Well that’s good to know
Not every single game supports cloud saves with an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, but most do, and there’s been understandable confusion about whether or not subscribers will “lose” their cloud data after canceling their Switch Online subscription. Here’s some much-needed clarity.
While there were concerns about Nintendo ditching cloud saves when a subscription lapses (based on some open-ended wording in an FAQ), that’s not quite the case. In a statement to IGN, the company explained that users will have a window of opportunity to resub and reclaim their cloud saves.
“If a Nintendo Switch Online membership expires, users won’t be able to access their Save Data Cloud backups,” reads the statement from Nintendo. “However, Nintendo will allow users who resubscribe within 180 days to access their previous Save Data Cloud backups.”
As far as I’m aware, that six-month recovery window is comparable to how Sony handles cloud saves for folks who exit PlayStation Plus. Given the low cost of Nintendo Switch Online, I think it’s sufficient.
I won’t lie: I half subbed out of sheer curiosity. I’ve yet to go online with Splatoon 2 since the subscription program launched, and I only played like two innings of NES Baseball. That said, if my Switch ever breaks and it needs to go in for repairs, I’ll be glad my saves are safely in the cloud.
