One of the main perks of Nintendo Switch Online is that it will allow cloud save backups, but apparently, some Nintendo Switch games will not support the feature.
Nintendo Switch Online is set to launch this month, offering features such as Nintendo Switch online multiplayer and access to a catalog of classic NES games. Gamers who were looking forward to cloud saves, however, may find themselves disappointed.
Nintendo Switch Online Cloud Saves Not For All Games
GameInformer spotted in the official pages for Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! that the two games will not support Nintendo Switch Online cloud saves. Other games with official pages that come with the same disclaimer include Splatoon 2, Dead Cells, Dark Souls: Remastered, NBA 2K19, and FIFA 19.
It was noted that all of the mentioned games support cloud saves on the PlayStation 4's PlayStation Network and the Xbox One's Xbox Live. While the restriction against cloud saves for Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! may be seen as The Pokémon Company's way of pushing people to sign up for the cloud-based Pokémon Bank subscription service, the same restriction on the other games do not make sense.
Nintendo responded to GameInformer's query on the cloud save restrictions with a baffling explanation. The company claimed that, in some games, cloud save backups will allow players to cheat, such as getting back items that they have already traded to other players or reverting to higher online multiplayer rankings in case they get knocked down.
Nintendo specifically cited Splatoon 2 as a game that will not allow cloud saves under Nintendo Switch Online. However, players have already been tampering with Splatoon 2 local saves, so it is evident that they will not be as secure as cloud saves.
Cloud saves are important for players to recover their progress in case data become corrupted, or if the console is destroyed or stolen, which is a possibility for the Nintendo Switch given its portable nature. Unfortunately, it looks like Nintendo is leaning toward security, though some will say that the restriction makes the company look so paranoid.
Nintendo Switch Online: Here's What It Will Offer
The official Nintendo Switch Online page reveals all the features that gamers will get if they sign up to the subscriptions service.
One of the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch Online features is gaining access to a catalog of classic NES games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, as the service was described as the Virtual Console successor by Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.
Online multiplayer is the main perk of Nintendo Switch Online, though for free-to-play games such as Fortnite, a subscription to the service will not be required.
