Anyone knows if it is possible to make console saves migratable to the next generation console?

[PerfectionWhaleFarm]

This may be way too early to start this conversation (or maybe I'm just behind on things and needed a catch up!) but with more news about Switch 2, I thought about the potential that when Switch is phased out and its online platform is sunset (not sure if they will even do that as they may share online with its successor consoles [e.g., Switch 2] moving forward as well), that it may not be possible to update the game or move the current saves to the next console in line anymore?

Was support for this added and if so what are the steps to do so? If not, then it's totally fine but thought I should educate myself on the steps for the future ~

 

[MogBeoulve]

Do we know yet if the next Switch-type console will be backwards-compatible to the current Switch games? That's probably the most important detail, and one that rests on the ones who make the console, not the ones who make games for it. If not, you're basically asking Concerned Ape et al. to write a program for an operating system that they don't have access to (or, depending on the stage of development, may not even exist yet).

 

[PerfectionWhaleFarm]

Will the solution necessarily need to go to the OS level? My question I guess is more broad and could apply to any of the consoles (not necessarily a Switch/Switch 2 situation), but I'm sensing that maybe nothing has been set in stone yet, which is fine.

I was wondering if simply the saves can be backed up in a non-platform dependent way, so any migratory efforts do not involve code changes, but I don't really know the specifics or restrictions of that either, which there may be many.

 

[MogBeoulve]

I don't know if what you're asking for is physically possible.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Do we know yet if the next Switch-type console will be backwards-compatible to the current Switch games? That's probably the most important detail, and one that rests on the ones who make the console, not the ones who make games for it. If not, you're basically asking Concerned Ape et al. to write a program for an operating system that they don't have access to (or, depending on the stage of development, may not even exist yet).

Yes it is! The Switch 2 (or whatever it'll be called) is going to be fully backward-compatible with Switch games so the biggest thing will be getting your save over to your new Switch. It's gonna be pretty nice not to need to buy the same game again.

Will the solution necessarily need to go to the OS level? My question I guess is more broad and could apply to any of the consoles (not necessarily a Switch/Switch 2 situation), but I'm sensing that maybe nothing has been set in stone yet, which is fine.

I was wondering if simply the saves can be backed up in a non-platform dependent way, so any migratory efforts do not involve code changes, but I don't really know the specifics or restrictions of that either, which there may be many.

Saves are apparently platform-independent (the structure of the data in the save is consistent) but Consoles specifically don't let you access that data because of their inherent closed designs. Outside of consoles, you can manually move your save around and reuse it elsewhere as long as you're using the same or a newer version of Stardew but it's a manual process, nothing automated. Too many moving parts and network connections and where is the central repository of your data gonna live? How will you ID yourself to check out your save from that repo to load it on Linux or iOS or a Steam Deck?

More to the point, who's gonna pay for that service?

 

[FilthyGorilla]

Yes it is! The Switch 2 (or whatever it'll be called) is going to be fully backward-compatible with Switch games so the biggest thing will be getting your save over to your new Switch. It's gonna be pretty nice not to need to buy the same game again.



Saves are apparently platform-independent (the structure of the data in the save is consistent) but Consoles specifically don't let you access that data because of their inherent closed designs. Outside of consoles, you can manually move your save around and reuse it elsewhere as long as you're using the same or a newer version of Stardew but it's a manual process, nothing automated. Too many moving parts and network connections and where is the central repository of your data gonna live? How will you ID yourself to check out your save from that repo to load it on Linux or iOS or a Steam Deck?

More to the point, who's gonna pay for that service?

Would be wonderful if they set up some sort of large scale server to let people transfer over on their terms. Knowing nintendo it's unlikely sadly

 

[PerfectionWhaleFarm]

Thanks, yeah that's the detail I was looking for! Appreciate the explanations

It makes sense for save files to be console-agnostic as it is just data, it would probably be more technically difficult were the format and structure of the file change based on platform, which is why I wonder if a save transfer may be possible.

I had thought about the concern of closed system context too, but still had previously thought it could be possible (either from SDV or Nintendo side [though I can't see why Nintendo would help out in that perspective...]), as I had remembered BTD5 have some cloud save feature which is account based, and I know BTD5 was on the Switch. Now it struck me that just because BTD5 has cloud save and is on the Switch, doesn't mean it has cloud save on the Switch, and most likely it doesn't.

If some sort of transfer service could be engineered by CA et. co on the consoles, I would gladly pay my part for one haha, I am already on an annual subscription of $40 for Pokemon related transfer services... but this is more a question on just the feasibility of this on consoles, rather than the implementation or centralization of such a design - I appreciate the conversations! It sounds like console save transfers is not possible due to closed systems.

 

[PerfectionWhaleFarm]

Although another thought just came up...

I did a quick look at the "Data Management" section of the Switch, and saw that save data can be moved from one console to another via accounts even though they are stored in System Memory, but I'll look into the topic a bit more tomorrow just for curiosity sake. Then, there may be some in-house mechanism by Nintendo to move saves across Nintendo systems (with some presumptions that that includes cross-generation systems as well from Switch onward).

Though if that were to be successful, that guarantees nothing about the portability of saves for other console types.