Nintendo announced an updated release for its popular ink-based shooter Splatoon 3, now releasing on September 9, 2022. One thing fans noticed that has them talking is the inclusion of Save Data Cloud use in the third entry.
You can find this information at the bottom of Splatoon 3's official eshop page. It reads, "Save Data Cloud compatible with offline play data only," which sparked some debate on the Nintendo Switch subreddit.
The prequel, Splatoon 2, did not feature cloud saves through Nintendo Switch's online subscription. This meant that all data was saved to your console and would be lost if something happened to it. Fans also theorized that excluding cloud data was to prevent players from rerolling on gear for online use.
An important distinction is that Splatoon 3's cloud data would only be compatible with offline content. This poses the question of whether any online content would be saved in the cloud. Splatoon 2's offline content was limited to the campaign, while the bulk of its content was the online game modes.
Unfortunately, there isn't a clear answer to whether or not your online stats and gear will be stored in the cloud. As Splatoon 3's release date draws closer, Nintendo may elaborate on what is included in its cloud saves, but only time will tell.
For more information on Splatoon 3, check out Salmon Run co-op mode revealed in Splatoon 3 Nintendo Direct trailer and Release date for Splatoon 3 Return of the Mammalians on Pro Game Guides.
Justin has been diving into fantasy worlds since he can remember. He is a certified nerd who has a deep love of reading, writing, and hiking. He has been writing since his college days, but specifically in gaming for two years. His favorite games are The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Hollow Knight, Celeste, and Banjo Kazooie.