The Nintendo Switch 2 Editions ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwill allow you to import your save data from the original Switch, but there is an odd catch with these two games, specifically. The Switch 2 is set to allow users to transfer their save data from the original Switch to the new console, but it appears that saves may work differently for the twoZeldagames than other Switch 2 games.
According to the official games pages on Nintendo, the Switch 2 versions ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwill not support cloud saves to backup save data(viaEurogamer). The disclaimer on the game’s store pages reads:“Please note: this software does not support the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership’s Save Data Cloud backup feature.“This disclaimer is not present for other Switch 2 Edition games, likeSuper Mario Party Jamboree,Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, orKirby and the Forgotten Land. This message is only on the US and EU store pages.
BotW And TotK On Switch 2 Don’t Support Cloud Backups
But Other Games Do
For the US and EU, it doesn’t appear that theseZeldagames will offer cloud saves for data backup. Players will be able to import their Switch 1 data from these games, but they won’t be able to back up their saves in the cloud. It also seems that players who are starting new games on thecontroversially priced Switch 2 versionsof these games will also not have access to the cloud to back up their save files.There is currently no additional information on why theZeldagames are being treated differentlyfrom other Switch 2 Edition titles.
Thisisn’t the first somewhat odd choice that has been madefor theZeldagames.BotWandTotKwill feature a strange achievement system, but other games won’t, as of right now.
Beloved Zelda Games On Switch 2 Have So Many Restrictions
The Zelda Games Are Being Treated Differently
Not having traditional achievements and not having cloud saves to back up data are two things, but theSwitch 2 Edition ofBotWwill also not include the game’s DLC, despite being a remaster of an 8-year-old game. It seems Nintendo is very protective of the twoZeldagames, and while that is fair in some respects, given their popularity and critical acclaim,it will be frustrating for a lot of future Switch 2 owners to not have consistent practicesacross all games on the new console.
It remains to be seen if the disclaimer is a mistake, since that message only appears on the US and EU versions of the Nintendo online store and not on the Japanese page. But it also seems possible that the games are going to be treated differently in each region. With theupdated Switch 2 pre-order US and Canada dates being rumored, and with a lot of conflicting information from Nintendo, anxiety aroundThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdom, and especially the Nintendo Switch 2 might be at an all-time high.
