ManyPokemonfans are reportedly losing their save files during the system data transfer from the Switch to the Switch 2, with one player claiming to have lost over 1,000 hours and 20 years of progress. After the data transfer, the player saw theirPokemon Scarletsaves completely gone and resorted to the community for help—only to discover other fans had reported the same issue with other franchises as well.
Pokemonis one of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, with thousands of active players and many entries over the years. SomePokemonfans have been making progress and collecting creatures across many games throughout the years. For this reason, fans can accessPokemonHOME, a cloud-based storage and trading service available on Nintendo Switch and mobile, where players can deposit their precious creatures from various games. However, not all players utilize this service, as many rely on the console’s save files—which fans are now discovering may not be safe enough.
Following thehighly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 release, a Reddit user known as ThatOtaku26 got the new console and followed the procedure to bring all their data from the original Switch to the new system. The player reports having no issues during the transfer, though upon completion, they realized theirPokemon Scarletsave file was gone. They also checked if the save files were still on the original Switch, only to discover they were gone too. Just like that, the player lost 20+ years of progress and more than 1,000 hours invested in thePokemonfranchise—admitting they don’t even know if they want to keep playing anymore.
Pokemon Scarlet Player Lost Over 20 Years of Progress During Switch 2 System Transfer
The player explained that thesePokemonwere the ones they “cared for the most and used the most,” and some of them had been brought over all the wayfromPokemonLeafGreenandDiamond. Many fans chimed in and shared similar experiences while transferring their data to the Switch 2. One player reported having the same issue withPokemon Violet, though they managed to recover their save files, while another shared ThatOtaku26’s fate and lost everything.
Interestingly enough, some users reported having the same issue with other games likeBreath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdom, andMario Kart 8, and couldn’t recover any data from those games. In an attempt to help, some users recommended reaching out to Nintendo, as the company may be able to recover the lost data. For future Switch 2 buyers, fans in the community also advise saving their most important creatures to thePokemonHOME service before making any transfers.
