The Switch 2 Editions of both Zelda games won’t support cloud saves for data backup, and it’s currently unclear why.
On the store pages for both Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2, a disclaimer reads: “Please note: this software does not support the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership’s Save Data Cloud backup feature.”
This same disclaimer is not present for other Switch 2 Edition games – Super Mario Party Jamboree, Metroid Prime 4, or Kirby and the Forgotten Land – so it’s unclear why this is only impacting Zelda games.
What’s more, this disclaimer is only on the US and EU store pages. The Japanese page still states the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership is required for the use of the save data storage service (machine translation).
Eurogamer has contacted Nintendo for clarification.
Why does this matter? As a user on ResetEra noted, players can import their save file from the original Switch to continue using the Switch 2 Edition of the game, but then won’t be able to create a new cloud save file as they continue.
What’s more, it seems even if players start a fresh save using the Switch 2 Edition, they still won’t be able to backup their save file.
But why exactly would this only be the case for Zelda and not other games? For now, the reason is unknown.
The Switch 2 Editions of original Switch games do bring plenty of upgrades. The Zelda games, for instance, have improved visual performance as well as an updated app with achievements and a new method to repair equipment.
In the UK, these complete updated editions for the new console will cost £65, with all data included on the game card – something Nintendo clarified following confusion.
However, Breath of the Wild won’t include the original game’s DLC on Switch 2.