A player discovers that Steam has kept their save games after 18 years. Many in the community say that only Steam is this reliable. With other services, there would only be problems.
Many manufacturers now offer the option to store game saves in the cloud. This way, you can quickly access them when you’re on the go or switch devices.
Now, a player reports on Reddit that Steam has stored his ancient save games to this day: For the 20th anniversary of Half Life 2, he started the shooter once again and discovered that Steam is still saving his Half-Life 2 save games from 2006. He adds that no other service has been so reliable so far:
I couldn’t agree more. But since this was one of the first cloud services I used, it’s still amazing that everything remains intact. I’ve used other services that have lost some of my old data during server upgrades over the last two decades.
Players are enthusiastic about Steam: After all, it’s quite unusual for a game, and especially old save games, to still work perfectly after so many years. In comparison, players mention other launchers and programs from other manufacturers that cause significantly more problems. Steam is considered the best solution on the market by many. Someone explains this and expresses what many think:
The special thing about Steam is its relative reliability. It’s not perfect, but after two decades, where it hasn’t let me down, no other online service I use comes close.
Other manufacturers charge for cloud services
What about the competition? Many manufacturers and providers now offer their users cloud saves or something similar. However, especially console manufacturers charge for this and eventually delete your data:
- Sony (PS4, PS5): Sony also offers cloud saves for its PlayStation console. The problem: You can only use the cloud saves if you have a paid PS Plus subscription. If you deactivate your subscription, the save games remain stored for up to 6 months before they are deleted by Sony. What else you need to know about canceling PS Plus can be found on MeinMMO.
- Microsoft (Xbox): Microsoft, on the other hand, also offers cloud saves for the Xbox family but does not require a paid subscription to use them. At least that’s what the official FAQ states.
- Nintendo (Switch): Nintendo also offers cloud saves for the Switch. However, you need to subscribe to the paid “Nintendo Switch Online” plan, similar to the PlayStation. Additionally, some games are not compatible with cloud saves on the Switch as well. Again, there is a 6-month grace period for Nintendo to delete your data after your subscription ends.
PlayStation Plus has changed its subscription structure and now offers 3 different subscriptions for PS5 and PS4. MeinMMO breaks down the individual contents, shows the costs, and gives recommendations on which package is best suited for you: PS Plus Subscription: Essential, Extra, or Premium – Which package is right for me?
