It seems as if Nintendo wants to keep shooting themselves in the foot with their new
Nintendo Switch Online service, as new information regarding the long-awaited Cloud Save Data feature is revealed.
Cloud Save Data is, arguably, the feature that Nintendo Switch users are looking forward to the most. Currently, the system does not allow for players to keep their data on the Nintendo Switch, becoming a problem for a lot of users who have had the misfortune of wrecking, or losing, or having their console stolen—so this service comes almost as a godsend.
It turns out that the Cloud Save Data feature has a big catch as it will backup all of the user's files as long as you are still a Nintendo Switch Online member. Once that membership expires, all of the files will be deleted. Access to the games on the Nintendo Entertainment System feature will also be restricted, but keeping the data saved locally on the console will be able to be used again once the membership is restored.
The problem here is the wording of the answer,
taken from the official FAQ on Nintendo's website, since the question actually asks if the saved data is erased after the membership expires, and the answer ambiguously avoids stating that the files will be erased.
Other Platforms like the PlayStation Plus Online Storage, that saves data either manually or automatically when the membership is active, still keeps the user files in place if the membership expires—making it easy for users to get their data back once they pay again for the service.
This Nintendo Switch Online service will be available on the
18th of September and will roughly cost about $20 USD for a whole year membership. Sadly,
there still seems to be no real reason to pay for the service unless online gameplay is a must, and Nintendo deleting Cloud Save Data after the membership expires sounds like a bad move on their behalf.
Maybe Nintendo can clarify this once they reveal more information and this is all some kind of misunderstanding but, as of now, Nintendo Switch Online has done little to convince users to pay for its service.