Can I lose my digital Switch games?

Can you lose digital Switch games? All games you buy digitally are stored via your Nintendo Account ID, so you can just redownload them as many times as you want when you delete games to free up space, no problem. You can't lose a digital game since it's right there on your system.

Can you lose downloaded Switch games?

Games that have been archived (not deleted) will still have an icon on the HOME Menu, and can be redownloaded by anyone on the console. Games that have been deleted will not have an icon on the HOME Menu, and can only be redownloaded with the Nintendo Account that was originally used to purchase them.

Can you recover digital games on Switch?

To redownload the game, launch the Nintendo eShop using the Nintendo Account that originally purchased the game, select your user icon in the top-right corner to access the shop settings, and highlight Redownload. Select the game in the list of previously purchased titles, then select the orange icon to redownload.

What happens to my digital games if I lose my Switch?

All your digital purchases are tied to your account and you can log in to that account with a new Switch and re-download all your games. Now your save data… that's a trickier answer. Which game has the best port on Switch?

Can you lose digital games?

A digital-only game based on licensed content is doomed to die right from the outset. At some point, months or years from now, that licensing agreement will expire - at which point the publisher can no longer sell the game.

The problem with digital games and why you need to stop buying them

Do you permanently own digital games?

Don't want to pack hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of games in your checked bags? With a library of games stored on your hard drive, you'll never face that dilemma. In the same way, digital games can never be lost by accident; they remain on a player's account, essentially permanently.

Do digital games stay on Nintendo Account?

Purchases on the Nintendo Switch eShop are tied to the Nintendo Account that made the purchase. You can register one primary console per Nintendo Account. Once you've registered a primary console, your digital purchases can be played by anyone that uses the primary console.

Are digital Switch games tied to console or account?

Digital games are tied to the Nintendo Account that was used to purchase them. All users on a console will be able to play games purchased by any Nintendo Account that has registered the console as their primary console.

How do I transfer my digital Switch games to a new Switch?

Go to the Nintendo eShop and tap on your icon in the upper-right corner. On the subsequent account page, tap Redownload to see a list of games you can download to the new Switch. If your cloud-saved data doesn't appear right away, put the new Switch to sleep. The cloud backup should sync shortly.

How do I recover lost Switch games?

Is it better to buy physical or digital games?

Much of it comes down to personal preference. If you like having shelves lined with your games that you can browse and reminisce, you'll want to go for physical. If you prefer the convenience and speed offered through digital purchases, and don't want game boxes lying around, then you'll want to go digital.

Will I lose my game progress if I get a new Switch?

Your save data will be deleted on the source console. *Save data is stored on the console you're currently using. In order to play games with your latest save data on multiple systems, you'll need to transfer the save data each time you use a different console.

How do I backup my digital Switch games?

Can you transfer digital Switch games to SD card?

*Game save data is only stored in the system memory, so it can't be moved to the microSD card.

Can I use my digital Switch games on multiple consoles?

You can link your Nintendo Account to multiple consoles. You can play digital games you've purchased on any Nintendo Switch console that has been linked to your Nintendo Account. Please note that you can register one primary console per Nintendo Account.

Do I lose my games if I delete my Nintendo account?

Important. Deleting a Nintendo Account will result in loss of all data associated to it, including but not limited to: Mission status, points and rewards in the My Nintendo rewards program. Digital content that you purchased or acquired and that is linked to your Nintendo Account, including in-app content and coins.

Do you have to buy a digital game again if you delete it?

Hi, You'll have to buy the game again for a different platform. There's no way right now in the gaming industry for games to have any kind of inter-platform benefits other than cross-play in some games. Definitely can't get a game by buying for one platform & automatically getting it on another.

Why can't you sell your digital games?

The Law and Economics of Reselling Digital Games

As long as a software provider sells you a license to reproduce their software, you are barred from reselling that license; thus, protecting the underlying copyright of their works.

Do digital games stay on the console?

The games will stay on the system unless you uninstall them. However they can only be played by someone that has “bought” the game. If you want to make the games accessible to other accounts on the console, you could sign into it and make it 'my home xbox'.

Will I lose my Animal Crossing Island if I get a new Switch?

If you have enabled island backup, you will be able to restore the last saved version of your island and all residents on a replacement Nintendo Switch console. You must have already enabled island backup on the original console to use this feature, but you can restore the island save data using only the new console.

Why are physical Switch games more expensive than digital?

In the interest of fairness, it's important to acknowledge that digital games have associated costs that physical games do not. The most obvious one is that digital games need infrastructure to maintain them. The game has to be stored in a data center and served to users all over the world using top-tier bandwidth.

How many digital games can a Switch hold?

The standard Nintendo Switch has 32 GB of storage, allowing you to store and install around 4-8 games, including large games like Zelda. However, if you have the option for a Switch with 64 GB of storage, you can store double the number of games, up to 8-16.

Why are physical games cheaper than digital?

In digital stores, publishers always set the price. In physical sales, the retailer sets the price. Retailers are more likely to lower their cut to move the copies because they paid for them in advance. Selling them cheaper is better than not selling them at all.

Do Switch games save to your account?

Save data is stored in the system memory, and for the most part it is associated with the individual user. So long as the same user is selected on the console, the save data will not be impacted whether the software is played from a game card or downloaded from Nintendo eShop.

Do Switch games save on the device or the card?

On Nintendo Switch, game save data is stored on the console's System Memory. This will not change whether downloadable software or software from a game card is being played. Game save data cannot be saved or copied to a microSD card.