Skyward Sword HD Switch 2 Upgrade Has Gamers Split

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has always held a peculiar spot in the pantheon of mainline Zelda games. It came at a pivotal point in the Wii’s lifecycle, when some people were getting tired of motion controls, especially compared to Zelda: Twilight Princess, which was released on the GameCube with no motion controls.

Over time, it caramelized into a classic for some, especially after the release of the HD edition on Switch, which smoothed out a number of rough edges. Thanks to a new discussion on Reddit, fans are talking about a Switch 2 upgrade for Skyward Sword, and the various problems involved.

Evidently, Skyward Sword HD is exempt from the Switch 2 handheld boost mode functionality, along with several other games (like Super Mario Maker 2, Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee).

As one fan puts it: “Why exactly does SSHD not work? What are ‘control issues’ in this context? Skyward Sword HD *has* button controls.” Well, some fans posit that there’s going to be a re-release, asking gamers to pay for an upgrade rather than just getting one through an inherent boost mode.

“I’ve just played SSHD and I haven’t noticed anything wrong with the motion controls, they’re working like always,” one fan writes, but another suggests: “Probably they just are scared to start having prompts on screen telling you you can swing your joycon when you can’t. Nintendo is really allergic to those type of situations.”

Keep in mind that this entire discussion is hinged exclusively on handheld mode, so there could be some wonky things going on in that regard. Nintendo has always been very selective in what it brings to Switch 2 in a paid “separate version” form, but we could see some light at the end of the tunnel.

So far, since the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo has made the current-generation editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom available for free if you’re a Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber.

Here are the bonuses on offer if you’re a premium subscriber:

A higher resolution
Improved performance (especially in the first game in the Korok Forest)
Zelda Notes functionality for mobile devices

If you’re not a subscriber and own the original editions of the games, you can get the upgrades piecemeal for $10 each. Otherwise, the Switch 1 editions are $70, and Switch 2 versions are $80 for Tears of the Kingdom, and $70 and $60, respectively, for the older Breath of the Wild.

While The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (even in its HD form) is a bit older than those two mainline Zelda games, it could still benefit from a proper Switch 2 upgrade. It won’t have Zelda notes, but fans will get the enhanced performance in a heartbeat.