While the Nintendo Switch seems to be a relatively well-received piece of hardware, especially compared to the Wii U, it has also seen its fair share of criticism. One complaint fans have about the Nintendo Switch is how it handles game saves, which are tied directly to the console itself, and can't be backed up in any way at this point in time. However, Reddit user Patsuann sent his Nintendo Switch in for repairs, only for Nintendo to send back what is apparently a new console, with his game saves somehow intact.

Patsuann was experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues along with the common Joy-Con connection problems with his Nintendo Switch, so he decided to send the console in to Nintendo for repairs. Patsuann claims that Nintendo's customer service department sent him an email stating that it would be easier for the company to send him a new Switch instead of trying to fix his defective console, which is why he was surprised to see that he could still access his save for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild once it arrived.

If Patsuann's story is true, this could mean that Nintendo has a cloud save feature already operational for the Nintendo Switch on its end of things, and it's possible that such a feature could be passed on to consumers at some point down the road. Most modern video game consoles offer some form of cloud saves for players to back up their save data, so it seems like a no-brainer for Nintendo to implement a similar feature for the Switch, and Patsuann's experience could be proof that it's already in the works.

Those worried about having their game saves locked to the console shouldn't get too excited just yet, as there are some things to consider when it comes to Patsuann's story about his Nintendo Switch repair experience. For one, Patsuann didn't write down the serial code for his Nintendo Switch before sending it in for repairs. Since no serial code was recorded, it's possible Nintendo ended up fixing his old Switch instead of shipping a brand new one as customer service claimed. If this is the case, then it's possible Patsuann was able to access his old game saves simply because Nintendo sent him his old console.

Right now, there's not enough information to confirm that Patsuann's saves were downloaded from the cloud, but it's certainly a possibility. Nintendo is still keeping many aspects of the Switch's online functionality a secret at this point, so fans will just have to wait until Nintendo is ready to talk about possible online features like cloud saves, the Virtual Console, and what they will get in return for their paid online subscription service that is launching later this year.

Nintendo Switch is available now.

Source: Reddit