Jason Hidalgo

jhidalgo@rgj.com

UPDATE: Hi guys (and gals), Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is now official, which means Monster Hunter XX will finally make it to Western shores. I just recently got a review copy of the game from Capcom and decided to document the save file transfer process for it as well. It's basically the same as the process below for transferring save data from MHX on the 3DS to MHXX on the Switch, except with different language on the menus. I went ahead and made a second guide for the localized version, just in case people wanted to check it out as well. The good news is, it's actually pretty easy. Anyway, the new guide is called: "How to Transfer Save Data from Monster Hunter Generations for the 3DS to Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate on the Switch." Feel free to check it outif you have the localized version of the game.

ORIGINAL STORY

Monster Hunter XX brings new meaning to the word “save” in more ways than one.

Thanks to the ability to transfer over save data from predecessor Monster Hunter X, players who have invested lots of hours on the original “Cross” game can save time and more quickly enjoy the game’s advanced “G-rank” content. Even better, Monster Hunter XX allows you to easily transfer save data between the 3DS and Switch versions of the game.

For folks looking to continue their exploits in “Double Cross” on their 3DS, the process is quite easy. If you're using the same 3DS that you played MHX on, MHXX will actually detect your save data and ask you if you want to import your MHX data to MHXX. Just tap "はい" (that's "yes" in Japanese), which is the left button option when it comes up twice and you're golden.

Capcom also detailed how to transfer saves to the Switch version on its website prior to the game's release. For the original Monster Hunter X, Capcom says you can do a one-way transfer from the 3DS to the Switch. For the sequel, MHXX, you can freely move saves between the 3DS and the Switch. This requires having an Internet connection, a Nintendo ID for your Japanese account on your 3DS that is also linked to your Switch, and downloading the free Monster Hunter Double Cross Data Transfer App [モンスターハンターダブルクロス データ移行アプリ] from the Nintendo eShop on your 3DS. If you're having a tough time typing that, try entering "MHXX" in the search field. The app should end up showing up as "MHXX ダブルクロス データ移行アプリ." This app will allow you to upload your save data temporarily to the cloud for the transfer.

When you launch the app, pick the top option that says "3DS <-> Nintendo Switch" when you get to the option with three red menu items. Click on "はい" and you'll see two menu options in red. Pick the top one again. You will then get a 24-hour password that you will want to write down (it's about 10 characters with two hyphens). On the Monster Hunter XX menu on the Switch, go to "Data Transfer" and pick the top menu option "3DS <-> Nintendo Switch," confirm with "はい," pick the top menu option again and enter your password that you wrote down from the 3DS app. You will return to that menu with the three options in red once again. This time, pick the second option, which will bring up another menu with three options (the top two buttons are in blue and the third bottom-most button is pink). Pick the second option for MHXX data (if you are transferring MHX data, pick the first option instead). If you want to transfer save data from the Switch to your 3DS later on, that's what the third menu option (the bottom-most one) is for.

From what I understand based on my rusty Japanese while reading the site, your game data for the original MHX on 3DS should remain since it's a one-way transfer. When transferring save data for the sequel, MHXX, from the 3DS to the Switch, however, it appears that the save data gets erased from the 3DS version. I believe it also creates a backup just in case something wonks out during the transfer process so you can try again.

When transferring from the Switch to the 3DS, on the other hand, the data on the Switch gets locked to prevent potential errors. It's possible, though, for the lock to get released, according to Capcom. If the game detects that two people are using the same save file, however, Internet play will be disabled (it appears that local play would still be OK, though).

Anyway, that's it for now. In the meantime, feel free to read our MHX and Monster Hunter Generations Key Quest Guide if you haven’t finished the online component and want to make sure you’re all caught up before playing Monster Hunter XX and transferring your data. The guide will be updated with MHXX quests once we’ve verified them.

For now, here are key details from the Japanese MHXX website about save transfers. Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me if you have any other questions or notice any errors.

What gets transferred?

Game progress: According to the official Japanese website, story and quest progress will be included in any save data transfer. That’s good news for folks who have invested tons of time and effort to clear all that stuff.

One thing to note is that Hunter Rank will transfer but only up to a certain point. Folks who have busted through the level cap by clearing the Ostogaroa (also known as Nakarkos in the English localized version) Urgent Quest in online mode, for example, will have their rank reset to HR 8, which will be the max for data transfers. Just think of it as the starting baseline for doing G-Rank quests and leveling up anew.

Folks who have not reached HR 8 and higher will get a certain amount of HR points based on their progress. Players also will receive some sort of medal and title based on their play data for MHX.

Folks who want to change their hunter’s name, appearance or even gender will have one opportunity to do so during the transfer process. If you change gender, gear you’ve acquired will be converted as long as there is a compatible equivalent for the opposing male or female version.

Gear that does not have an equivalent version for the opposing gender will be converted to zenny, which is Monster Hunter’s in-game currency, of course. In such cases, decorations attached to such armor will be placed in storage unless there is no space available. If you happen to not have sufficient space in your in-game storage, decorations attached to incompatible gear when making a gender change will be converted into money as well.

Items and gear: All items and gear, including mats, weapons and armor, will be carried over into the new game. Do note that properties or stats for weapons and armor might be changed to match conditions and balancing for the new game. Armor upgrades will also be carried over as part of the transfer process.

Specialquests: Although quests requiring special permissions will transfer, your Event Quests and Challenge Quests will not. Don’t fret, however, as those Event and Challenge Quests, as well as previous titles and Guild Card backgrounds and poses, will be made available to download once again at some point.

Prowlers andPalicoes: Palicoes made available via special transmission should transfer provided that you have them employed. Otherwise, those who are not employed or have yet to be recruited will not be part of the transfer. Stats for Palicoes or Prowlers also could be adjusted to match new conditions for Monster Hunter XX. If you have little feline friends training in the dojo when you transfer, they will be taken out of the dojo but will retain the progress they have made.

What else is not transferring? Quests, Felynes and Guild Cards still in your mailbox and awaiting download will not be part of the transfer so get those before transferring if you don’t want to lose them.

The condition of requests involving Meownster Hunter, Hunters for Hire, trading and charm melding will not transfer over and any outstanding Meownster Hunter quests will be marked as completed. Not sure exactly what they mean with “conditions” and if it’s just for outstanding ones but I’ll update this when I find out.

For your Guild Card, information on your hunting diary, unity points with friends, registered armor and card list will not carry over. Lastly, your block list, as well as special arrangements you have done for your item combo list order or Palico recruiting requirements, will not transfer as well.

Preparing for save data transfer on 3DS

You will need to have an SD card with available space in your 3DS in order to do the transfer.

If you are using a physical copy of Monster Hunter XX, you will only need 60 blocks or 7.7MB for the MHX transfer data plus 75 blocks or 9.4MB for MHXX’s new save data.

If you are using the downloadable version MHXX, you will also need an additional 19,035 blocks or 2.4GB of free space in whatever SD card you are using for the full game. If moving data from one 3DS to a different 3DS, it looks like you will also need to do a system transfer as part of the process as well, which requires an Internet connection.

Here are some FAQs about saved data transfers from the Japanese Monster Hunter XX site as well:

What if I don’t have enough space on my 3DS SD card? The answer basically boils down to Capcom saying in the politest way possible that you should erase some of the data in your card or get one with free space. This actually made chuckle.

The answer basically boils down to Capcom saying in the politest way possible that you should erase some of the data in your card or get one with free space. This actually made chuckle. Can I just transfer one of my characters? No. The game will automatically transfer data of all the characters in your various save slots if you have more than one.

No. The game will automatically transfer data of all the characters in your various save slots if you have more than one. Will my original Monster Hunter X data be erased? No, it will not be erased.

No, it will not be erased. Can I transfer data from my original Monster Hunter X game more than once? Yes, you can but you will be required to erase your Monster Hunter XX save to do so.

Yes, you can but you will be required to erase your Monster Hunter XX save to do so. Can we transfer from a cartridge copy to a download copy or vice-versa? Yes, we can (with apologies to Barack Obama).

Technobubble covers games, gadgets, technology and all things geek. Follow Technobubble poobah Jason Hidalgo’s shenanigans on Twitter @jasonhidalgo or the Tabiasobi YouTube page