Nintendo Confirms System Transfer Details for Nintendo Switch 2: How Save Data and Animal Crossing Islands Will Move

Nintendo has officially detailed the system transfer process from the current Nintendo Switch to the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, offering much-awaited clarity for long-time fans and game collectors.

With the company’s next hardware iteration on the horizon, questions regarding save data and digital library migration have been top-of-mind among gamers — particularly for titles with unique data, like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In a recent interview with Polygon, Takuhiro Dohta, Senior Director in Nintendo’s Programming Management Group, provided an authoritative breakdown of the transfer procedure.

"When you conduct a system transfer, most save data will remain on your original Nintendo Switch, even after it is copied over to Nintendo Switch 2," said Dohta.

This updated approach marks a clear departure from prior hardware migrations, such as Switch-to-Switch, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U transfer processes, in which save data would be erased from the source console upon completion of the move. However, there is a notable exception for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nintendo’s immensely successful life-simulation title, which has sold over 44 million copies globally since its launch in March 2020.

For this title, the system transfer will operate as a one-way migration.

According to Dohta, "the Animal Crossing island is transferred as a single move — the data leaves your original Nintendo Switch and is relocated to Nintendo Switch 2." This ensures players maintain a seamless experience with their island on the new hardware, but it also means a copy of the island will not remain on the original Switch after the transfer occurs. Historically, transferring Animal Crossing: New Horizons save data on the Nintendo Switch has required workarounds, including uploading save information to the cloud or using the dedicated Island Transfer Tool.

However, cloud-based transfers sometimes involved additional steps, such as contacting Nintendo Support, making the process less than straightforward for users wanting to recover lost or replaced consoles. With the forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2, transferring Animal Crossing: New Horizons data will be much simpler.

The new system transfer function will allow direct migration of your island data, offering peace of mind to players who want to continue their island life uninterrupted on the upgraded platform.

This streamlined feature reflects Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to improving user experience as their hardware evolves. Nintendo has not yet announced the specific release date for Nintendo Switch 2, nor provided exhaustive details about backward compatibility or the broader transfer ecosystem.

Nonetheless, the company’s latest update about the system transfer process — especially for such a high-profile title — is a reassuring signal to its dedicated player base. As new details emerge, Nintendo fans can look forward to a smoother and more user-friendly transition to the next generation of hardware, while preserving their cherished games and save data.

For updates on Nintendo Switch 2, eShop news, and major titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, stay tuned to official Nintendo channels and upcoming Nintendo Direct presentations.

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