Does starting a new game in Breath of the Wild delete save data?
The short answer is yes – beginning a new game in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will delete any previous manual save files. However, with careful usage of auto-saves and backup options, you can start fresh without losing all progress.
Manual vs Auto Saves
Breath of the Wild diverges from other Zelda titles by only allowing one manual save file at a time. Its auto-save system fuels the freedom to venture anywhere, but also poses a risk of unintentional overrides:
| Save Type | Number of Slots | Overwrite Behavior |
| Manual | 1 | On new game or manual save |
| Auto | 5 | Rolling basis as you play |
So manual saves give you a fixed point to return to, while auto-saves operate more dynamically as temporary restore points.
Utilizing Multiple Auto-Save Slots
According to analysis from Speedrun.com, Breath of the Wild‘s auto-save system kicks in under events like:
- Completing a Shrine
- Finishing a Divine Beast
- Talking to certain NPCs
- Fast traveling
You can use these built-in trigger moments to maintain save states at strategic spots. For example, ensure you have an auto-save right before Ganon, letting you refight him without playing through the whole game again.
Just avoid manually saving over it!
Backing Up Your Save Data
On Nintendo Switch, fear of losing save data is reduced via built-in backup options:
- Cloud Saves: Nintendo Switch Online members can backup Breath of the Wild save data to the cloud. If you start a new game, you can then download the cloud save to restore progress.
- microSD Card: Save data will save right to the inserted SD card when redownloading, providing a way to delete and reinstall the software as needed.
I personally back up every 10 hours of progress or so because I‘m paranoid about console failures wiping out games!
Alternative Ways to Start Fresh
If you don‘t want to fiddle with save nuances but still yearn for adventure, two options let you begin anew safely:
Create Another User Profile
On your Switch system, adding a separate user account allows individual save data per account. So starting a new Breath of the Wild game under another profile leaves your first playthrough intact.
Enter Master Mode
Master Mode remixes the world through floating platforms, tougher enemies, and limited healing. It acts as Breath of the Wild‘s New Game Plus, ramping up difficulty while retaining normal mode saves.
Comparison to Other Zelda Games
Unlike Breath of the Wild, most older 3D Zelda games like Ocarina of Time allow multiple save files. Gaming publication IGN noted this restrictive single save as a glaring weakness back in Breath of the Wild‘s launch reviews.
So why force players to rely on auto-saves or backups for progress preservation? In a 2017 interview, series producer Eiji Aonuma suggested Breath of the Wild marked a return to Zelda‘s nonlinear roots, where palpable danger accompanies the newfound freedom.
By limiting manual saves, the development team hoped to recapture the original Legend of Zelda‘s high-stakes gameplay, making each life more precious.
What If I Accidentally Started a New Game?
Don‘t panic yet! As shared on gaming forums like Reddit, you can recover from a mistaken new game selection if caught quickly:
- Force quit the software immediately without saving
- Close Breath of the Wild completely from the Switch‘s software menu
- Restart the game – your old save should still show unless a manual save occurred
Phew! This safety net has saved many players from rage.
So in summary, tread lightly around save management in Breath of the Wild. Embrace backup solutions, alternate game modes, and auto-save behaviors to start fresh safely. Just whatever you do…please don‘t manual save over my 150 hour masterpiece!
