notes, so an exact 4K or 60fps claim wouldn’t be justified.
You’ll still be exploring Koholint Island in the same toy-like art style, with the same story and dungeons. The improvements are visual, not a separate remake or an expansion.
How to install the Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update
If you own the physical game, put its original Switch card in your Switch 2. For a digital copy, use the Nintendo Account that owns it. Connect the console to the internet, then follow these steps on the HOME Menu:
- Highlight Link’s Awakening without opening the game.
- Press + or – to see the software options.
- Choose Software Update, then Via the Internet.
- Check the software version. Nintendo identifies 1.1.0 as the update containing the Switch 2 visuals and HDR.
Once the update is installed, use the original game as normal. Nintendo confirms that save data survives the update. If automatic updates are enabled, version 1.1.0 may already be installed.
Does Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update work with a physical copy?
Yes. The free Switch 2 improvements work with the original Switch game card. There’s no new physical edition to purchase. You still need the game card inserted to play; the software update is downloaded separately to the console.
A digital copy works too, using the Nintendo Account that owns the licence. You won’t receive a second independent copy of the game just because you’ve installed its free patch.
Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update: what to check if HDR is missing
For HDR, play in TV mode on Switch 2 and check the television’s HDR support and the console’s display settings. Some televisions also require HDR to be enabled for the specific HDMI input. Without an HDR-compatible TV, the game still runs, but the HDR enhancement won’t appear.
HDR isn’t the same as VRR. If your issue is with the console’s variable-refresh-rate setting, our Switch 2 VRR guide covers that separately.
Do you need Nintendo Switch Online or a paid upgrade pack?
No. Game ownership and an internet connection are all you need to download the free software update. Nintendo Switch Online is a separate paid service; it isn’t required for this patch.
That’s different from classic Zelda games accessed through Nintendo’s subscription library. Wind Waker on Switch 2, for example, belongs to the GameCube Classics catalogue for Expansion Pack members rather than being a free update to Link’s Awakening.
How does it compare with Echoes of Wisdom?
Echoes of Wisdom has a similar free Switch 2 update, also improving visuals and adding HDR on a compatible TV. Echoes additionally received the favourite-only Echo list after learning 30 Echoes; Link’s Awakening’s version 1.1.0 notes are about visuals.
The Link’s Awakening Switch 2 free update is a simple improvement for existing owners. Check version 1.1.0, keep your current game and save, and carry on playing without buying it again.
Official source: Nintendo’s official Link’s Awakening version 1.1.0 update notes.
