Fans of The Legend of Zelda series got some surprising news ahead of the Switch 2 release. According to Eurogamer, the store pages for the Switch 2 editions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom now include a warning that the Save Data Cloud backup feature is not supported.
This feature is part of the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership and is widely expected for most modern games. But in this case, players upgrading to the Switch 2 will find themselves without the option to create a cloud backup for these two major titles.
⚠️ Only in the West?
What’s even stranger is that this disclaimer only appears on the US and EU store pages, while the Japanese store still lists cloud save support as “optional.” This discrepancy has led to confusion among players, and so far, there’s been no official clarification from Nintendo.
The issue doesn’t seem to be affecting all Switch 2 titles. Games like Metroid Prime 4 and Kirby and the Forgotten Land have no such disclaimer, suggesting this may be a Zelda-specific restriction—perhaps related to the games’ save systems or Nintendo’s ongoing concerns about potential exploits.
🔄 You Can Import Saves… But No New Backups
If you’re a current Switch player, you can still import your existing save data into the Switch 2 version of the game. However, you won’t be able to create new cloud saves, meaning:
-
No automated backups
-
No recovery if your Switch 2 console is lost or damaged
-
All save management must be done manually and locally
🎮 Why Block Cloud Saves?
Nintendo has historically restricted cloud saves on titles where they’re concerned about data manipulation or cheating. For example, Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Splatoon 2 had similar limitations. With Zelda’s open-world structure and inventory systems, Nintendo may be playing it safe.
While it’s still possible that this policy could change before or after launch, players investing time into Zelda on the Switch 2 should be prepared to manage their data carefully. Without cloud saves, the risks of data loss are higher, and it’s a frustrating omission in 2025.