This could have been avoided if I had received a simple warning during the data transfer of the Nintendo Switch OLED.

I, as well as thousands of other gamers who were able to pre-order the Nintendo Switch OLED, have transferred data from the original system. To Nintendo's credit, the save data migration process is simple and straightforward. All the user has to do is turn on both systems and initiate the system transfer in the settings. It was so easy, I thought that would be the end of it. But that was a big mistake.

When I traded in my original Switch to GameStop to do the data transfer and get a $260 store credit, all data was deleted and the system was returned to factory settings.

I have also subscribed to Nintendo Online in the past, which allowed users to back up their saved data in the cloud. I also remember backing up my Animal Crossing islands online: I remember backing up my New Horizons islands online as well. Indeed, I had taken the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the hundreds of hours of Animal Crossing that I had been playing since March 2020.

When I loaded "Animal Crossing" on my Switch OLED, something was wrong. Instead of loading into the game's title screen, the game started as if it were a new file. I felt a sense of dread looming over me and my body sinking.

Googling revealed that regardless of the data transfer between systems, Nintendo had prepared a separate data transfer tool for Animal Crossing. This tool allowed users to transfer their islands completely.

None of this made sense. Why was this data not transferred during the initial system-to-system transfer? Given that Animal Crossing has sold 31 million copies: New Horizons has sold 31 million copies so far, why didn't Nintendo add a small notice telling users that another program was needed for Animal Crossing? Or did Nintendo actually issue this warning and I completely missed it? I carefully read the instructions and could find no separate notice for transferring Animal Crossing.

I ended up calling Nintendo customer support to see if anything could be done. The rep was very professional and helpful, but when he looked at my online data, he couldn't find any cloud backups or island backups. This didn't make sense to me either. It is true that I have backed up the island. I remembered doing so many months ago. Does Nintendo delete island backups when the Nintendo Online subscription expires? Mine expired for a while, but I re-signed up when I bought my Switch OLED.

According to Nintendo's support website, the company retains data for 180 days before deleting it. I had stopped playing the Switch online for a while as I began focusing on my PS5 and Xbox Series X coverage. As a result, it appears that I had withdrawn from Nintendo Online for more than the allotted time period.

Anyway, this whole situation is confusing and discouraging. Hundreds of hours of data were lost due to the lack of transparency upfront during the initial data transfer. I feel cheated because of it. I tend to blame myself for these mishaps, but I think part of the blame lies with Nintendo, which should make more of an effort to respect its customers' time.

This article should be heard as half complaint, half warning. First, to Nintendo, as a technical journalist working in this field, I am not alone in overlooking or being unaware of this obscure procedure. There needs to be more transparency in the system migration process to ensure that "Animal Crossing" save data can be transferred. Frankly, from a consumer standpoint, there is no need to download another app in order to take over a particular game. It should be built into the takeover system itself. Even if it is difficult to implement, humans have accomplished far more with less effort. Nintendo engineers, get to it.

Next, to those who have purchased the Switch OLED, learn from my mistakes. Always assume that Nintendo's system software will never be on par with Sony or Microsoft. Nintendo's online system will never be as robust or consumer friendly as its competitors. Take the time to double-check that everything is transferring correctly to the Switch OLED. Otherwise, hundreds of hours of Animal Crossing data will be lost and you will feel that you have wasted your precious and limited time on this planet."