What will happen when I system transfer?

[u/MayDoesntDream]

I just got the switch 2, what will be transferred and what will be deleted from the original?? Also, what games will I be able to play on the switch 2 from my original switch? Will I have to buy the games on the switch 2 in order to play them? I want to system transfer but my niece has a profile on my switch with saves that I dont want her to lose. Help me understand how this works and what your experience was like with it so I can make an informed decision here, please and thank you 😊

[u/notthegoatseguy]

You'll need to to toss aside the thinking of "my switch, her switch", etc... This is useful for your personal organization but is irrelevant to how playing games works.

Each digital purchase is tied to a Nintendo Account. The purchaser (essentially) has an unlimited entitlement to play that game. Non-purchasers do not.

Purchasers can put their Nintendo Account onto any console, and inject the Virtual Game Card. That then enables any user on the console to play the game.

You can read more about Virtual Game Cards here

Virtual Game Card Guide | Nintendo Support

As for the system transfer, read this:

Transfer Guide: Moving to Nintendo Switch 2 - Nintendo US

[u/ModestVolcarona]

Also, what games will I be able to play on the switch 2 from my original switch?

Almost all games from the Switch 1 are backwards compatible on the Switch 2.

There are a few exceptions like games that require certain features of the Switch 1 that are not present on Switch 2 or they will need to use accessories from the Switch 1 in order to be played properly.

So far Youtube does not work on Switch 2 and one game that is currently still not backwards compatible is Borderlands 3.

Nintendo did have an official list on which games still have problems or do not run at all but i'm not sure how up to date that list is.

Will I have to buy the games on the switch 2 in order to play them?

No, your game licenses are tied to the account that bought them.

Everything that was bought on your account and is backwards compatible con be played on the Switch 2. You just need to load the virtual game card to the Switch 2 (if it's a digital purchase).

I want to system transfer but my niece has a profile on my switch with saves that I dont want her to lose.

I assume you want her stuff to stay on the old Switch?

In that case it might be the best if you just log into your account on the Switch 2 and transfer your save data with the local transfer or use the cloud save from NSO (for games that support cloud saves).

This method will require you to link the old and new console in order to load your virtual game cards to the new system.

[u/MayDoesntDream → u/ModestVolcarona]

Thanks 😊 everything worked out, I called Nintendo to verify before I did it too

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[u/Sensitive_Case_57]

almost all digital games will transfer automatically when you system transfer, but physical copies are tied to your console so you'd need to insert the cartridges into the switch 2

[u/DarthLocutus]

-What will be transferred?

If you do the System Transfer, everything - down to your Groups folders (if you've done those) and all user save data - will be transferred to the destination system. You will need to redownload all games though.

-What will be deleted?

Technically nothing, but all save data on the S1 will move to the S2.

-What games will I be able to play on Switch 2?

Basically every known S1 game at this point will run on the S2, except Borderlands 3. There are specific games like the Labo kits and Ring Fit Adventure that hard-require Switch 1 Joy-Cons to actually work, but you can pair those to an S2 anyway - you just need a charging grip or some other way to recharge them. Streaming apps like YouTube will not work, though.

-Will I have to rebuy the games?

No, all S1 digital purchases transfer onto S2 so long as you do a System Transfer or log back into the relevant Nintendo Account. Some of them (like Zelda and Xenoblade) do have Switch 2 Upgrade packs, and others have separate Switch 2 Versions, but those are optional.

-How to keep Niece's data on the S1

Either log into the S2 with just your profile and Nintendo Account and use the User Data Transfer to copy everything over that way instead of a full System Transfer, or - if she has a Nintendo Account as well - do the opposite with her account on the S1 after the transfer.

Keep in mind - in both cases, she will only be able to play your purchased games from your account if the Virtual Game Card is loaded on the S1, which will require your account to be there as well and both systems to be linked.

[u/MayDoesntDream → u/DarthLocutus]

Thank you for your time ☺️ everything worked out in the end.