Was BOTW Developed for Wii U or Switch?
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The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was initially developed for the Wii U, but it was also released for the Nintendo Switch, making it a pivotal title for both consoles. The game’s development began on the Wii U, and it was later ported to the Switch, with the Switch version offering higher quality graphics and better framerates compared to its Wii U counterpart.
Development History
Understanding the Development Process
The development of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild started with the aim to rethink series conventions by Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma. Nintendo EPD, an internal division of Nintendo, handled the development for both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U. This marked a significant point in the history of the Zelda series, as it was designed to push the boundaries of what was possible in an open-world game.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Was Breath of the Wild developed for Wii U? Yes, Breath of the Wild was initially developed for Wii U, with restrictions, before being ported to the Nintendo Switch.
- What Zelda game came out for Wii U? The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – World Edition was released for Wii U.
- Did the Wii U have a Zelda game? The Wii U is the only home Nintendo console without a Zelda game exclusive to it during its lifespan, excluding remasters.
- Is the Wii U version of BotW better? The Switch version is of higher quality, with better framerates and higher resolution, but both versions are essentially the same in terms of gameplay.
- Should I play BotW on Wii U? While the best version of the game is on Nintendo Switch, the Wii U version is still worthy and offers an incredible gaming experience.
- How much did BotW sell on Wii U? Breath of the Wild sold an estimated 2 million copies on Wii U, with a total of 31 million copies sold across both Wii U and Switch.
- How big is BotW on Wii U? The game is approximately 11.9GB on Wii U, including updates, and remains under 12GB with the first DLC.
- What Zelda games are not on Wii U? Exceptions include Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, and Link Between Worlds, which are available on 3DS.
- How many Zelda games were made for the Wii? There were three Zelda games for the Wii: Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and Link’s Crossbow Training.
- Which Zelda game came out with the Switch? The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a launch title for the Nintendo Switch.
- Can you play Tears of the Kingdom on Wii U? No, Tears of the Kingdom is not available on Wii U, as Nintendo no longer supports the Wii U.
- Is BotW 1080p on Wii U? Breath of the Wild is 720p native on Wii U but upscales to 1080p.
- Is there a Wii U shirt in BotW? Yes, there is a Wii U shirt in Breath of the Wild, available in the Wii U version and featuring the Nintendo Switch logo in the Expansion Pass.
- What is the longest Zelda game? Tears of the Kingdom is roughly 55 hours long, followed by Breath of the Wild at around 50 hours.
- Why was the Wii U discontinued? The Wii U was discontinued due to low sales, attributed to a weak lineup of launch games, limited third-party support, and poor marketing, with production ending on January 31, 2017.