The Switch has finally launched (on March 3). If you have already purchased the new Nintendo device, you are probably happily playing your game now. However, there are some concerns with Switch save files that Nintendo has just confirmed!
Switch save files can’t be transferred, Nintendo says!
As we all know, sometimes it just kind of happens that your save file is corrupt, or you accidentally delete a save file that contains achievement you have spent hours, sweat (and maybe blood) to get. Normally, it would be quite simple, as you have tons of ways to back up that data. However, it is no longer the case with the new Nintendo Switch, as Switch save files cannot be transferred! Nintendo itself has just confirmed this recently.
On Nintendo’s website, in the FAQs section, the company states that save data is kept on the system’s internal storage, and cannot be saved, or copy, to another microSD card at this time. Furthermore, in case the internal memory fills up, some of those data will need to be deleted to make space for new data. Remember, the Switch’s internal storage is only 32GB, and roughly a quarter is taken by the OS. There are even games with equal or bigger storage than the device! This news is surely a huge hit to players who own a Switch.
This also goes against Nintendo’s tradition of letting players backing up their data, like on the Wii U and the 3DS. Even Sony, as rigid as the company is, has offer many ways to back up save files, the most recent one being the cloud solution. This means that if for some reason your Switch, or your save data, breaks, all of your Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild achievements will be gone (read our first look of the game here). Of course, Nintendo is using the word “at this time”, so there may be a future update that will fix this. However, in the meantime, you have to be extra careful with the Switch save files, and the device itself!
Switch save files inconvenience: Will it be fixed?
The state of the Switch save files is certainly inconvenient right now. Hopefully, Nintendo will change this in future updates. Have you purchased the Switch yet?