Short answer: update the full game to Ver.1.0.3, keep your demo save data installed, launch the full game on the same platform family, and choose Carry over when the prompt appears. If you choose Do not carry over, Bandai Namco says that prompt will not appear again unless you delete all save data. Demo saves also cannot be used for Death Game Mode.
Do not mash through the first launch. The carry-over prompt is the whole point. Read it, choose carefully, and confirm your imported data before deleting the demo or old cloud saves.
The safe transfer checklist
- Update the full game to Day 1 patch Ver.1.0.3 or later.
- Keep the demo save installed on the same platform family.
- Launch the full game and wait for the save-transfer prompt.
- Select Carry over if you want to import demo progress.
- Load the imported file and confirm your character/progress are present.
- Only then clean up demo data if you need the storage space.
That is the boring route, which is exactly why it is the correct one. Save transfer is not the place to improvise.
The one-time prompt problem
The most important official detail is not that save transfer exists. It is that declining it has teeth. Bandai Namco's guidance says that if you choose Do not carry over, the prompt will not appear again unless you delete all full-game save data.
That means the wrong click can turn a simple import into a full save reset. If you are unsure whether the demo save is detected correctly, stop and check platform storage/cloud sync before answering the prompt. Do not choose "no" just to get to the title screen faster.
Platform rules
Use the same platform family where you played the demo. A Steam demo save should be treated as a Steam-to-Steam path. A PlayStation demo save should be treated as a PlayStation-to-PlayStation path. Xbox should stay inside Xbox. Unless Bandai Namco explicitly says otherwise for your case, do not assume cross-platform carry-over.
| Demo save | Full game target | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | Steam | Supported path, update first. |
| PS5 | PS5 | Supported path, keep local/cloud save intact. |
| Xbox Series X|S | Xbox Series X|S | Supported path, keep the same account ecosystem. |
| Steam | PS5 / Xbox | Do not assume support. |
| Console | Steam | Do not assume support. |
Death Game Mode is separate
Demo save data cannot be used for Death Game Mode. That is not a bug; it is an official limitation. If your plan is a normal first playthrough, carry over the demo. If your plan is to start Death Game Mode immediately through an edition unlock, understand that you are starting a separate high-risk file.
For almost everyone, the sane order is normal file first, Death Game later. A permadeath mode is not improved by entering it with half-remembered demo habits and no retail-patch muscle memory.
What carries over?
Bandai Namco frames this as demo save-data transfer rather than a narrow reward claim, so treat your demo file as the unit that matters. Your exact inventory, flags and progress should be verified after import before you delete anything. If something looks wrong, stop and check the official support page or platform cloud state instead of continuing for hours on a bad file.
The demo itself covers the prologue dungeon, Iori joining, the Sentry Golem, Illfang, and the Town of Beginnings. For a route through that content before importing, use the demo walkthrough.
Troubleshooting checklist
- No prompt appears: confirm the full game is updated to Ver.1.0.3 or later, and confirm the demo save exists on the same platform account.
- You already declined: Bandai Namco says the prompt only returns after deleting all save data. Back up what you can before doing anything destructive.
- You changed platforms: assume the save will not transfer unless official support says your exact path is supported.
- You want Death Game Mode: demo saves cannot be imported there. Start normal mode for carry-over.
- Imported data looks wrong: do not delete the demo save yet. Check cloud sync/local storage and official support guidance first.
FAQ
Can you transfer Echoes of Aincrad demo save data to the full game?
What happens if I choose Do not carry over?
Can demo save data transfer into Death Game Mode?
Can I transfer a demo save between platforms?
Where to go next
Run the demo cleanly with the demo walkthrough, then decide whether the game is worth buying with the buyer guide. If you are starting fresh after import, use the best starting weapon guide and partner system guide.