Hello! With the release of ACNH I've been seriously considering purchasing a second console for my partner and I given the data restraints of 1 island per console. Originally I figured a Switch Lite would be my best option, but realized recently I don't think I full understand how shared data works across multiple consoles. I'm hoping y'all have some insight on the following.
We have separate Nintendo Accounts and a Nintendo Switch Online family account. It's my understanding that with a second Switch, one can access downloaded titles on the secondary console and play them as long as the application is only being used on one console at a time. BUT, is save data carried over at all? For example, we have both Pokemon Sword & Shield digital copies - if we purchased a new Switch and started up one of those games would we then have to start the game over again? Do different games have different methods of storing save data (ie on the console vs to a Nintendo account)?
I too have been looking into this, and it's quite complicated. I can confirm that neither Pokemon nor AC:NH allow for cloud saves. That means that if you're playing on your Switch, and then move to the Lite, your save won't go with you. It's a completely manual process to get your save from one system to another.
Your first question is tricky, also. With two systems, you'll have to set one as primary, and the second as secondary, in order to share games. Your secondary will have to be connected to the Internet to access your digital library (obviously not the case for cartridges). You can technically play both games at the same time, as long as your primary has the Wi-Fi turned off, but you won't be able to play with each other on two different systems (unless you have two copies of the game).
I bought a second Switch so I can answer some things about it. If you are the owner of a digital title, you can play it on both Switch devices (just not at once), but the Switch you are using as a secondary will require a Wifi check before playing. I believe it gives you a certain amount of play time before requiring another check. You can avoid this by buying physical copies of games. You can move those between Switch devices with no issue, but it will still do a Wifi check but only for DLC and not the game itself. Sword and Shield are not supported for cloud saves sadly. Only games with supported cloud saves will let you carry saves between consoles, but even then each time you have to download it again manually. Tajikey did a good job explaining it, but I wanted to expand on it a bit more. Most of the time you'll find yourself having to buy double copies of games to play with the other person.
Thank you both very much! After a few days on consideration I feel much better about getting a Lite for my partner since he mostly plays upstairs and I prefer the large screen. I don't think we'll be needing to play the same title simultaneously fortunately!
