The Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition may appear to be a simple upgrade—higher resolution, smoother framerate—but revealed via the Zelda Notes Autobuild QR share feature is a world of creative chaos. Players are now summoning herds of Epona, swarms of dogs, and even Ganondorf himself.
1. Mod Save Files on a Switch 1
Fans using tools like those from the Hyrule Engineering community edit their Switch 1 save files to swap authorized Autobuild actors (e.g., hover platforms) with banned ones—Ganondorf, Epona, etc.
2. Transfer Saves to Switch 2 Edition
The modified save data travels through a standard process—modded Switch 1 → standard Switch → Switch 2—preserving these altered actors.
3. Upload, Generate & Scan QR
Once uploaded via Zelda Notes, the game generates a QR code. Scanning it on any Switch 2 brings the custom build into the player’s world.
Video Highlight
Summoning Highlights
- Endless Epona herds – Horse stampedes across Hyrule, all from a single QR.
- Dog armies – While players still cannot pet them, the code floods the world with un-pettable doggos. Redditor Mz3player said: “The dog one turns the Switch 2 version from trivial to essential.”
- Ganondorf NPC spawns – Facing multiple copies of the Demon King stalking Link is now possible. One user shared screenshots of an army of Ganondorfs.
Community Reactions
Reddit’s r/tearsofthekingdom thread titled “Totk autobuild sharing is so broken” is buzzing:
“Yes and yes.”
— Formal-Code2341, confirming both Epona and Ganon codes are real
Another user, lgxmo, summarized community sentiment:
“Nice, this is the good kind of ‘broken’. Unfortunately, Nintendo will probably patch it.
Media Insight
- Nintendo Life explains how no validity checks are performed on shared actors—meaning anything can be included.
- VICE reports that even though Switch 2 is not compromised, using modded Switch 1 data is enough to bypass built-in restrictions.
The Road Ahead: Is a Patch Coming?
The community expects Nintendo to intervene:
“Odd that they don’t have autobuild legitimacy verification… Nintendo could patch it.” (As described by Aster on Reddit.)
- Some fear consequences: modded setups carry risks like save corruption or online bans.
- Others embrace the fun—experimenting while the exploit lasts.
Advice for Zelda Central Readers
- Interested modders: Visit the Hyrule Engineering Discord or relevant Reddit communities for QR codes.
- Backup before you hack: Modding carries risks—saving before trying anything is essential.
- Act fast: These exploits won’t remain valid indefinitely; enjoy them while they last.
- Non-modders: You can still scan QR codes on Switch 2—but note that someone had to mod to create them in the first place.
What started as a sophisticated performance update in Tears of the Kingdom has become a canvas for community ingenuity. Using Zelda Notes and QR codes, Switch 2 players can summon horses, dogs, and Ganondorf through a clever save-file hack—but Nintendo will likely plug this loophole soon. Enjoy the spectacle while it’s available.
