Skip to main content

Nintendo is bringing the latest Zelda and Mario games to its VR headset

Nintendo Switch Labo VR Kit Super Mario Odyssey the legend of zelda breath of the wild
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The already-flexible Nintendo Switch got an extra dose of versatility with Labo, a series of cardboard do-it-yourself kits that result in toys that take your Switch experience to another level. The company revealed the Nintendo Labo VR Kit this year, which will deliver an additional layer of immersion to some Switch games, and the company has revealed that Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be getting VR support for the device via a free software update.

Developing VR support for Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild is a smart move for Nintendo, as it puts two of the platforms biggest games right on the front lines when the VR Kit launches and consumers get their hands on it. Setting expectations will be key on the rollout of this peripheral and the reveal trailer for the virtual reality update gives us a little taste of the device’s potential. It’s tough to gauge the potential through a non-VR video, but you can read our Nintendo Labo VR Headset hands-on review to get a better idea of what to expect before launch.

When players utilize the Nintendo Labo VR Kit with Super Mario Odyssey or Breath of the Wild, they won’t be playing from the first-person perspective of their favorite heroes. Instead, players get access to a simple and shareable third-person perspective in VR that allows the user to freely look around the vibrant environments while controlling the Nintendo legends. Super Mario Odyssey, specifically, features bonus experiences set in the Cap Kingdom, Seaside Kingdom, and Luncheon Kingdom.

Breath of the Wild, on the other hand, can be experienced in its entirety, sans cutscenes, while using the Nintendo Labo VR Kit. The display method can be switched via the pause menu at any time during the adventure.

The Nintendo Labo VR Kit launches on April 12 and is available in two bundles, which are both available for pre-order. The $40 starter set includes the VR Goggles and Blaster. For $80, you get the VR Goggles, Wind Pedal, Camera, Elephant, Bird, and Blaster. The free software update for Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild that adds the virtual reality modes will be available on April 26.

Editors' Recommendations

Charles Singletary Jr.
I'm a Birmingham, AL raised author, journalist, and gaming enthusiast currently residing in San Antonio, TX. My work has…
The best games on Meta Quest 3
A product shot of the Meta Quest 3 shown in dramatic lighting over a gradient background.

VR headsets have become a successful niche for gamers who want to fully immerse themselves in their gaming experiences. There are plenty of options out there in terms of which headset you could go with, including Sony's PSVR2 and Oculus, but the latest and greatest is the Meta Quest 3. This is the upgraded version of the already impressive Quest 2, and it not only boasts more powerful hardware, but also new features that can add even more immersion to games. This headset is fresh on the market, so if you picked one up and are looking for the best games to test it out, we've collected the ones you should dive into.

Asgard’s Wrath II

Read more
Get the most out of Meta Quest 3’s mixed-reality with these VR games
A person is enthusiastically enjoying a game while wearing the Meta Quest 3.

Before I got my hands on the Meta Quest 3 last month, I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the concept of mixed reality (MR) gaming. I wasn’t a huge fan of devices like the Magic Leap One, seeing as its augmented reality games were so rudimentary. So, when Meta made enhanced MR the marquee feature of the Quest 3, it seemed more like a gimmick than something I’d find any interest in.

Boy, was I wrong.

Read more
Our favorite Switch games of 2023: Tears of the Kingdom, Mario, and much more
Link stands behind text that says Best Switch Games 2023.

If 2023 was our last full year with the Nintendo Switch, what a heck of a sendoff it got.

The rumor mill has been buzzing for months now, claiming that Nintendo plans to reveal and release its Switch successor next year. While that’s a rumor you should take with some skepticism, there’s good reason to believe it may happen. Nintendo reportedly showed off the system to developers behind closed doors at Gamescom this year, and the Switch’s current 2024 lineup feels like the final drop we’d get right before a new system. The Switch could be old news this time next year.

Read more