Game Updates & DLC
Every patch Nintendo released for Tears of the Kingdom, from launch day through the final v1.2.1 update. Track what changed, which exploits were patched, and where the game stands on DLC.
What's New on Hyrule Archive
Latest additions to our guide — new tools, games, and content updates.
Maren's Slate Games Arcade
Three browser-based mini-games have launched inside the Sheikah Slate arcade! Play them free, right in your browser — no downloads needed.
- Archivist Basketball — 5v5 arcade basketball with Hyrule champions, 9 themed courts, character selection, sound effects, and mobile touch controls.
- Korok Puzzle — Match-3 gem puzzle with 10 levels, combo scoring, and progressive difficulty.
- Shrine Rush — Speed trivia challenge across all 152 shrines. 60-second timed runs with streak bonuses.
Patch History
v1.2.1
Stability & Bug Fixes
December 6, 2023
- Fixed several issues to improve the gameplay experience.
- Addressed rare crash that could occur when loading autosaves in certain shrine interiors.
- General stability improvements.
v1.2.0
Hero's Path Mode & New Content
November 8, 2023
- Added Hero's Path Mode — a map overlay that traces your movement over the last 256 hours of gameplay, helping you discover areas you haven't explored.
- Added a new cave in the Eldin region, accessible after meeting certain conditions. Contains unique loot and a challenging enemy encounter.
- Added new key items that expand gameplay options in the late game.
- Fixed an issue where certain Korok seeds were unobtainable after completing specific quests out of order.
- Performance improvements in areas with dense Zonai device constructions.
- Improved framerate stability in Lookout Landing when many NPCs are present.
v1.1.2
Stability Improvements
June 27, 2023
- Fixed several issues to improve the gameplay experience.
- Addressed a bug where certain shrine puzzles could softlock if approached from unintended angles.
- Improved stability when using Ultrahand to manipulate large constructions.
- Fixed an issue where Recall could behave unexpectedly on certain moving platforms in the Sky Islands.
v1.1.1
Additional Bug Fixes
May 26, 2023
- Fixed additional bugs reported after the v1.1.0 update.
- Addressed an issue where some players experienced audio desync during cutscenes.
- Fixed a rare issue where fast-traveling while a blood moon triggered could cause visual glitches.
v1.1.0
Progression & Duplication Fixes
May 18, 2023
- Fixed a progression-blocking bug in the Wind Temple where a key item could fall out of bounds.
- Patched the item duplication glitch that allowed players to duplicate materials by dropping items, holding them with Ultrahand, and performing a menu swap. This was the most widely used dupe exploit at launch.
- Fixed an issue where certain armor upgrades at Great Fairy fountains would not save correctly.
- Addressed a bug where Autobuild blueprints could become corrupted if saved during a loading transition.
- Note: The "shield surf" duplication method was also patched in this update, which involved shield surfing while simultaneously dropping and picking up items.
v1.0.0
Launch
May 12, 2023
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches worldwide on Nintendo Switch.
- Full open-world adventure across Surface, Sky Islands, and the Depths.
- New abilities: Ultrahand, Fuse, Ascend, and Recall.
- Over 150 shrines, dozens of side adventures, and hundreds of Korok seeds to discover.
Duplication Glitch Tracker
TotK launched with several item duplication exploits that the community discovered within days. Nintendo patched them progressively across updates.
Menu Overload Duplication
The original and most popular dupe glitch. Players would drop items, grab them with Ultrahand, then quickly open the menu to duplicate materials. Widely used to duplicate diamonds, dragon parts, and rare cooking ingredients.
Shield Surf Duplication
Involved initiating a shield surf while simultaneously dropping and picking up items from inventory. Less consistent than the menu overload method but still widely used.
Wing Duplication (Zonai Device)
A later-discovered exploit that used Zonai wing devices and specific terrain geometry to duplicate attached items. Patched in the major v1.2.0 content update.
Hero's Path Mode
Added in v1.2.0 — November 8, 2023
Hero's Path Mode is a map feature that records your footsteps across all three layers of Hyrule — Surface, Sky Islands, and the Depths. It tracks up to 256 hours of movement and plays them back as a green trail on the map.
Key Features
- Tracks movement across Surface, Sky Islands, and the Depths on separate map layers.
- Stores up to 256 hours of path data — oldest data is overwritten first.
- Playback can be scrubbed forward and backward with adjustable speed.
- Helps identify unexplored caves, shrines, and Korok seed locations you may have missed.
- Returning feature from Breath of the Wild's DLC Pack 1, now included free in the v1.2.0 update.
New Eldin Region Cave
Added in v1.2.0 — November 8, 2023
The v1.2.0 update added a new cave in the Eldin region, expanding the total cave count in the game. The cave features a challenging enemy encounter and unique loot not found elsewhere.
- Located in the Eldin region — accessible after meeting certain in-game conditions.
- Contains a unique enemy encounter designed for late-game players.
- Rewards include items that complement the new key items also added in v1.2.0.
- Adds one additional Bubbulfrog to the game's total count.
Performance Improvements
Nintendo addressed framerate and stability issues across multiple patches. The most significant improvements came in v1.2.0.
General stability improvements and crash fixes.
Fixed audio desync during cutscenes and blood moon visual glitches.
Improved Ultrahand stability with large constructions; fixed Recall on moving platforms.
Significant framerate improvements in areas with dense Zonai device builds and NPC-heavy areas like Lookout Landing.
Final round of crash fixes and general stability improvements.
DLC Status
Unlike Breath of the Wild, Nintendo has not released or announced any paid downloadable content for Tears of the Kingdom. Series producer Eiji Aonuma stated that the development team considers the game to be a complete experience, and that the v1.2.0 update (which added Hero's Path Mode and the new cave) represents the final major content addition.
Comparison: BotW DLC Pass ($19.99)
For reference, Breath of the Wild received a two-part Expansion Pass. Here is what it included:
DLC Pack 1 — The Master Trials (Jun 30, 2017)
- Trial of the Sword — 45-floor gauntlet that powers up the Master Sword to 60 damage permanently.
- Hero's Path Mode — map overlay tracking 200 hours of movement (later added to TotK for free in v1.2.0).
- Master Mode — harder difficulty with gold-tier enemies and floating platforms with treasure.
- Travel Medallion — place a custom fast-travel point anywhere on the map.
- Korok Mask, Midna's Helmet, Majora's Mask, Tingle outfit, and Phantom armor — cosmetic equipment with unique set bonuses.
DLC Pack 2 — The Champions' Ballad (Dec 7, 2017)
- New main quest exploring the backstory of each Champion (Mipha, Daruk, Revali, Urbosa).
- 16 new shrine quests with unique puzzles and combat challenges.
- Boss rush re-fights against Illusory Realm versions of each Blight Ganon.
- Master Cycle Zero — a divine beast motorcycle usable as a permanent mount.
- Ancient Horse Gear — bridle and saddle that let you teleport your horse to you.
While some players hoped for similar DLC treatment, it appears TotK's significantly larger scope (Sky Islands, Depths, Ultrahand building system) was Nintendo's answer to expanding the experience within the base game rather than through post-launch paid content. The free v1.2.0 update adding Hero's Path Mode — which was paid DLC in BotW — reinforces this approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there DLC for Tears of the Kingdom?
No. Nintendo has not announced or released any paid DLC for TotK. Producer Eiji Aonuma stated the game is considered a complete experience. The free v1.2.0 update was the final major content addition.
What was the last update for TotK?
Version 1.2.1, released December 6, 2023. It contained stability and bug fixes. The previous v1.2.0 update (November 2023) was the last update with new content, adding Hero's Path Mode and a new Eldin region cave.
Were duplication glitches patched?
Yes. The most popular duplication exploits — Menu Overload and Shield Surf methods — were patched in v1.1.0 (May 2023). The Wing Duplication glitch was patched later in v1.2.0 (November 2023).
What is Hero's Path Mode?
Hero's Path Mode is a map feature added in v1.2.0 that records up to 256 hours of your movement across all three layers of Hyrule. It plays back as a green trail, helping you identify unexplored areas. It was paid DLC in Breath of the Wild but included free in TotK.
Can I still play Tears of the Kingdom without updating?
Yes, but staying on v1.0.0 means you keep access to duplication glitches while missing stability fixes, Hero's Path Mode, and the new Eldin cave. Most players benefit from updating to v1.2.1.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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