Do you have to pay for Botw DLC?
Yes, you do have to pay real money to download and access the Breath of the Wild DLC content. The "Expansion Pass" that adds substantial new content to BOTW is not available for free. But is it worth paying for? Let‘s dig into the details.
What Exactly is the BOTW Expansion Pass DLC?
The Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass adds two significant bundles of new content:
- The Master Trials
- The Champions‘ Ballad
Together they include over a dozen new shrines, challenging modes, additional storylines, enemies, gear, and areas to explore. Some key additions:
| DLC Pack | New Content |
|---|---|
| Master Trials | Trial of the Sword, Master Mode, Hero‘s Path Mode, Travel Medallion, Korok Mask |
| Champions‘ Ballad | New main story quests, Master Cycle Zero mount, ancient horse gear, extra shrines |
As a passionate BOTW player myself, I found the sheer amount of fresh adventures that the DLC provides makes it well worth the price for hardcore fans. But how much does all of this new content cost?
How Much Does the Breath of the Wild DLC Cost?
The complete Expansion Pass containing both content packs costs:
- $19.99 in the US
- €19.99 in Europe
- £17.99 in the UK
That one-time purchase gives you permanent access to the hundreds of hours of new challenges and exploration the DLC provides. For context, that‘s less than 33 cents per hour for a 100 hour playthrough, an amazing value!
The Expansion Pass can be purchased right from the Nintendo Eshop on your Switch itself. Of course you need the base BOTW game installed to actually play the DLC. Physical cards are sold at major retailers like Amazon and GameStop as well.
Just How Much Content Does the Expansion Pass Add?
While the base BOTW game already provides an insane amount of gameplay, the DLC adds a ton more on top of that. Here are some numbers that show just how substantial the Expansion Pass is:
- 16 new shrines, adding 6-10 hours of puzzles and combat
- Over a dozen new side quests spanning several hours
- Approximately 20 new enemies to battle and gear to collect
- 2-3 hours of additional main storyline content
- Challenge modes that can take 20+ hours to fully complete
- New areas that provide many more hours of exploration
And that‘s not even including quality of life bonuses like the Korok Mask or Hero‘s Path. All in all, the Expansion Pass doubles or even triples the base content, making it an incredible value.
Why the BOTW Expansion Pass is Worth the Price
For hardcore Zelda and BOTW fans, the Expansion Pass is easily worth picking up. Here‘s why:
- Hundreds of hours of new gameplay – the sheer volume of additional content is staggering for $20.
- Refreshing challenges – Master Mode and the Trial of the Sword provide hardcore players new ways to test their skills.
- Story expansion – learning more about the Champions like Mipha is a treat for those invested in the lore.
- New areas – extra regions like the Korok Forest offer more to explore for map completionists.
- Fun bonuses – the Korok Mask helps locate all 900 Korok seeds for diehard collectors.
For many expert players, the base BOTW game alone took 100+ hours to fully complete. The DLC nearly doubles that playtime, giving you more bang for your buck.
Should Casual Players Buy the DLC?
For casual Zelda fans who just want to play through the main story once, the DLC may not be essential. The base game on its own still offers an enormous adventure even without the expansions.
However, if you find yourself really enjoying the world and wanting more after completing the main game, the additional content in the Expansion Pass is likely worth buying. It will let you extend your enjoyment of Hyrule for many more hours.
The challenging new modes and bonuses like Hero‘s Path definitely cater more toward hardcore players. But the story expansions and world additions offer something for every BOTW fan.
Can You Get any of the DLC for Free?
Unfortunately, Nintendo does not offer any parts of the Expansion Pass for free. All of the major content additions are part of the paid DLC only.
The only BOTW additions available without the Expansion Pass are minor bonuses like crossover outfits from other games. For big new features and areas, purchasing the DLC is mandatory.
Given how generous the $20 pass is compared to many modern game addons, the price seems more than reasonable for serious BOTW players. Nintendo could have easily broken up the DLC into multiple $5-$10 packs but bundled it all as one affordable purchase.
Should You Buy the Breath of the Wild Expansion Pass? Conclusion
While the base Breath of the Wild game offers an incredible standalone experience, the Expansion Pass DLC provides tremendous value at $19.99.
For casual players, just the main game should satisfy your adventure cravings. But for Zelda devotees who can‘t get enough of Hyrule, the DLC is a must-buy.
The sheer volume of new content, challenges, story, areas, enemies, and gear crammed into the DLC pass is staggering. It essentially doubles the content while offering fresh takes like Master Mode to revitalize the experience.
Given the hundreds of hours of entertainment the Expansion Pass provides, it just might be the best $20 any BOTW fan could spend. There‘s no better way to extend your enjoyment of one of the greatest Zelda adventures of all time.
So if you‘ve tackled everything in the base game and want more, grab your Sheikah Slate and dive into the DLC. Hyrule still has plenty left to discover!
