Topic: Is my pre-installed game, gone?

So I bought this New Nintendo 2DS XL Hylian Shield before that comes pre-installed with LoZ ALBW. I made an NNID and linked it to my console. When I decided to sell that and buy a New Nintendo 3DS XL, I did a system transfer to the NN3DSXL and switched my microSD cards.

After a while, I decided to sell my NN3DSXL without buying another one first. I deleted my NNID so that I can use its e-mail again. I kept my original microSD card (from the NN2DS XL Hylian Shield) without formatting it or using it for other purposes.

Days passed, I bought another one lol (I'm a very indecisive person). I inserted my original microSD card there, did a Format System Memory (because the unit I bought was pre-owned) and my LoZ ALBW is missing so I went to the eShop but it's not on my "Redownloadable Software" list.

When I took a look online on where the pre-installed game is, Nintendo says it is in the microSD card and can be redownloaded for free on the eShop if it goes missing.

Where did I went wrong?

Should I have removed the microSD card first before formatting my system memory again?

Is my game now lost?

@spalmedina121 I think the game is tied to the 3ds you got rid of, and probably not transferable to another 3ds. You could try asking Nintendo support. They have a chat messenger that you might be able to use (if it lets your region access it, and they are open for the day. Link below is for Nintendo of america, west coast US.)

Nintendo contact page: https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/contact/session/...

possibly relevant NIntendo support pages:

pre-installed software missing or deleted
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a...

Information about pre-installed games on 3ds
https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a...

@WoomyNNYes Thanks for the reply!

I am living in the Philippines and I don't know if I can call or contact Nintendo but I will surely try it.

Thank you for the links! I actually have read both of them and in fact, they were the reasons why I was so confident on the steps I took 😞 It said that it can be redownloaded from the eShop (as long as I have the original microSD right? because it says that it is stored there).

I really hope that Nintendo was more approachable, like worldwide. I would have called them and just unlink my NNID to my old 3DS 😞

It likely meant that the game is already installed in the SD card, not that it is permanently tied to that SD card.

@Eel Thanks for the comment too!

Fair enough. I know all of this is my fault and I was just too dependent on Nintendo's words 😞

But it says here, on the information about pre-installed games:

"If you choose to delete the content off the SDHC Card or microSDHC card, such as during a system transfer, the pre-installed game will be available for redownload from the target system's Nintendo eShop after the transfer has been completed."

This is mainly the cause on why I took such step. I am really hoping I could get my game back 😞

Ya you have to tranfer it to get your game on it I have done this befor and if you don't do a system transfer you wont keep your game.

Ok wait, when you say you deleted the NNID do you mean, literally delete it or just unlinked it with the original system?

Because if you deleted-deleted it and then created a new one, then the game is gone, along with any other content you had tied to your old account.

@Eel Yes, I deleted-deleted it. I just thought that the pre-installed game was ON the microSD not tied to my NNID, simply because I didn't bought it.

All this NNID and 3DS restrictions make my head hurt lol.

Thanks for the replies! @Snatch

I hope that there is a way to retrieve my game. I really don't want to pirate it. This is least I can do to support Nintendo hmm

As far as I know, once you add a NNID, all preinstalled software is then attached to that NNID.

Data in SD cards is not transferable between 3DSs, if you use one on a new system, then it’s wiped out and used as if it was brand new.

@Eel Thank you for the replies! This clarifies everything to me. I just don't know if I'm being ignorant or Nintendo just didn't told us about the pre-installed software being linked to NNID (Maybe its in the T&C that nobody reads).

I guess it's time to pirate (just kidding) — to move on.

Thanks for the help!

@spalmedina121 No need to get dramatic and threaten to pirate the game, its not like you still can't buy it. Heck I saw it at my local Wal-Mart today and there is always the eShop.

@Tasuki I'm not really threatening Nintendo or anyone, plus Nintendo won't even be threatened by it lol. It's just that it came for free with the console I bought, and yes, I can't buy it now because I'm too broke to even buy games lol. That's why I'm being dramatic over a game.

They’re just kidding. No need to escalate things.

Anyhow. Glad we could clarify things, do still try to contact Nintendo though. Hopefully there’s something they can do.

@Eel I will try to contact them later this day and hopefully, it'll be better news for me. Thanks again!