Topic: Switch 2 Transfer Concern

I read that transferring resets the switch 1. So I want to be sure about something...

Since the compatibility of most games is still unknown, is it possible to use your switch online account on both consoles and then when games are confirmed to work, transfer afterwards. This should merge the saves and content on both systems.

I'm worried I'll lose access to many 3rd party games. Or be required to split my library between 2 accounts/consoles.

Or is there a better solution?

As long as you don't full transfer data over to Switch 2 then the Switch 1 should contain the data. You can't reverse Switch 2 updates to Switch 1 that isn't how it works. Save data don't merge they are separate you can't use saved data from Switch 2 on Switch 1 it will not work. Problem will be if you update on Switch 2 games it will not be compatible data to use on Switch 1 anymore.

There’s only a few games with reported compatibility issues as far as I know.

In any case, should any of your games become unplayable for whatever reason, you should still be completely able to just log in on the old switch again and just… transfer the save files back.

Honestly, I don't really see much value in doing a system transfer at all. Just use NSO for moving saves, get a trial if you're cheap, and then use the virtual game card system to move games. Unless you intend to wipe and sell your original Switch I don't see any reason why you would do a system transfer

@sethfranum
Why would save data be incompatible? That's ridiculous.

@PapaSmurfCDMCMD You can do a user transfer. That method lets you transfer save data between your two consoles (they both must be present). This method also requires an initial internet check to authorize the transfer. Anyway, when you do a user transfer, it first asks if you want to keep your data on your donor console or have it deleted after the transfer. So, you'll see the option there to keep your data on your donor switch.

If you select "I have both consoles" on this support page, you'll see hypertext that points to "user transfer". https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a...

Will any screenshots or videos taken on an original Switch transfer over to Switch 2?

@skywake Were talking the save data that is on Switch 2 games. They can't be used on Switch 1 if they move the cart to Switch 1.

@sethfranum
For Switch 2 games obviously you can't play those on Switch. And I'd imagine there probably won't be the ability to do a system transfer from Switch 2 to Switch. But I see no reason why a save for a Switch 2 Edition, Switch 2 Enhanced or straight Switch game through BC would not work on Switch

Think about it. If what you're saying was true then if I have a Switch 2 docked at home and a Switch Lite in my bag the cloud sync for saves would not work. It would say "oops, sorry, you've transferred Metroid Prime Remastered to Switch 2 so now you'll have to start it again if you want to play it on the Lite"

Ridiculous, no reason for that, it won't behave like this

@skywake
I know at least for the Switch 2 versions of BotW and TotK saves in the second slot can't be transferred to the Switch 1 version according to the official websites. Guess that would mean saves in the first slot can be transferred back.

There's a save transfer feature now in the system settings to transfer save files to a nearby system. I intend to make use of that rather than doing the full system transfer.

@Eel
I wouldn't say "very few," but yea, in the sense of the Switch having over 15,000 games, a couple hundred with bc issues isn't a lot statistically.

But if you check out the official compatibility issues list on Nintendo's website, there are some shockers on there. Rocket League is on there, DOOM Eternal, Harvestella, Neverwinter Nights, South Park, Plants Versus Zombies, Warframe... some big and semi-big games that either have bootup issues with the backwards compatibility or are labeled as "works but with some issues," which is... vague lol

@rallydefault
Some of these are on the "planned to be addressed at launch or shortly after " list. There are definitely still some misses here but Doom Eternal, Jackbox, Fortnite, Pizza Tower are on this "to be addressed list". So slightly less bad

I'm still keeping my OLED on hand though. It's going to be a bit of a mixed bag

.... personally, I'm kinda hoping Cult of Lamb runs better through BC. Played through a lot of it but suffered through the performance issues and eventually put it down. Wouldn't mind diving back in if that's less of an issue now with better storage/CPU/bandwidth

@skywake
Yea, I mean, it doesn't really affect me. I've said it a million times, I'm just moving on to Switch 2 games when this puppy comes out and my OLED is going into storage.

I love my retro gaming on my SNES and Gameboy, but anything more recent than that is just... too recent for my tastes.

I'm either gaming 2025 onwards or in the 80s/90s lol

I was just shocked to see stuff like Rocket League as having some issues.

@skywake @rallydefault Could part of the problems be connected to forced non-Nintendo account requirement? For example Rocket League and Fortnite can’t be played without an Epic Games account meanwhile DOOM Eternal forces you to login to a Bethesda account if you’re connected to the internet. If Nintendo changed up how signing into non-Nintendo accounts work on Switch 2 perhaps to make things easier for games like CoD and RDO, it would potentially cause problems with certain Switch 1 games.

@rallydefault
For me there are plenty of titles that aren't getting or don't really need Switch 2 equivalents I'll still want to fire up. Mostly games night staples, Jackbox, Trombone Champ, Boomerang Fu. Also Smash Bros isn't coming to Switch 2 anytime soon. Switch 2 existing doesn't mean I'm suddenly not playing these games on occasion

If they all, or enough of them, work well enough on Switch 2 that my OLED just becomes a controller for Game Share? Then cool. That's great. OLED will find itself in a box like the Wii U, 3DS, DS and Wii did before it. But I think until I know that I'm just going to assume my OLED sticks around for a bit. Especially given there are still upcoming Switch games and the OLED screen is still nice

Also I'm not intending to get a microSD express card on day 1. So there will be a limit to how much of my Switch library I can transfer at the start even if I wanted to move everything

@Grumblevolcano
There are plenty of games on the list that don't have any account component. Also I don't think the Prince of Persia game is on there, and that had an account screen. It might be an issue but if it is there are probably a combination of factors. Like all bugs in code, usually it's not one thing but how one thing interacts with this other thing in this specific scenario

So I sold my SWOLED last weekend, in preparation for impending arrival fo Switch2.

I underwent the transfer/cloud process, essentially wiping the SWOLED back to factory settings - but ensuring all my data/info goes to the cloud in prep for download when Switch2 arrives.

My only issue.... during this 'purgatory period' I was unaware that I cannot make any digital purchases via my Nintendo account!!! A ton of games have gone on e-Sales (thanks DekuDeals, great site to track interested games) but I cannot undergo any purchases until my Switch2 arrives and I can login from the console.

Thankfully a few titles have sale dates that will exceed the delivery date of S2, so I'll purchase on delivery.... but I have missed out on 1 or 2 great bargains as a result of this soft-lock

At this rate, I can’t know for sure until launch. All this transferring business is just going to slow me down into being careful before I even start playing games. I’m bracing myself for the eShop being swamped with people downloading Mario Kart World anyway.

One can't use Switch 2 game saves on Switch 1, that isn't how it works. You will have to make a Switch 1 save to play on Switch 1. Switch 2 saved games will only work on Switch 2 consoles those trying to say otherwise are just dreaming.

@sethfranum
If the Switch 2 edition has additional DLC that breaks the compatibility of the save file? Sure. Possible. Especially if they're not concerned about maintaining that compatibility. And I could well see Nintendo drawing a line here for Switch 2 editions, as is already the case for some DLC already I would assume. But for patches that only change the performance profile? For the free patches? Not likely. And for general backwards compatibility I don't see any valid reason why that would be the case

A save file is basically just a folder with text files and other save assets. If you're a developer I don't see any reason why you would need to break compatibility unless you're explicitly changing that structure. Which would only be needed if you're changing what you're saving

And even if they did, they could just patch the base Switch version to ignore/handle the DLC portion of the save. Like they already do for games before the Switch 2. There's a reason games have a "match version" option for multiplayer or sometimes force you to update to continue going online

I've read that during Switch 2's setup that you have to perform a full system transfer from the start or else you'll not be able to do a transfer later at all.

What does that mean for someone who only wants to bring a few Switch 1 games to 2? If I have to transfer everything and then I try to bring back the rest of the S1 games I don't want, I think they wouldn't have their save data because the transfer should've wiped that out.

It seems like the "user transfer" process isn't compatible on Switch 2 according to Nintendo's support site.

Just did a full system transfer with no issues. It's even kept all my original playtime hours, so if you're at all worried about the process, hopefully this positive experience can provide you with some confidence. Will update this if I stumble upon any hiccups with old saves etc but it's been very smooth sailing so far.