Pokémon Players Devastated as Years of Save Data Disappear After Switch 2 Upgrade
Pokémon fans are having a tough time right now. Many players who upgraded to the new Switch 2 are reporting that their precious save data just won’t transfer over properly. For some, this means years—yes, years—of gameplay and rare Pokémon simply vanished into thin air. If you’ve ever put in hundreds of hours into your collection, you’ll know this is a real heartbreak.
- Pokémon save data isn’t transferring from Switch 1 to Switch 2 for some players
- Some have lost years of progress and hundreds of Pokémon
- Pokémon Home helps, but doesn’t save actual game progress
- Other Nintendo games also affected by transfer issues
Pokémon Progress Lost in the Void
Reddit user ThatOtaku26 shared a story that’s making the rounds in the community. After moving to Switch 2, they discovered that their Pokémon Scarlet and Violet save file had completely disappeared—no trace left on their old OLED Switch or the new console. “I just got a Switch 2, did the startup and initial data transfer with no issues,” they wrote. “My Scarlet save file is gone. It loads straight into the language-selection and create-a-character screens. No data on my OLED. Just all gone. There was no error in data transfer at all. It went fine. All my other Pokémon data is still there, but not Scarlet. I had ‘mons from my original GBA up to current[-gen] on there. Literally 20 years worth of data. There’s nothing I can do. I don’t even know if I wanna play anymore.” (IGN)
Pokémon Home: Helpful, But Not a Full Solution
If you’re wondering if Pokémon Home can save the day—well, sort of. This app lets you store up to 30 Pokémon for free, or a whopping 6,000 with a premium subscription ($15.99/year). The catch? Pokémon Home doesn’t back up your actual game progress, just the Pokémon you move in. So, while you can keep your rare creatures safe, your badges, story progress, and in-game achievements are still at risk if something goes wrong during the transfer. You can read more about Pokémon Home on their official site.
It’s Not Just Pokémon—Other Games Hit Too
Unfortunately, Pokémon isn’t the only casualty. Another Reddit user, Existing-Possible550, commented: “The same thing happened to me but literally all my saved data isn’t there anymore like BOTW, TOTK, MK8, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Scarlet and Violet, and so on. I literally have to play everything from the start like I never played it before just to get back to where I was.” (Reddit)
No Official Response Yet
As of now, Nintendo hasn’t issued an official comment on the issue. For now, it’s a waiting game—and a good reminder to double-check your backup options before moving to a new console. If you’re planning to upgrade, maybe hold off or at least make sure you’ve got your most precious Pokémon safely tucked away in Pokémon Home.
