Nintendo Switch Online service will include cloud saves

Nintendo will bring cloud saves — the option to upload game save data to the internet — to the Nintendo Switch later this year when the company’s paid online service launches.

According to the official Nintendo Switch Online website, save data cloud backups will let Switch owners save their data for easy access. But as is typical of Nintendo, details on how cloud saves will work on Switch is still unclear. “Details about this feature will be available before the paid service launches in September,” Nintendo says on its website.

It looks like a subscription to Nintendo Switch Online will be required if you want some cloud-based backup. Nintendo’s online service will cost $19.99 annually, and the company has a handful of subscription options:

• Monthly - $3.99
• 3 Months - $7.99
• 12 Months - $19.99

Nintendo is also offering a Family Plan for $34.99 per year. With that plan, Nintendo says, “you can share the Nintendo Switch Online features across all the Nintendo Accounts in a family group by purchasing a family membership.” The option to create a family group of Nintendo Accounts will launch next week, according to Nintendo’s FAQ:

Starting May 15, 2018, it will be possible to create a Nintendo Account Family Group via your Nintendo Account settings. Up to eight Nintendo Accounts (including child accounts) can be linked as a family group.