Pokémon Fan Loses 20 Years' Progress in Switch Transfer

Nintendo Switch 2 owners reporting lost Pokémon save files are urgently advising fellow trainers to utilize the Pokémon Home cloud storage service before performing a system transfer to their new console.

A Devastating Data Loss Experience

A Reddit user's post highlights how their 1,000+ hour Pokémon Scarlet save file vanished after transferring data from their original Switch to the Switch 2. This included Pokémon collected over two decades from titles dating back to GBA's Leaf Green and DS's Diamond. Multiple users have confirmed similar incidents, including an IGN staff member.

The Fragility of Pokémon Saves

Unlike most Switch games, Pokémon titles don't support Nintendo's cloud save backups through Switch Online. The franchise relies on its separate Pokémon Home service (with paid storage beyond 30 creatures) as the only official preservation method. Affected games include:

• Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee
• Sword/Shield
• Legends: Arceus
• Scarlet/Violet

The original poster, ThatOtaku26, described their traumatic experience: "My Scarlet save loads straight into character creation - all my other Pokémon data transferred fine...20 years worth of Pokémon gone. I don't even know if I want to play anymore."

Community Responses

Several users shared similar heartbreaking stories:

• "Tears were shed when this happened transferring to my OLED Switch" - Grouchy-Cress-215
• "Lost all my saves including BOTW, TOTK, and multiple Pokémon games" - Existing-Possible550

Many emphasized preventative measures:

• "Everything's going in Home before my transfer" - Mexican_Chef4307
• "I'll definitely use Home first if I get Switch 2" - TheJannikku

Some took a harsher stance:

• "Not backing up to Home was irresponsible given we've known the risks" - IAmTheWire

Visual Evidence from the Community

View 20 Images

Switch 2 Launch Context

The new console sold 3.5 million units in its first four days - twice the launch sales of the original Switch, though supply constraints affected the 2017 launch numbers.