Gaming Why we can't backup saves for Nintendo Switch

[linuxares]

Reggie got interviewed where he basically say that they're afraid of save games leading to piracy, also something about a filesystem isn't developed yet for the Switch?

Is it a question of how functionally it’s going to work? Whether it’s going to be cloud saves or whether or it’s going to be an SD card?

It’s everything from not only how is it going to work but it’s also how we do this in a way that doesn’t lend itself to piracy or systems or our core software infrastructure that can be modded or hacked. Those are all of the things that we need to think about from a business standpoint.

http://mashable.com/2017/06/15/nintendo-switch-saves-reggie/#DUjAknfP0aq5

 

[CallmeBerto]

Nintendo is beyond incompetent. I mean we had this shit in the f* N64 days. Just copy what Sony and MS are doing.

 

[Deleted User]

Backing up save files to an online cloud isn't cheap. I'd only expect this feature to be implemented in the $20 a year online service. Maybe with an added fee, maybe not.

 

[RandomUser]

Backing up save files to an online cloud isn't cheap. I'd only expect this feature to be implemented in the $20 a year online service. Maybe with an added fee, maybe not.

And yet, Apple offers it for free, at least for the first 5GB, your point is? Aside from that, an SD card or even a flash drive could be used as a save backup device, however Nintendo do not want even that.

 

[Myria]

Nintendo is beyond incompetent. I mean we had this shit in the f* N64 days. Just copy what Sony and MS are doing.

That's what the 3DS did: saved games are stored encrypted and signed with a per-system secret. That's exactly how it works for Xbone (local copy) and PS4. The problem with the design is that when the rest of the system gets hacked, saved games become an entry point.

This is entirely about reducing the attack surface. It's only somewhat effective; your customers probably will get mad a lot more than the hackers would.

 

[Futurdreamz]

And yet, Apple offers it for free, at least for the first 5GB, your point is? Aside from that, an SD card or even a flash drive could be used as a save backup device, however Nintendo do not want even that.

Apple's devices sell for thousands of dollars even if they only costs hundreds to make, plus Apple sell far more devices.

 

[RandomUser]

Apple's devices sell for thousands of dollars even if they only costs hundreds to make, plus Apple sell far more devices.

True, and the iCloud carries across all the iDevices you own, and while Nintendo will most likely restrict the cloud on just one device, so there's that.

 

[CallmeBerto]

That's what the 3DS did: saved games are stored encrypted and signed with a per-system secret. That's exactly how it works for Xbone (local copy) and PS4. The problem with the design is that when the rest of the system gets hacked, saved games become an entry point.

This is entirely about reducing the attack surface. It's only somewhat effective; your customers probably will get mad a lot more than the hackers would.

Shouldn't be per-system should be based on account ID...which is what Sony and MS do. What is the point in backing up a save if you lose your 3DS your screwed? Set it up so we can backup to any console so long as the Profile ID's match or give us a cloud system.

 

[Futurdreamz]

Nevertheless, it's clear that Nintendo is trying their damnedest to make the Switch unhackable. If the 3DS hackers weren't so voracious to the point that they literally download the games directly off of Nintendo's servers for free (iirc how FreeShop works) Then Nintendo may not have been so strict. Sure it kind of sucks that the Switch doesn't let you transfer game saves, but not even the Wii U did - and the Wii blocked the copying to the SD card any saves of games that had online play.

I'm sure that we may slowly get more features back once Nintendo is sure they can push them out. We don't even have a system transfer tool yet.

 

[Myria]

Nevertheless, it's clear that Nintendo is trying their damnedest to make the Switch unhackable. If the 3DS hackers weren't so voracious to the point that they literally download the games directly off of Nintendo's servers for free (iirc how FreeShop works) Then Nintendo may not have been so strict. Sure it kind of sucks that the Switch doesn't let you transfer game saves, but not even the Wii U did - and the Wii blocked the copying to the SD card any saves of games that had online play.

I'm sure that we may slowly get more features back once Nintendo is sure they can push them out. We don't even have a system transfer tool yet.

This just means that hackers will be able to back up their save files long before normal customers are able to.

 

[Jayro]

You can save to the SD card, and then make backup images of it periodically. Not the best way, but it should work in theory.

 

[JacksonS]

You can save to the SD card, and then make backup images of it periodically. Not the best way, but it should work in theory.

Yeah, if there were any option to backup saves to an SD card.

 

[Captain_N]

encrypting the entire sd card and its filesystem prevents save tampering. the wii u hard drive format is not hacked.....

 

[CallmeBerto]

Yeah, if there were any option to backup saves to an SD card.

Wouldn't matter anyways. Knowing Nintendo thw files would be tied to that system only and formatting the switch would case the saves to be unreadable like the f* 3DS.

 

[tech3475]

They need to introduce a cloud based backup at a minimum, especially if they are charging for online services.

Not having any kind of backup system in place is just asking for trouble, especially on a tablet device.