New 3DS XL save transfer system draws criticism

Nintendo has outlined the steps needed to transfer save data from an old 3DS to a new 3DS XL – and the press has not been especially forgiving about the process.

New 3DS XL system transfer is as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16” a Videogamer headline exclaimed, while Eurogamer‘s story is titled Nintendo details its outlandish process of transferring data to the New 3DS”.

The author of Polygon’s piece was equally as scathing, describing the process as ridiculous”.

The process isn’t vastly different to the hoops owners who have transferred data in the past will have jumped through, although there are added complications – such as the need for a screwdriver, which is not supplied with the hardware. A PC is also needed, unless users opt for the time-consuming wireless option.

Perhaps the biggest frustration is that buyers will need access to their old machine to process the transfer, leaving those who want to trade in their old hardware in a difficult position. It’s much the same with Wii U, where a successful data transfer requires access to both new and old working machines – which is bad news for those whose old console is broken or lost.

Upgrading to a new PS4 or Vita, for comparison, asks only that users log into their PSN account on the new machine and download the data. PSN+ subscribers can transfer save data via the internet while others can do so using a USB stick.

The process is outlined in the video below: