Nintendo has announced a downloadable content season pass for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It is the first Zelda game to make use of the controversial downloadable content revenue model.

With the Season Pass, or Expansion Pass as Nintendo calls it, players will get access to two separate downloadable content packs that will be released after the launch of the game.

The first pack will be released in the summer and contains Hard Mode, Cave of Trials and new activities in the game's world. The pack also gives players 3 "Treasure Chests" that will contain various in-game items.

The second downloadable content pack will be released in the fall and contains new challenges, a new dungeon and a separate storyline, though exact details have not yet been released.

Both downloadable content packs will be available to those who purchase the game's Season Pass, which will retail for $20 USD in North America and €20 in Europe. The packs will not be available separately and will thus only be available via the Season Pass.

The announcement of the downloadable content got mixed responses on social media with a slight majority opposing the downloadable content scheme.

Some gamers commented that they feel that downloadable content does not fit the Zelda franchise while others worry that the Season Pass will consist of content that was cut from the original game, through whether that is actually the case remains to be seen.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches on March 3rd 2017 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Wii U.