The Nintendo Switch's Cloud Save Paywall Has People Mad

Paying for cloud saves is one thing. Having to pay because there's no other option is something else.

[porkChop]

I hope they allow save backups on the SD eventually. I'll personally just use the cloud saves, but I know that not everyone will want to pay for that service.

[XisThatKid]

It'll be ok, it's Nintendo.

[Mr Marvel]

@XisThatKid - That's EXACTLY why we're worried.
Nintendo have always been so behind the times in regard to online gaming features and they just seem to pull some of the dumbest decisions out of nowhere.

[indyman7777]

Wrong it will get them crucified its Nintendo. I mean come on they are the LAST console company to do it. They held out last. How is it NOW bad? I hate hypocrisy.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Ditto; having both would be the best thing.
But you know what's sad? Most of the people who are complaining about not having SD back-ups would probably still use the cloud more often anyways, even if both options were there.

This all feels like just another reason to make a mountain out of a Nintendo mole-hill.

Plus, if people were really THAT MAD about the PAYWALLS, you'd think they'd have gone after the idea of paywalling online multiplayer first.
But they didn't.
Because it wasn't Nintendo doing it.
Now that it's Nintendo entering the paywall brigade, suddenly it's ALLLLLLL the blame in the world for Nintendo.XD [For the record, I think it's a bad practice to put multiplayer behind a paywall regardless of console.]

[getbacktogaming]

Isn't it behind a paywall for Sony and Xbox too?? (Although it's easy to backup manually)

[The_Jackel]

this is correct yes. not too sure on why people would be mad for them doing the same as others. unless they take away saving it locally on the device and turn it into cloud saves only... then thats when its time to be pissed

[The 10th Rider]

The complaints stem from the fact that cloud saves are the only way to backup saves right now and it's locked behind a paywall. People that don't pay for the service will have no way to back things up.

[getbacktogaming]

True! I didn't think of that. It's kinda like backing up saves altogether (nevermind the cloud part) is locked behind a paywall... If I look at it that way I agree it's pretty messed up!! Damn

[XisThatKid]

You can back up game saves via USB on PS4 and X1.

[Neonridr]

but not on the cloud. Technically Nintendo just needs to allow us to backup data to the SD Card or an external HD in the future.

[Lon3wolf]

@Neonridir

Sorry but they need to do it now, once everyone pays for online and cloud saving there is no reason for Ninty to allow backing up to USB /SD card moving forward.

[TheUndertaker85]

That paywall only applies to one account on Xbox One. Only one account on the system needs to be subscribed to Xbox Live for cloud saves to apply to any account on the same system.

PSN cloud saves only apply to Plus subscribers.

[Mr Marvel]

No, you can backup save data to USB on PS4 which costs nothing.

[littletad]

I own both consoles. One account on xbox can use cloud save. On the ps4, you need ps plus.

[TheUndertaker85]

@littletad: I think what you mean to say is to use cloud storage on PSN each account has to have a subscription to PlayStation Plus. Only PS+ accounts can use cloud storage.

On Xbox One however one account with a Xbox Live subscription will grant any account on the same Xbox One to use cloud storage.

But either way neither PlayStation Plus nor Xbox Live are required to backup save data to USB storage.

Nintendo is set to deliver cloud storage albeit with the subscription required either as an individual or a family plan up to 7 accounts.

[mogwaii]

It's not behind a paywall on Xbox but is on ps4

[conanlifts]

I thought this as well then just checked. Apparently you do need a subscription to use cloud saves. But you also have the option to copy saves wherever you want.Switch does not have the option to move or copy saved games.

https://support.xbox.com/en...

"To use cloud storage for your saved games, you need:

An Xbox Live Gold subscription
A console connected to the Xbox Live service
514 megabytes (MB) of storage space on your console (local cache)"

[Xb1ps4]

How a are games saved now?

[gprime]

Save data is only stored on the system's built-in storage. There is no way to transfer saves to SD card or back them up in any way.

[Xb1ps4]

Ohh... that sucks.. how much storage does it come with?

[gprime]

A whopping 32GB

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Game data is stored on SD cards or system.
Save data only on system, at least that's how I understand it.
However, the Switch can accept cards up to 256GB.

[Segata]

32GB which is more than enough for just game saves,I have over 20 games with of saves and it's like 100mb. They future proofed the SD card slot tho. Even tho they are not made yet it supports up to 2TB Sd card sizes.

[CrimsonWing69]

Oh wait it’s Nintendo... yknow the same people that sell you cardboard and won’t bring back the virtual console because, uh, well... Nintendo?

[PhantomS42]

Sell a game that encourages creativity your young kids (because the world doesn't revolve around you alone *gasp*) and not bringing back the virtual console BRAND but still bringing back retro games starting with 20 at the start of this paid online service with the ability to play the coop/multiplayer online with friends...the scandal *rolls eyes*

Guess you are gonna start throwing a fit because Cloud Saves on PSN are behind a paywall too...

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Oh please. People like you were whining about how overpriced and bad the VC is, and now that it's not there suddenly you're championing it?
Anything to condemn Nintendo.XD

[CrimsonWing69]

When the hell did I ever complain about the price of the VC? The only thing I ever criticized was having to repurchase games on the Wii U VC that I already owned on the Wii VC. Get you facts straight!

[Shiken]

All three consoles have cloud saves hidden behind the paywall. If you want to call out Nintendo for it, call Sony and MS out as well. Otherwise shut your crying face holes.

What people should be mad at Nintendo about however is the lack of being able to back your saves up via SD card. You can use flash drives to back up your PS4 saves, so there is no excuse in my eyes.

[gprime]

That is exactly what this article is about. People aren't mad because they have to pay for cloud. They are mad because the only way to back up saves is to pay for cloud.

[Shiken]

Well that I can agree with. There is no reason to not let us back up save data on micro SD cards.

[narsaku]

Paying on top of your own internet connection just to play multiplayer that has been FREE for decades is ALWAYS an insult.

It's a sadness to see some gamers indoctrinated so deeply they'd defend it.

100% unacceptable. I love that I don't pay for it. :)

[Rippcity]

Seeing people like yourself clinging onto the fact that you "didn't have to pay for it before so it should always be free" is what is really sad. These companies have to pay to keep servers up and support their online infrastructure. Stop acting entitled like they are being anti-consumer just because you don't feel like you should have to pay for their services. It's no wonder Nintendo's online has been shit for years now. The sub is only going to give them more funds to invest back into supporting and expanding it.

[dboyman]

Rippcity Yes ok about multiplayer. But we should be able to backup our games locally without paying to be forced to backup our saves in Nintendo's cloud. ..

[Rippcity]

@dboyman For sure I totally agree with that. Your comment does not mention that aspect. I was merely replying about multi-player.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

PC games afford it all the time, and many of the devs behind them make far less, and have far fewer revenue streams to rely on, than the big three console makers.

It's been a mistake from the start to ask people to pay just to play with friends.
None of the big three should be doing it.

[Lon3wolf]

If you are paying for XBox live/PS+ then you are paying to play online, they dropped the free online years ago. Seems only the PC offers true free online gaming these days.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Aside from MMO's, but then again that's a whole different thing.
I guess you could technically call your internet bill the same thing, if you play games with lots of online content through your PC? Still not exactly the same since you'd be paying that anyways for playing console games with online, too, but you get what I'm trying to say, right?

[Lon3wolf]

@Wonderfulmonkeyman

"I guess you could technically call your internet bill the same thing" you could but then you could technically say you really are paying twice to play online on consoles if you want to say that. Let me know which way works best for you.

[Pancit_Canton]

New CEO is ****ing up Nintendo.

[Segata]

Um...he doesn't take over until June.

[Mr Marvel]

Not touching Nintendo's online. I pay for PSN and that's it.
If my Switch bricks with no backup save options, then I just won't buy any more Switch games.
They NEED to add USB save backup the way Sony does with PS4.

[superchiller]

How could Nintendo have bungled the design of the Switch so badly to not allow saves to local storage? This company really doesn't understand how to design gaming hardware, very sad.

[littletad]

It's crazy how much misinformation is being spewed out on this issue. If you have one account on xbox, you can use cloud save, for virtually any game that links up to xbox live. So let's say you've never owned an xbox one. But you finally buy one and use your old gamertag you used for your 360. If you played an old title, whether arcade or 360 and you were connected to xbox live, your game save was automatically backed up on the cloud. On the ps4, you can only do this if you're a ps plus member. Plus if you're a member, you can choose and pick which titles are uploaded or saved on the cloud. MS system is automatic.

[michellelynn0976]

If the others didn't do it. Then I could see a problem. But, they do, so it is only bad when Nintendo does it why?

[Segata]

Same thing with PS+