Some Switch games are forgoing cloud saves because it’ll apparently prevent cheating

Last week, sources let slip that Nintendo’s impending cloud support was set to be an optional feature that developers can choose to indulge or forgo. While it might be difficult to see why any developer would want to opt out of cloud saves, Nintendo has revealed that the choice is there to prevent cheating.

While the “vast majority of Nintendo Switch games will support Save Data Cloud backup,” Nintendo revealed that the feature would hinder some games with online components. “In certain games this feature would make it possible to, for example, regain items that had been traded to other players, or revert to a higher online multiplayer ranking that had been lost. To ensure fair play, Save Data Cloud backup may not be enabled for such games.”

Splatoon 2 was one of the first games to update its webpage, revealing that the title would not support cloud save backups when they arrive, with Nintendo particularly concerned that the feature could disrupt online multiplayer rankings. It isn’t the only game to forgo the practice, with Game Freak’s Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!, EA’s FIFA 19 and FromSoftware’s Dark Souls: Remastered all following suit.

Interestingly, Dark Souls: Remastered and FIFA 19 both have cloud saves supported on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, further showcasing Nintendo falling behind its competition. This is not the least bit surprising, given Nintendo’s online components are dated when compared with the other eight-generation consoles.

For Switch users, this news might be a little disconcerting, as there is no other legitimate way to backup player data. This means that once the console itself goes kaput, so does all of the progress that player has made. Here’s hoping as many outside developers as possible tick to opt-in.

KitGuru Says: Given that the Switch is portable, it’s significantly more prone to breaking than Nintendo’s competitors, so I cannot understand for the life of me why the firm would opt to shut such a valuable feature off from certain games. I love my Switch, but if I suffer because of these decisions then I won’t be starting from scratch. How do you feel about Nintendo locking some cloud features down in fear of cheaters?

Become a Patron!