Version 1.2.1 of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was released on August 22, 2023. It is a fix-only update: Nintendo’s official notes list three specific problems it resolved, plus a general line about other unnamed improvements. Nintendo’s update history now lists version 1.4.3, released February 17, 2026, as the latest update, so 1.2.1 is a historical patch rather than the current version.
What the version 1.2.1 notes say
Nintendo’s notes for version 1.2.1 sit under a section headed “Fixed Issues.” Each entry below is taken from that section of Nintendo’s official instructions and update history.
| Issue fixed | What Nintendo says | What players should know |
|---|---|---|
| Screen flicker from stamps | Fixes an issue that sometimes caused intense screen flicker when large numbers of stamps were placed on the map. | The fix applies to map stamp placement only; Nintendo does not describe any other flicker scenario. |
| Contents of Flux Construct chests | Fixes an issue that prevented players from collecting the contents of treasure chests attached to Flux Constructs when those chests vanished because of the Constructs’ attacks. | If a chest has already vanished, see the recovery steps below. |
| Koltin event after all Bubbul Gems | If an event did not trigger when speaking to Koltin after collecting all Bubbul Gems, downloading the update fixes the issue so the event triggers. | The fix applies to players who had collected all Bubbul Gems and did not see the event. |
These three entries are the only fixes Nintendo describes individually in the 1.2.1 notes. Source: Nintendo of America Support, “How to Update The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”.
Other changes Nintendo mentions
Beyond the three entries above, Nintendo’s version 1.2.1 notes include one general line: “Several other issues have been addressed to improve the gameplay experience.” Nintendo does not enumerate those issues, so any list of additional 1.2.1 fixes would be guesswork. The notes also characterize every listed item as a fix, not new content, so version 1.2.1 should not be read as adding gameplay features.
#1 Best Overall
- Enhanced performance and visuals exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Explore the skies, caves, and vast lands of Hyrule in a massive open-world adventure.
- Wield new and returning abilities to craft solutions, vehicles, and weapons.
- Discover the mystery behind the spreading gloom threatening the kingdom.
- Use the ZELDA NOTES app to share, compare, and earn daily bonuses.
Recovering a vanished Flux Construct chest
If a treasure chest attached to a Flux Construct vanished during an attack before you could open it, Nintendo says the following applies after you install version 1.2.1:
- Reload your save data.
- Check whether the chest has returned. If it has, you can collect its contents as normal.
- If the chest does not return, check your Pouch. Its contents may have been added there automatically.
Nintendo presents this as the recovery path for the Flux Construct chest issue specifically. It does not state that reloading save data recovers other lost items.
Rank #2
![The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Standard - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51PuJ83o9KL._SL160_.jpg)
- Ultrahand: Using the new Ultrahand ability, Link can pick up, move, and rotate almost any object, and can even attach objects together to create bridges, vehicles, and more!
- Fuse: Magically fuse almost any object to Link’s current weapon, shield, or arrow to increase durability, damage, or even add a new effect. Experiment with lots of different combinations to come up with surprising—and sometimes hilarious—results!
- Ascend: Add a new dimension to your exploration with Ascend, which gives Link the ability to pass through solid objects above him. Rise up through ceilings, hillsides, and even certain enemies to create seemingly impossible shortcuts.
- Recall: Use Recall to make objects in motion move backward through time, letting Link ride fallen boulders skyward, recover thrown weapons, or send projectiles back where they came from.
How to install version 1.2.1
Nintendo’s general update instructions apply to version 1.2.1 on both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles:
- Connect the console to the internet.
- From the HOME Menu, select the Tears of the Kingdom game icon. Do not start the game.
- Press the + or − button.
- Choose Software Update, then choose Via the Internet.
If the console is online and Software Auto-Updates is enabled, the update downloads and installs automatically without these manual steps. Nintendo says your save data remains available after the update is downloaded.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- The Legend of Zelda - Tears of the Kingdom
- Current version check: Nintendo’s update history lists version 1.4.3 as the latest release, so an up-to-date installation will show a later version than 1.2.1.
- Save data: Nintendo says save data remains available after downloading the update.
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