Nintendo has sparked controversy with the release of the Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, as it does not support the cloud save feature that was available in the original Switch version. This aspect has been clearly stated on the official store page for the U.S. and EU, which warns: “Please note: this software does not support the cloud save data backup feature of the paid subscription service.”
The lack of cloud saving will be something that occurs on a case-by-case basis
However, the situation becomes even more complicated, as this warning seems to be absent in the Japanese store, where it is mentioned that the save data storage functionality requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. This disparity has left many users puzzled and raised questions about the consistency of the interface across different regions.
Apart from Tears of the Kingdom, other titles like Super Mario Party Jamboree in its version for Switch 2 also lack support for cloud saves, while games like Kirby and the Forgotten Land not only support this feature but also benefit from enhanced new features.
Additionally, although players have the option to import their save data from the original version of Zelda to the Switch 2, once this is done, they will not be able to create new cloud saves for that version. This limitation raises concerns among players about how they will manage their progress, especially if they decide to replay on the original console.
The Switch 2 versions of the video games also include significant updates, such as a new notes app in Zelda, which helps players locate shrines and Korok seeds, as well as achieve in-game accomplishments. Nintendo has stated that players will still have access to the original versions even after upgrading to Switch 2, although certain features and content will be reserved exclusively for the new console.
