Nintendo NA: We are unable to guarantee cloud saves will be retained after canceling

[Gradon]

Not sure if this has already been posted, can't find anything on it?

Q. After my Nintendo Switch Online subscription expires, will my Save Data Cloud files and Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online save data be erased?

A. Save data stored with Save Data Cloud cannot be kept outside of the duration of your Nintendo Switch Online membership. Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online also uses the Save Data Cloud, so the same applies. However, if you keep the Nintendo Entertainment System – Nintendo Switch Online save data saved locally on your Nintendo Switch console, then you can use it again if you purchase another membership.

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So to keep your saves you have to keep your subscription up and running.

This is a stark comparison to Sony who keep your Cloud Saves for at least 6 months after your PS+ subscription lapses and Microsoft who offer free Cloud Saves to everyone regardless of subscription status.

Source

MOD EDIT:
Update from Nintendo NA Support Page.

https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22521/p/897

Is my save data retained if I cancel my Nintendo Switch Online membership?
We are unable to guarantee that cloud save data will be retained after an extended period of time from when your membership is ended. However, you can continue to use the save data that is saved to your system memory.

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[snausages]

Seems pointless to me. I regularly come off and on Plus just to transfer saves across systems.

 

[THEVOID]

MS doesn't have a cloud saves sub. It's free.

 

[Seppala]

I'm not sure what Microsoft does.

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Cloud saves on Xbox isn't locked behind a pay wall. Every save is saved locally and in the cloud.

 

[Powerofthecloud]

So if it laspe for any reason it's gone? Lol wtf. What a horrible offering. Don't buy this people.

 

[Farrac]

Christ...

 

[Jake2byFour]

Awfully dumb.

 

[mindsale]

Can't wait for my card to expire and my saves to delete between renewals.

 

[silva1991]

This sounds awful.

 

[Boiled Goose]

So if it laspe for any reason it's gone? Lol wtf. What a horrible offering. Don't buy this people.

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It has serious issues but there's no alternative and it's 20 bucks a year. So yeah...

 

[Noppie]

Don't buy this people.

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I'll decide that for my own thank you very much.

 

[R dott B]

Cloud saves behind a paywall is a terrible thing.

 

[Carassius Auratus]

I guess I'll look into homebrew to protect my Xenoblade 2 save, then. WTF Nintendo.

 

[Deleted member 11626]

Well that's dumb

 

[Deleted member 1849]

No way to locally back up your save games without hacking.
Need to pay for cloud saves.
Cloud saves are lost if you ever let your subscription end.

What a fucking joke of an offering. At least hacking is a thing, thanks Nvidia for the exploit.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Why is Nintendo so bad at this?

 

[mocolostrocolos]

What the fuck, Nintendo?

 

[Sebastopa]

Awful if true, I would expect for them to at least keep the saves for a limited time like Sony does.

 

[Bouniter]

Good Job Nintendo you are killing it with your online service

Spoiler

Yes this is sarcasm.

And you guys said it "wasn't as bad as we feared".

 

[Deleted member 135]

This entire thing is a fucking farce. What the hell is wrong with Nintendo?

It's making me seriously reconsider getting a Switch next tax season.

 

[noomi]

This is so stupid. Why?

 

[Ebtesam]

that's really pointless for some people atleast Sony keep it for half a year and MS didn't put it behind a pay wall....

 

[FiXalaS]

They are trusting whoever is handling this too much, fire em Nintendo.

 

[Raide]

Wait, they erase your saves if your sub drops? Yeesh. Is there a way to back up saves just in case?

 

[Deleted member 5764]

I can definitely see this biting someone in the ass if their Switch broke and the sub expired before they bought a new one.

 

[Windu]

lol ffs Nintendo

 

[Plinko]

They need to have a grace period. That's pretty dumb.

 

[Vishmarx]

L
M
A
O

wut

 

[Jawmuncher]

Imagine accidentally forgetting to pay and losing all your saves forever.

 

[Biske]

Eh, it's not as if they cant reevaluate this and add some gap time.

The price point is so low the amount I give a shit about this is also low.

Lots of leeway for them to address things.

 

[caphisuada]

And there's no way to back up saves locally right? Cause damn.

 

[Deleted member 1849]

Wait, they erase your saves if your sub drops? Yeesh. Is there a way to back up saves just in case?

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The switch does not provide any other way of backing up your save games.

Except for homebrew, thank god.

 

[J-Skee]

So if your card expired that you would normally use to renew your subscription, for example, they won't give you a grace period? And you still can't do offline backups to an SD card or flash drive?

 

[citrusred]

Well there goes any chance of me paying for that.

 

[ShinobiBk]

Wait, they erase your saves if your sub drops? Yeesh. Is there a way to back up saves just in case?

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They're still saved locally on your Switch
Basically don't break your Switch and let your subscription lapse at the same time and you should be good

 

[Krysuk]

Cloud saves behind a paywall is a terrible thing.

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Yeah Sony what are you thinking?

 

[QuiteSomething]

What's next? Voice chat exclusive to the mobile app?

 

[Toumari]

Nintendo Online just keeps getting better by the day.

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Once you transfer save data to the cloud service, Nintendo gets to hold it hostage for as long as you continue to pay.
I suppose you could always transfer the saves back, but that just defeats the purpose.

Baffling. Truly baffling.

 

[mute]

The absolute bare minimum

 

[1080peace]

 

[Deleted member 3010]

that's really pointless for some people atleast Sony keep it for half a year and MS didn't put it behind a pay wall....

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Fuck I just realized I lost all my PS4 backup. :(

 

[Deleted member 249]

Egad

 

[Kouriozan]

Damn it!
Please give us a real backup option, without needing online.

 

[Deleted member 39587]

I'll decide that for my own thank you very much.

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cool

 

[Sojiro]

Well this continues to be shitty. I mean, i'll have to put up with it because I regularly play my games online, and don't want to lose that feature, but in no way is it justified for Nintendo (or any of the 3 imo) to make you pay to play games online, no matter how many "perks" they throw at you.

 

[Papercuts]

this online system brehs

 

[Deleted member 4970]

I already lost my saves twice on Switch because of how shit they are at everything besides games, so I guess I'm used to this by now

JUST FUCKING HIRE SOMEONE

USE THE INTERNET

COPY MICROSOFT OR SONY FFS

 

[Deleted member 1849]

Yeah Sony what are you thinking?

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Just because Sony also does it, doesn't make it a good thing.

Other platforms get free cloud saves you know, and it works great.

 

[Ebtesam]

Fuck I just realized I lost all my PS4 backup. :(

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what? don't say you haven't Sub for a year ?

but i think Sony Does not erase your Cloud Saves just locked them