Games

Zelda Cloud Saves Missing On Nintendo Switch 2? Here’s What We Know

25 April 2025
Nintendo Switch 2
7 min.
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Zelda Cloud Saves Missing On Nintendo Switch 2? Here’s What We Know

Summary:

Nintendo’s updated Switch 2 editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are making waves—this time, not just for their visuals or features but because of a growing concern among players: cloud save support might be missing. With Nintendo allowing save transfers from the original Switch, many expected seamless cloud integration. However, early findings suggest that cloud saves for these editions could be off the table. Conflicting statements on Nintendo’s website and the technical limitations around dual save systems only fuel the confusion. For fans investing hours into Hyrule, knowing whether their progress is protected is critical. In this breakdown, we unpack what’s happening, what’s confirmed, and what’s still murky, helping Zelda fans understand what to expect and how to prepare. Let’s cut through the fog surrounding Zelda cloud saves on Nintendo Switch 2.

The Zelda Switch 2 Save Controversy

Something isn’t adding up, and fans are starting to notice. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are getting a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, and that’s usually exciting news. But this time, there’s a twist that’s got players raising their eyebrows: cloud save support seems to be missing. When you’ve poured over 100 hours into exploring Hyrule, you want that progress protected, right? So, the idea that your precious data might not be backed up in the cloud is enough to make any player a little nervous. Let’s dig into what’s sparking the confusion.

What Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition?

Before jumping into the technical weeds, let’s get a grip on what this “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition” actually means. Nintendo hasn’t officially branded it as “Switch 2” just yet, but insiders and reports have made it clear: there’s a new console iteration in the works. Whether it’s a full-on sequel console or a powerful upgrade isn’t totally known, but it does mean changes under the hood—changes that could affect game compatibility and features like save data handling. Zelda fans are already seeing updated versions of their favorite titles being prepared for this new system.

Why Players Expected Full Cloud Save Support

It’s 2025. Cloud saves feel like a given, right? Especially for big-name titles like Zelda. After all, Nintendo Switch Online includes cloud backup as a selling point. Naturally, players assumed that moving from one console to another—especially from Switch to its successor—would involve an automatic and secure transition of save data. But that’s not quite what’s happening.

The Current Status of Cloud Save Support

Here’s where it gets tricky. According to some listings and updates on Nintendo’s official site, the new editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom might not support the Nintendo Switch Online Save Data Cloud feature. Yes, the same cloud feature that’s been backing up your other saves might be off-limits for these upgraded Zelda games. Some website entries include a direct note: “this software does not support the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership’s Save Data Cloud backup feature.” That line has been enough to send waves of confusion across forums and communities.

How Zelda Save Transfers Typically Work

Zelda save transfers have always required a bit of manual handling. Whether it’s transferring saves from one profile to another or from an old Switch to a new one, it hasn’t been totally seamless. But this new situation is different. Nintendo is now saying you’ll be able to import your original Switch save into the Switch 2 Edition of Zelda. Sounds great, until you realize that if you can import, but not cloud-save after the fact, your progress might be vulnerable to loss unless handled perfectly.

Potential Conflict Between Save Transfers and Cloud Sync

Here’s a key issue: many cloud save systems are designed to avoid “duplicate” saves, especially across editions. So, if you’ve imported a save file, the game might no longer allow a secondary cloud backup to prevent data corruption or desyncing between versions. That’s a reasonable technical limitation, but it’s one Nintendo hasn’t clearly explained in this case. And that silence is making people nervous.

Nintendo’s Contradictory Messaging on Cloud Saves

To make matters worse, Nintendo’s own messaging is all over the place. On one page, the company says the Zelda Switch 2 editions won’t support cloud saves. On another, there’s no mention of the feature being removed. This inconsistency is fueling confusion and frustration among users. Are cloud saves blocked completely? Are they blocked only after a save transfer? Or is it all just a miscommunication? Right now, we simply don’t have a clear answer from Nintendo, and that lack of transparency doesn’t inspire much confidence.

Why Cloud Saves Might Be Disabled for Zelda

There are a few plausible reasons why Nintendo might restrict cloud save access. The most likely has to do with how Zelda games store and sync data. Both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom rely on open-world progression systems that can be thrown off by multiple save sources. If the same save data existed in the cloud and locally—especially after being imported from an older system—it might cause version conflicts or corrupted game states. Disabling cloud saves could be a protective measure rather than a limitation.

Let’s not forget, Zelda is one of Nintendo’s crown jewels. They treat it differently, often in both good and frustrating ways. Some game features like certain backup options or mod support are more restricted for marquee titles, possibly because of the attention and risk involved. So, it’s not surprising—but still disappointing—if these games get a stricter set of save rules.

Technical and Policy-Based Explanations from Nintendo

Although Nintendo hasn’t issued a formal breakdown, technical documents and community insights suggest some underlying policies that could explain the move. For example, games that include built-in save transfer or backup options may be excluded from online cloud save features. This might be to avoid duplication errors or save file overwrite issues. And while that makes sense from a backend point of view, players still deserve to know these details up front.

What This Means for Zelda Fans

If you’re a dedicated Zelda player who plans to upgrade to the Switch 2, this whole issue throws a wrench into your plans. Suddenly, you’ve got to think about whether your progress will be safe, whether a new system might reject your cloud backup, or if you need to perform manual backups on SD cards instead. It’s not what most players want to deal with—especially when moving to what’s supposed to be a better console.

The main fear here is simple: lost progress. Whether due to system malfunction, accidental deletion, or transfer failure, there’s always a risk when cloud saves aren’t available. And with open-world titles like Zelda, where players can sink hundreds of hours, that risk becomes a real worry.

Possible Risks of Save Loss or Incompatibility

Without cloud save access, you’re stuck with local-only data. That means if something goes wrong—say your console bricks or a save file gets corrupted—your progress could be gone for good. This risk is even more amplified with system migrations like this one. Unless Nintendo clarifies the backup process or builds in new protection methods, players might be forced to rely on third-party solutions or manual data management.

What Players Can Do to Protect Their Progress

Until Nintendo clears things up, there are a few precautions you can take. First, make local backups where possible—copy your save files to an SD card if the system allows. Second, avoid deleting or overwriting any saves from your original system until you’ve confirmed they’re functioning properly on Switch 2. And lastly, stay tuned to official updates, especially around launch time. Sometimes, policies change right before a big rollout, and you don’t want to miss an update that could save your game (literally).

Conclusion

Zelda fans are used to mystery and exploration, but not like this. The uncertainty surrounding cloud save support for the Switch 2 Editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom has left a lot of players scratching their heads. Nintendo’s lack of clarity and seemingly contradictory information isn’t helping. While we wait for official confirmation or a clearer explanation, the best thing players can do is stay cautious, protect their current saves, and be ready for anything when the Switch 2 hits shelves. It might be a bumpy road, but with a little preparation, you won’t have to start your Hyrule journey from scratch.

FAQs
  • Can I transfer my Zelda save from the original Switch to Switch 2?
    • Yes, Nintendo has stated that save transfers will be available for both Zelda games.
  • Will cloud saves work on the Zelda Switch 2 Editions?
    • Current info suggests cloud saves might be disabled, but Nintendo hasn’t officially confirmed this yet.
  • Why would Nintendo block cloud saves for Zelda?
    • It’s likely due to concerns around duplicate saves or game corruption after transfers.
  • How can I back up my Zelda save without cloud support?
    • Use manual methods such as copying data to an SD card if supported.
  • Is this cloud save limitation only for Zelda games?
    • For now, the issue seems specific to Zelda, particularly with the new Switch 2 editions.
Sources
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