How to Migrate Your Dragon Age: Inquisition Saves to Your Next Gen Console

On July 5, 2015, BioWare announced that all new DLC for Dragon Age: Inquisition will be exclusive to next gen consoles (Xbox One, Playstation 4) and the PC, and will no longer be created for Xbox 360 or PS3. In order to help players who may wish to move their saves to a new, upgraded console, they've added the ability to export saves from the last gen consoles and import into the new ones, provided they are in the same console family (Xbox > Xbox, Playstation > Playstation). Multiplayer data can also be transferred, but only once. This feature is NOT available for PC.

The new multiplayer data migration and save game export & import feature will be available in July in Patch 8. Keep reading for details on how to do the exports and imports when the patch is released.

Before you begin

Some things to remember:
  • You must be in the Black Emporium to export a save or transfer your multiplayer data. The Black Emporium is free downloadable DLC and was released in May. Some character creation options were not available for the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360 console, so you may need to tweak your character using the Mirror of Transformation after the save game transfer is complete.
    • The Mirror of Transformation is located in the Black Emporium, which is where you will be when you load up your imported save, so you can just tweak your character's looks right there if needed.
    • Attempting to create a savegame for export outside the Black Emporium will trigger a message that you must complete this action in the Black Emporium.
  • You can only export & then import one save at a time. Attempting to export an additional savegame overwrites the previous exported savegame.
    • If you have more than one save, do the export, then import to your next gen console and save the game there. (If you export the wrong one, just choose the correct one and re-export - it will overwrite it as there is only one saved at a time.) After saving your new import, export your next one, rinse and repeat. This is limited to how many saves you can have on your next gen console, of course.
  • Make sure your next gen console is using the same account (Xbox Gamertag, PSN ID) as the one you will export with from the last gen console. It probably also needs to be tied to your Origin ID - see step 2 on How to Import Your World State from the Dragon Age Keep into Dragon Age: Inquisition for how to verify this and fix if necessary.
  • You can only import & export among the same console family (Xbox 360 > Xbox One or PS3 > PS4).
  • You must buy the game again for the next gen console.
  • You must also install all DLC again on the next gen console if the save you want to import uses them. For example, if you export a save that you went through Jaws of Hakkon with, you will need the Jaws of Hakkon DLC on the next gen console in order to import that save. If you bought them on the last gen console, you can download them on your next gen console using the same Xbox Gamertag or PSN ID for no additional charge (this is the Cross Buy Program). If you have pre-order/promotional items or the Flames of the Inquisition set on the last gen console, but do not on the next gen, the save will just load without the promotional gear and you'll need to find other armor or weapons to equip.
Multiplayer
  • Make sure you have 99 platinum or less. If you have 100 or more, the transfer will halt.
  • Finish any purchase or transaction started on the last gen console. If there is a pending transaction, the transfer will halt.
  • This is a ONE TIME transfer. The system will give you an error if you try to do it more than once.
  • If you already have platinum on the next gen system, it will remain.
  • Once the transfer has completed, any platinum purchased will remain on the console you purchased it with; each console will have its own balance.
  • If you already have multiplayer progress on the next gen console, it will be replaced by your imported data.
You will need:
  1. An online connection.
  2. A last gen console system with Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Black Emporium free DLC pack installed, and a Dragon Age: Inquisition savegame.
  3. To be logged into your EA account in Dragon Age: Inquisition on your last gen console.
  4. A next gen console in the same family (Xbox or Playstation) with Dragon Age: Inquisition, The Black Emporium free DLC pack, and the same DLC as your last gen console installed.
  5. To be logged into your EA account in Dragon Age: Inquisition on your next gen console.

Migrating Your Dragon Age: Inquisition Savegame and Profile on PlayStation®

Single-Player

Exporting a Savegame from a PlayStation®3 System

How to create a new exportable savegame from within the Black Emporium:
  1. On the PlayStation®3 system, you must travel to, or load a savegame file, in the Black Emporium to create a savegame for export.
  2. In the Save Game menu, select NEW SAVE GAME and press [L2] to export to PlayStation®4.
  3. A message appears to inform you what happens when a savegame is exported. Be sure to read the details.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [CROSS] to [TRIANGLE] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
If you proceed, the following message appears: "Uploading savegame to server." Once the export is complete, the following message appears: "You have successfully exported your current game."

Importing a Savegame to a PlayStation®4 System

How to import a savegame exported from the Black Emporium:
  1. On the PlayStation®4 system, select Main Menu and then Extras.
  2. On the Extras screen, select Import PlayStation®3 System Save Data. The following message appears: "Checking for savegame on server."
  3. A message appears with a summary of the available savegame data. Verify that it matches the previously exported savegame data.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [CROSS] to [TRIANGLE] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
  5. If you proceed, the following message appears: "Downloading savegame from server."
  6. Once the download completes, you should see the following message: "You have successfully downloaded your savegame."
  7. Load the save on PlayStation®4; you will be in the Black Emporium.
The savegame data import for the single-player campaign is complete. You can now use the Mirror of Transformation located in The Black Emporium if you want to modify your imported character.
  • Using the Mirror of Transformation is recommended because some customization options were not available on the PlayStation®3 system.

Multiplayer

Migrating Multiplayer Data on a PlayStation® System

How to migrate multiplayer data:
  1. On the PlayStation®4 system, select Main Menu and then Extras.
  2. On the Extras screen, select Migrate Multiplayer Data.
    • IMPORTANT! You can only migrate your multiplayer data once.
    • You can only migrate multiplayer data from PlayStation®3 to PlayStation®4 via the PlayStation®4 menu.
  3. A message appears to inform you what happens when multiplayer data is migrated.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [CROSS] to [TRIANGLE] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
  5. The migration process takes a moment. When it completes, you should see the following message: "Your PlayStation®3 system multiplayer data has been successfully migrated."

The multiplayer data migration is complete. You can continue playing on PlayStation®4.

Migrating Your Dragon Age: Inquisition Savegame and Profile on Xbox

Single-Player

Exporting a Savegame from an Xbox 360 Console

How to create a new exportable savegame from within the Black Emporium:
  1. On the Xbox 360 console, players must be in the Black Emporium to create a savegame for export.
  2. In the Save Game menu, select NEW SAVE GAME and press [LT] to export to Xbox One.
  3. A message appears to inform you what happens when a savegame is exported. Be sure to read the details.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [X] to [Y] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
If you proceed, the following message appears: "Uploading savegame to server." Once the export is complete, the following message appears: "You have successfully exported your current game."

Importing a Savegame to an Xbox One System

How to import a savegame exported from the Black Emporium:
  1. On the Xbox One system, select Main Menu and then Extras.
  2. On the Extras screen, select Import Xbox 360 System Save Data. The following message appears: "Checking for savegame on server."
  3. A message appears with a summary of the available savegame data. Verify that it matches the previously exported savegame data.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [X] to [Y] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
  5. If you proceed, the following message appears: "Downloading savegame from server."
  6. Once the download completes, you should see the following message: "You have successfully downloaded your savegame."
  7. Load the save on the Xbox One; you will be in the Black Emporium.
The savegame data import for the single-player campaign is complete. You can now use the Mirror of Transformation located in The Black Emporium if you want to modify your imported character.
  • Using the Mirror of Transformation is recommended because some customization options were not available on the Xbox 360 system.

Multiplayer

Migrating Multiplayer Data on an Xbox One console

How to migrate multiplayer data:
  1. On the Xbox One console, select Main Menu and then Extras.
  2. On the Extras screen, select Migrate Multiplayer Data.
    • IMPORTANT! You can only migrate your multiplayer data once.
    • You can only migrate multiplayer data from Xbox 360 to Xbox One via the Xbox One menu.
  3. A pop-up message appears to inform you what happens when multiplayer data is migrated.
  4. You can choose to proceed or cancel. The button to proceed has been moved from [X] to [Y] to prevent players from accidentally proceeding before reading the full details.
  5. The migration process takes a moment. Once it completes, you should see the following message: "Your Xbox 360 system Multiplayer Data has been successfully migrated."
The multiplayer data migration is complete. You can continue playing on Xbox One.

Troubleshooting

Potential Error Messages

Single Player
  • Attempting to create a savegame for export outside the Black Emporium will trigger a message that you must complete this action in the Black Emporium.
  • An error message appears if there is no available savegame to import.
  • An error message appears if there are missing DLC items. All DLC used to create the game on the last gen system must be present on the new system for the import to proceed.
    • Uses existing save-lock functionality from the main game.
    • If you have purchased the DLC on the last gen console, you can download the same DLC on the next gen console - within the same console family - for no additional charge. For more information, check out the Cross Buy Program.
  • You may see a generic error message if something occurs that we don't have a specific message for.
Multiplayer
  • If you have previously completed a multiplayer data migration on the account, you see an error message to that effect.
    • This is a one-time, one-way migration.
  • "Migration Error - Player is disconnected from online services (EA, PSN / XBL)."
    • An online connection is required for the migration to complete.
  • "Migration Error - Player has a purchase transaction in progress."
    • This is generally caused by an MTX purchase that has not completed. Start the game on Xbox 360 to let the transaction complete.
  • "Migration Error - Player has more than 99 Platinum on their account."
    • You can only migrate their account if you have 99 Platinum or less. Any remaining Platinum on Xbox 360 is not transferred to Xbox One.
    • If the balance is 99 or less, the balance remains on Xbox 360. Xbox 360 and Xbox One then have two separate balances.
    • If the balance is 100 or more, the migration stops, and you must spend the Platinum on Xbox 360 before proceeding.
  • You may see a generic error message if something occurs that we don't have a specific message for.
For further information, see the announcement or the official FAQ and announcement. This page has portions from BioWare's announcement, but much has been rewritten (and added) to make things more clear.