Nintendo’s big pre-Switch 2 update for the original Switch has arrived, bringing along shareable Virtual Game Cards, the ability to use GameShare with select games later on, and color swaps for some app icons. There are many other tweaks buried in the release notes, including one that could be a boon to those who are hoping to sell or otherwise offload their original Switch before the Switch 2 arrives on June 5.
If you anticipate buying a Switch 2, there now exists an option to upload your Switch’s system transfer data to a dedicated server, after which the console will be completely reset. That data can only be downloaded from a Switch 2 that has your Nintendo Account on it, so don’t proceed with this option unless you’ve scored a Switch 2 pre-order already, or if you’re confident in your ability to get one before your data is erased from Nintendo’s server. Speaking of, Nintendo’s FAQ for this feature says that your original Switch data will be stored for up to a year from when you upload the data.
To access this option, open the System Settings app, then scroll down to the System option. Select “System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2.” You’ll find an option that says “I don’t have a Nintendo Switch 2 yet.” Select that, then take note of the “Download Deadline.”
As for what will be backed up, all games, DLC, users, save data, screenshots and video clips, and system settings will be packaged for upload. News data and Bluetooth settings, as well as time, language, region, and time zone will not be uploaded (though at least they are easy settings to reconfigure).
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