Does BotW run at 60fps on Cemu?

As a passionate gamer and creator focusing on the latest gaming tech, one question I see often asked is: can you run The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild at 60 frames per second (fps) on the Cemu emulator for PC?

The answer is, absolutely yes, with the right hardware and settings configured, Cemu can steadily run BotW at 60fps or even faster. In this hands-on guide, I‘ll cover how Cemu makes this higher framerate possible, what hardware you’ll need, optimal settings tweaks, and gameplay differences to expect. Let‘s dive in!

Introducing Cemu – A Powerful Wii U Emulator

For those unfamiliar, Cemu is a highly advanced Wii U emulator for Windows PCs, under continual open-source development since 2015 at cemu.info. Thanks to rapid progress by lead dev Exzap and an enthusiastic community, Cemu can now emulate Wii U games with impressive results.

Notable capabilities include:

• Running games at higher resolutions – up to 4K
• Achieving faster framerates unrestricted by the Wii U‘s 30fps limit
• Adding graphic enhancements through mods and custom textures
• Customizable input settings for Xbox/PlayStation controllers and keyboards

This makes games like Super Mario 3D World and BotW shine. Nintendo‘s first HD Zelda title offers much to gain – its sprawling fantasy world and intricate physics systems thrive at 60fps.

Cemu 60 FPS Performance Requirements

Based on community testing, ideally you‘ll need hardware meeting or exceeding these specs:

CPUs with high per-core performance are ideal. Cemu greatly favors Nvidia GPUs over AMD – a GTX 1060 can outpace an RX 580. Global chip shortages make upgrades tough now, but don‘t despair…

60 FPS is More Achievable Now

Thanks to code refinements that improve compilation times and graphics API multithreading, a steady 60fps is now viable on weaker hardware that once struggled.

Mid-range parts like a Ryzen 5 2600X + GTX 1660 Super can average 55-60fps in BotW with graphics packs added. Without packs, even budget GPUs like the GTX 1050 Ti or RX 560 can average over 40fps now.

Comparing BotW: Switch vs Cemu at 60 FPS

To demonstrate the 60fps difference, take a look at this community gameplay video showing BotW on Cemu (right) side-by-side with Switch:

Side-by-Side 60fps Cemu vs 30fps Switch Comparison

Notice how Link drawing his bow, puzzles moving, and particles/objects responds snappier in the Cemu footage. Animations transition more smoothly, conveying natural momentum that better matches your inputs.

Higher framerates aren‘t about just "looking smoother"; they fundamentally improve game physics and control responsiveness. This helps you get deeper into Breath of the Wild‘s captivating world.

The clip also shows richer colors and anti-aliasing from graphics packs enhancing fidelity. Mods can further upgrade textures, shadows, LODs and more.

Optimal Cemu Settings For BotW 60 FPS

Out of the box, Cemu may show glitches or unstable speeds in BotW. But some quick setting changes will maximize speeds:

• Enable multi-core recompilation – Critical for CPU efficiency
• Set CPU mode to Triplecore-Recompiler – Offloads work across available cores
• Enable GX2SetGPUFence hack – Stops erroneous GPU waits
• Set graphics API to Vulkan – Leverages GPU better than OpenGL

I also recommend enabling these accurate configuration options to reduce artifacts:

• GPU buffer cache accuracy to High
• Custom textures to Load in memory

Cycles timings can also be increased moderately. Experiment to find the best balance for your system.

Getting Game Files Legally

You’ll need to legally acquire your own BotW game files to use with Cemu. I recommend discussing options in the Cemu community forums.

From there, transfer the files to a organized folder on your PC, then load them into Cemu to start playing!

Mods and Graphics Packs Enhance Visuals

Beyond performance, Cemu opens Breath of the Wild up to many visual upgrades through add-ons like graphics packs and mods.

Graphics Packs

Integrated right into Cemu, these add tweaks like:

• Increased resolutions – 4K is viable on some GPUs
• Better shadows and lighting
• Enhanced textures
• Farther draw distances
• Reduced fog

Mods

More advanced mods allow textures and models to be fully replaced. The vibrant results speak for themselves:

A graphics mod adding richer colors, vegetation, and depth to BotW [Credit: Nintendo Life]

Modding takes more effort but offers near PC-quality visuals if you wish.

Is Cemu Right for You?

Given the significant hardware and setup requirements compared to the Switch version, using Cemu is certainly an enthusiast‘s path. But unlocking BotW‘s potential at 60fps+ and enhancing mods can make the effort rewarding.

As Cemu matures, barriers to entry lower over time. We see more mid-range hardware able to achieve smooth 60fps gameplay. Support for controllers and mods also progress via the passionate community.

Hopefully this guide gives you the foundation to consider if running The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on PC is a journey you’d like to embark on! Let me know if you have any other questions.