Nintendo announces new Explorer's Edition for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The bundle comes with a copy of The Breath of the Wild, a 100-page guide for new players, and a map of Hyrule.

If you've somehow wound up with a Nintendo Switch and haven't yet purchased The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, then, for starters, our hats are off to you. The 18th installment of the legendary franchise launched with the Switch earlier this year and, for many, it was the sole reason for purchasing the console, to the point that Nintendo actually sold more copies of Breath of the Wild than the Switch itself. Those still on the fence, meanwhile, may be persuaded by the studio's latest announcement.

According to a recent article by Business Wire, Nintendo's best-selling game of the year now has a new, enhanced version. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Explorer's Edition launches just in time for Black Friday on November 23, 2017.

The Explorer's Edition contains a copy of The Breath of the Wild, a 100-page explorer's guide perfect for new players, and a two-sided map of Hyrule.

Although it launches at the same price as the original version at $59.99, effectively giving purchasers the map and guide free, the Explorer's Edition does not come bundled with Breath of the Wild's season pass. This means that all DLC, including the upcoming Champion's Ballad expansion and the previously-released Master Trials pack, will have to be purchased separately.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched alongside the Nintendo Switch to massive critical acclaim in early March. Reviewers everywhere praised the title for its ambitious scale, gorgeous art style and soundtrack, and innovative mechanics new to the Zelda series. For several months following its release, Breath of the Wild held the number one ranking on Metacritic as the highest-rated video game of all time.

Also included in Nintendo's annual Black Friday bundles are a new, white and orange 2DS that comes with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time pre-installed, a Super Mario Odyssey-themed Switch Edition bundled with the game, and, of course, the widely popular Super NES Classic Edition.