The Ultimate Showdown: Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores Meets Zelda's Tears of the Kingdom DLC

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Expansion packs have been a prominent feature in the gaming industry for several decades now. As early as 1999, renowned PC games like Half-Life received additional campaigns through physical discs after their initial releases. However, as gaming technology has advanced, these post-launch expansions have transitioned into digital downloadable content (DLC), offering new weapons, outfits, missions, and characters to enhance successful games. In recent years, Nintendo has gradually embraced DLC, and given the incredible success of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, it is highly probable that it will be the next title to receive DLC.

While Nintendo has not officially confirmed the development of any Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom DLC, it is a reasonable assumption that some form of post-launch content will be introduced, similar to Breath of the Wild. If this is indeed the case, the DLC for Tears of the Kingdom should elevate the game beyond its predecessor, taking inspiration from Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores DLC in a significant manner.

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's DLC Should Expand the Map Like the Horizon Series

Both Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, have both received significant DLC expansions. In Horizon Zero Dawn, the DLC called The Frozen Wilds introduces players to a new region known as The Cut. This icy landscape is inhabited by new human tribes and a variety of new Machines for the main character, Aloy, to battle. Similarly, Horizon Forbidden West's recent DLC, Burning Shores, follows a similar structure by transporting Aloy to a volcanic archipelago where Los Angeles once stood.

Both of these DLC expansions bring a wealth of new content and explore biomes that are largely unexplored in each game. This not only adds visual variety to both games but also introduces a range of new gameplay features to the series. For example, The Frozen Wilds DLC for Horizon Zero Dawn introduces themed weapons such as the Stormslinger, Icerail, and Forgefire. In contrast, the primary addition in Horizon Forbidden West's Burning Shores is the Waterwing, a versatile flying mount capable of both aerial and aquatic travel. These gameplay additions enhance the overall experience of the Horizon DLCs and demonstrate that they are thoughtfully crafted expansions rather than rushed cash-grabs capitalizing on the success of the series.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild featured two significant DLC packs that added a substantial amount of content to the already extensive base game. The first pack, known as The Master Trials, introduced numerous new side quests, additional modes, and various outfits. The second pack, titled The Champions' Ballad, included fresh Shrines, side quests, weapons, armor, and even a Guardian-themed motorbike. Despite these impressive expansions, there is still ample room for improvement in Tears of the Kingdom's approach to DLC.

To enhance the overall experience, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom should draw inspiration from the DLC expansions in the Horizon series and introduce players to new locations. While the Depths and the Sky Islands were commendable additions to Tears of the Kingdom, the majority of players' time is spent exploring the same Hyrule that existed in Breath of the Wild. The potential for DLC in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom presents an ideal opportunity to venture beyond the familiar territories. Exploring uncharted areas beyond the northern mountains or sailing across the surrounding ocean could introduce players to diverse biomes, formidable enemies, and thrilling challenges.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on Nintendo Switch.