If you are a gamer, you may have heard of Steam. Steam is an online game distribution platform where you can buy, download, and play games on your computer. Steam has been around since 2003, one of the most popular gaming platforms. One of the questions that many gamers ask is whether Steam saves game data.
Steam saves game data, but it depends on the game. Some games on Steam save game data locally on a player’s computer, others save game data locally and remotely, and some only save game data remotely on a server.
In this article, we will explore the answer to this question.
What Is Steam?
Let’s first discuss what Steam is before we examine the issue of whether it stores game data. The Valve Corporation created a game distribution system called Steam. Since its first debut in 2003, it has become one of the most widely used gaming platforms.
Gamers may purchase, download, and play games on their computers using Steam. Additionally, Steam provides community elements like forums and user-generated content along with social features like friends lists and chat.
What Is Game Data?
Game data is the term used to describe the data kept in a game, such as settings, achievements, and player progress. A player’s computer may house game data locally, or a server may house it remotely.
While remote game data is kept on a server run by the game developer or publisher, local game data is kept on the player’s hard drive.
Does Steam Save Game Data Locally?
Local storage of game data on a player’s PC is one option. It indicates that the game data is saved on the player’s hard drive. So, does Steam save local game data? It depends on the game, is the response.
Some Steam games allow players to save game data locally on their PC. It implies that your game data will be lost if you uninstall the game or use a different computer. Games like Terraria and Stardew Valley are examples of those that save game data locally.
Other Steam games allow for both local and remote game data storage. It implies that your gaming data will remain accessible even if you uninstall the application or use a different computer. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 are some examples of games that save game data locally and remotely.
Finally, certain Steam games only allow for remote server storage of game data. It implies that your gaming data will remain accessible even if you uninstall the application or use a different computer. Team Fortress 2 and Warframe are two examples of games that save game data remotely.
Does Steam Save Game Data On The Cloud?
Game makers can save data remotely on a server using Steam’s Steam Cloud function. Game creators can save game data, such as player progress, settings, and achievements, using the free Steam Cloud service. Not every Steam game uses Steam Cloud, an optional feature.
Your game data will be saved on a distant server if a game on Steam supports Steam Cloud. It implies that your gaming data will remain accessible even if you uninstall the application or use a different computer. It is so that your game data is not dependent on your local computer and is stored on a remote server.
You can look at the game’s shop page to see if it uses Steam Cloud. The “Features” section will contain the game’s Steam Cloud features.
How To Check If A Game Saves Data On Steam Cloud?
These steps can be used to determine whether a game on Steam saves data to the Steam Cloud:
- Launch Steam and navigate to the library.
- Right-click the game you wish to examine and choose “Properties.”
- Select “Updates” from the menu.
- Find the “Steam Cloud” section.
- The game saves data on Steam Cloud if the “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for [game name]” checkbox is selected.
- The game does not save data on Steam Cloud if the “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for [game name]” checkbox is not enabled.
Watch this video to learn how to locate saved files in the Steam user data folder:
Locating save files within the Steam userdata folder
Backup Your Steam Game Data
If you wish to back up your game data on Steam, there are a few options. Utilizing Steam’s built-in backup tool is the simplest option. It is how you do it:
- Navigate to your library on Steam.
- Choose “Backup game files” from the context menu when right-clicking on the game you wish to save.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to decide where to keep the backup and which files to include.
- Wait for the backup to finish before clicking “Next.”
- After the backup, you can store the backup files by copying them to an external hard disc or USB drive.
Additional Ways To Backup Data
Another way to back up your game data on Steam is to copy the game’s save files to another location manually. You need to know where the game’s saved files are located on your computer in order to complete this. When looking for this information online, enter the name of the game and “save file location.”
Once you are aware of where the saved files are, you can copy them to a USB drive or external hard disc, for example. You will have a backup of your game data that you can restore if necessary.
Conclusion
Depending on the game, Steam may or may not save game data. Some games save game data remotely on Steam, while others save game data locally on the player’s PC. Game makers can save data remotely on a server using the free Steam Cloud service.
Your game data will be saved on a distant server and not connected to your local computer if a game on Steam uses Steam Cloud. You can manually move the game’s save files to a different location or use Steam’s built-in backup option to back up your game data.
