History Main / PlayerDataSharing

->''"Shadow Link data will be exchanged if you encounter other players who also have [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS StreetPass]] activated for this software on their systems. Other players' data will appear as Shadow Link characters somewhere in your game. Talk to a Shadow Link character and you'll be able to challenge him to a battle!"''

* The UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS has a feature known as [=StreetPass=], which lets you exchange player data when your 3DS's wireless features are switched on and comes within range of another [=StreetPass=]-enabled 3DS. (The 3DS doesn't have to be fully on--[=StreetPass=] will continue to run in Sleep Mode.) All [=3DSes=] come with software known as ''VideoGame/StreetPassMiiPlaza'', which lets you exchange player avatars known as Miis with other users and have received Miis partake in a number of games. 3DS games (though not all of them) can also exchange [=StreetPass=] data of their own. Doing so requires having some space on the exchanging users' SD cards for additional save data -- this is what allows players to receive [=StreetPass=] data for their games regardless of whether those games are currently running or even in the player's 3DS to begin with -- and only up to 12 games may be enabled for [=StreetPass=] at any one time.
* The Usefulnotes/PlayStationVita had a similar feature through a pre-installed app called Near (defunct as of 2021) that offered similar functionality, letting players discover other PS Vita players [[TItleDrop near]] them by scanning a [=WiFi=] hotspot to find out who is (or was) connected to it, getting info on games they've played and trophies they've obtained. Depending on the specific game, players could leave behind other things too, like a challenge to beat their high score, in-game gifts to help other people out, or levels they've made in a LevelEditor, among other things.

** ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyIVLegendsOfTheTitan'': Starting from this game, the series allows exchanging cards via the [=StreetPass=] feature of the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, eliminating the need to go into a specific in-game mode to swap cards. Additionally, the player can choose one member of their guild to be shown on their card, showing off their stats, equipment, and skill build, and other players can recruit a copy of that character provided their guilds each have at least one guild member who has reached the featured character's level, though the registered character cannot level up or change equipment. If [=StreetPassing=] cards is not feasible, the player can convert their Guild Card into a QR code and scan other players' QR codes to get their Guild Cards.

-->--'''User Manual''', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds''

Compare PreviousPlayerCharacterCameo, MetaMultiplayer (where players are still able to compete in a single player game) and OldSaveBonus (when a player can import data from one game to another). Can be a SocializationBonus.

** ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyVBeyondTheMyth'' takes cards a step further by having cards' featured characters appear in certain field events, [[HeroOfAnotherStory immersing the player in the idea that their guild isn't the only one exploring the labyrinth]].

** The 3DS games allow exchanging cards via [=StreetPass=], eliminating the need to go into a specific in-game mode to swap cards. Additionally, the player can choose one member of their guild to be shown on their card, showing off their stats, equipment, and skill build, and other players can recruit a copy of that character provided their guilds each have at least one guild member who has reached the featured character's level, though the registered character cannot level up or change equipment. If [=StreetPassing=] cards is not feasible, the player can convert their Guild Card into a QR code and scan other players' QR codes to get their Guild Cards.
** ''Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth'' takes cards a step further by having cards' featured characters appear in certain field events, [[HeroOfAnotherStory immersing the player in the idea that their guild isn't the only one exploring the labyrinth]].

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter 4 Ultimate'' lets you use [=StreetPass=], local wireless rooms, and online rooms to exchange not only Guild Cards (which is also possible in ''3 Ultimate''), but also Guild Quests and Palicoes, saving the trouble of having to farm for the latter two. The catch is that any Guild Quests and Palicoes sent to other players will reset to the levels they were when they were earned or scouted by the original player, so you can't just easily grab Level 140 Guild Quests and Level 30 Palicoes in this manner.

* The ''VideoGame/EtrianOdyssey'' series has Guild Cards. A Guild Card summarizes the player's guild's information, including the current party, a short message to other players, how many enemies they've fought, which [[CosmeticAward emblems]] they've earned, etc. As for how it works from game to game:
** The DS games allow exchanging cards through a special sleep mode.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'' and ''VideoGame/Splatoon2'', the Inkling or Octoling avatars of players you've recently battled with will populate the game's HubLevel. You can interact with them to view some of their stats, including their level, multiplayer rank, equipped gear, and weapon. If you see another player with clothing gear that you like, you can also order it from your FriendInTheBlackMarket Spyke or his apprentice Murch, who will allow you to purchase that same gear item the following day.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'': The glowing symbols that can be seen floating above the environments ''look'' like previous players' souls/symbols [[spoiler:returning to the beginning from the top of the mountain, as happens to your own at the end of the game]], especially since other players can actually accompany you if you play online, but careful observation reveals that those symbols are always the same and are essentially static features of the respective levels.

** ''VideoGame/Disgaea5AllianceOfVengeance'' takes this a step further by involving ''[[UpToEleven whole Netherworlds]]'' invading Item World sessions, while giving the victim the option to call their Netherworld in as backup.

* The Xbox One installment of ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'' has the Shadow Lab, where players train the game's AI to fight like them and create ghost data that can fight and be fought by other real players. It serves as a way to avert the problem of ArtificialStupidity that commonly plagues the genre and also helps newer players ease their way into fighting human-like opponents without having to dive head first into ranked match and lose a lot.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'' has a feature where the [=StreetPass=] loads other players' profiles. These players can be fought as Shadow Links for an amount of money based on their difficulty (players can customise their Link's equipment and make battles with their shadow as easy [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential or hard]] as they like).
* ''Videogame/GodEaterBurst'' features "Avatar Cards" which you can exchange with other players, allowing them to use your PlayerCharacter as a {{NPC}} teammate and vice versa. The character's [[EquipmentBasedProgression equipment]] is dependent on what the character had on his/her person when the card was given. The sequel improves on this by letting you edit the cards' equipment before giving them away.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/{{Journey}}'': The glowing symbols that can be seen floating above the environments ''look'' like previous players' souls/symbols [[spoiler:returning to the beginning from the top of the mountain, as happens to your own at the end of the game]], especially since other players can actually accompany you if you play online, but careful observation reveals that those symbols are always the same and are essentially static features of the respective levels.

* The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series was built on the idea of players being able to trade their {{mons}} between each other. Each iteration of the game even comes in [[OneGameForThePriceOfTwo multiple versions]], with exclusive Pokemon, to encourage trading. Various games in the series also encourage you to share other kinds of data through various means. These range from in-consequential things such as [[KentBrockmanNews news reports on how many ledges a trainer jumped over]] to opening up new areas such as the Eon Ticket (an item that's distributed by the Streetpass feature in ''Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire'') that lets you access the Southern Island to catch Latios or Latias.

* The ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' series was built on the idea of players being able to trade their {{mons}} between each other. Each iteration of the game even comes in multiple versions, with exclusive Pokemon, to encourage trading.

* The UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS has a feature known as [=StreetPass=], which lets you exchange player data when your 3DS's wireless features are switched on and comes within range of another [=StreetPass=]-enabled 3DS. (The 3DS doesn't have to be fully on--[=StreetPass=] will continue to run in Sleep Mode.) All [=3DSes=] come with software known as ''VideoGame/StreetPassMiiPlaza'', which lets you exchange player avatars known as Miis with other users and have received Miis partake in a number of games. 3DS games (though not all of them) can also exchange [=StreetPass=] data of their own. Doing so requires having some space on the exchanging users' SD cards for additional save data -- this is what allows players to receive [=StreetPass=] data for their games regardless of whether those games are currently running -- and only up to 12 games may be enabled for [=StreetPass=] at any one time.