Topic: Moving delisted games to new consoles

So I had an original Switch that was beginning to show the vent cracks along the top that had been reported by a few people, and I upgraded to the Mario red console when it released.

Everything was all good after the transfer, except I was unable to access the original Project Octopath demo as it was delisted entirely from the eShop and when I put my SD card into the new console I had to redownload everything. Not possible with that demo.

It's not the end of the world — I have the full game, and in fact I still should be able to access the demo as it is on another SD card and I've given my original Switch to the parents. But what about when paid games get fully delisted? Does anyone know a workaround for this that doesn't resort to hacking the console? I'd actually still like to have access to the original demo on my new console anyway, just for comparison's sake.

@Mario_maniac Usually if a game gets delisted, it's still available for redownload. Even stuff like the ARMS Global Testpunch, Splatoon 2 Splatfest World Premiere and Mario Tennis Aces: Online Tournament Demo are still there despite no longer having visible eShop pages. My best guess as to why they got rid of the original Octopath demo entirely would be due to the Prologue demo essentially replacing it.

I had no problems downloading the original Minecraft for switch when I got my Switch Lite. It still shows up for download.

Maybe its different with demos (with them being possible to wipe out entirely from the shop)?

@Eel 100% how this must work. There are games/demos that are removed from the eShop that are still downloadable. But then there are (at least, as far as I know only including) demos like Project Octopath that are wiped entirely from the store. Back when I had just my original Switch and changed SD cards after the delisting, I couldn't redownload the demo even when I had the icon on my home screen, as the console acted like it never existed despite what it shown.

For what it's worth, I'm not bringing this up just because I want to play what I had downloaded for free before — this seems like a genuine flaw in how the eShop is handled if people are purchasing newer consoles with totally delisted eShop downloads.

The original Octopath demo was more of a beta test. Square Enix asked people to play it and then give feedback for final tweaks to the game - it was never meant to stick around as a full demo for the game, because there have been balance changes since then.

I assume the same thing has happened with the first Bravely Default 2 demo?

@Krull You're probably correct. But do you have a solution to what I've asked in my original comment?

Totally delisted games would be very few and far between, especially for paid games. The Octopath demo was less a demo and more a beta, so I'm not surprised it's gone (at least from the eShop, I'd be surprised if it wasn't made available by someone, somewhere on the 'net).
With consoles, I'm not experienced enough with digital to know how long they are still available, but if they follow suit with Steam, I have games that were delisted many years ago (notably games with IP licenses) that I bought and still have access to.

So end of the day, no, nobody has a positive way to spin the fact we've already seen how people will be screwed over in the future regarding the eShop. I don't trust it and I won't dare to tell anyone here how to spend their money... but spend it well.

@Mario_maniac No....we haven't seen anything of the sort. What you don't have access to is a beta release of a game released for feedback and testing. It was never intended to be there forever nor serve as a permanent demo for the game (and as far as I know, an actual demo was and still is on the eShop).
This is like being mad that Sega isn't still actively distributing copies of the Sonic CD beta. Why would they? It's an unfinished version of the game intended for testing only.

@Mario_maniac

The same could be said for any digital storefront. Whether it's Playstation, Xbox, Steam, etc. Typically, if a game you previously purchased and downloaded is delisted, it should be available to redownload. Core gamers pay good money for Playstation accounts that have access to the PT demo on PS4 because you can no longer access it legally otherwise.

Just remember that when you purchase a game digitally, you've only bought a license to play that game. You have no ownership, you have no entitlement to play what you've downloaded. The publisher of that game can pull rights to access the game at any time they choose.

You're... you're all ignoring the moral of the story. I shouldn't be surprised, this is a Nintendo fanboy website. I'm one, guilty to that, but like... none of you who've contributed seem to understand what has happened and will eventually happen? Okay, good luck to ya, don't complain when Nintendo shuts down servers. Doubt you would anyway, you'd probably still lick their boots over it.

As for @Magician... yeah, get where you're coming from, but I was absolutely not asking you to tell me about the Ts&Cs of the eShop. I was asking if people knew a workaround. Don't know of one? Don't need your opinion.

@Mario_maniac You're ignoring everyone who contributed who have said all they have paid for is still available afterwards. Full games and DLC both.
You're upset about a Beta that was never intended to be a permanent release and seemed to have wanted everyone to jump on the bandwagon.
If this were a paid game you were talking about, it'd be a different story, but it's literally something that was always going to disappear because it was a test release.

@Shadowthrone Acknlowledged and I'm sorry if I've been a little throat-jump-downy. I just want people to be aware this is a thing and perhaps I've gone the wrong route to advertise it.

Sorry all. Please just ensure you've downloaded what you can, while you can. Be aware though that backing up your data isn't enough when you get a new console.

Also, extra edit for those playing at home — no, apparently there's no recovery method beyond arching your back at people raising their concerns over this sort of thing. All the best.

@Mario_maniac I mean, you’re right: this is a Nintendo fansite. Also, it’s not an exclusively Nintendo problem, but it applies to all online gaming stores. If Steam went under, all those PC titles could be locked away too. And yes, it sucks that this is a possibility.

At some point, no doubt, Nintendo will release a new console which isn’t backwards compatible with the Switch, will shut the eShop, and all those online-only games will be gone. So yes, I think plenty of people understand that - wait till the 3DS eShop shuts down in the EU and US, and see how much fuss gets kicked up then.

So hack your Switch, if you’re really worried about losing access to a beta test for Octopath Traveler. Buy physical when it’s available. Save stuff you’ve bought to multiple SD cards. What other workarounds were you looking for? And does this affect anything you actually care about playing in the future, or are you just ticked off on principle?

Ticked off in principle, yes. What does that change for you? I'm not discussing anything beyond how people can currently access their eShop Switch data — as in, a console released not that long ago, if you care to make this a 3DS or Wii U situation make your own thread. But you won't, that's the thing.

Same goes for the argument that "this goes beyond Nintendo". I don't care, the discussion at hand is about the Switch eShop and I'm not here for the politics of Steam or whatever. I see where the discussion is devolving and it was clearly a mistake to bring it up.

@Mario_maniac

If you were aware of the T&Cs then you knew the answer to your question before you asked it.

Literally all I wanted to know is if anyone knew of a way I could get an outdated demo working on my new system and all I get in return is people arching their backs because I dare talk against Nintendo. I never thought r/tomorrow was really relevant til now.

And I think you're trolling pretty hard.

Are we bored?

Please, if you don't have a solution for the question asked in my initial comment, don't bother answering and then dare to call ME the troll. Don't tell me to read the Ts&Cs without actually providing me the proof. And even then? You can have a lot better candour about you.

Oh my god, what am I doing? Like, look at yourself as well, please. I instigated discussion about longevity of digital downloads — hand on my heart, to discuss, not to troll — and I let all y'all get to me. What does that say about me? Nothing good. But what does it say about you that you immediately jump to "BUT IT HASN'T REALLY HAPPENED YET EVEN THOUGH THIS IS EVIDENCE IT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN?" when it all began with a simple question — do you know how to get a delisted demo working on my new Switch? I refuse to be belittled or called a troll over calling out a potential consumer issue and all y'all who are actually supporting Nintendo over bull like this need to look at how you spend your money.

If y'all are gonna throw "But that's a demo, you didn't spend money," as an argument at me, you don't understand where I'm coming from and I wish you well in life.

@Mario_maniac sucks man. If it helps I can still redownload software I bought on the Wii.