Back up saves separately from game installations. First confirm each game’s latest save has synchronized, then use the platform’s supported method to copy save data and eligible game files to storage separate from your device. Keep your account and purchase records, and test the copies. A backup preserves only the files it contains; it cannot guarantee a storefront will still let you authenticate, reinstall, or play a game later.
What a storefront closure does—and does not—mean
A store stopping new sales does not automatically mean that downloads, updates, online play, and saved data all stop at the same time. Nintendo’s Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShop is one dated example: new purchases ended on March 27, 2023, while Nintendo said previously purchased content and updates would remain available for redownload “for the foreseeable future.” Online play and other online communication functions ended separately, on April 8, 2024. Those dates describe Nintendo’s services, not what another storefront will do. Nintendo’s eShop discontinuation FAQ explains the distinction.
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There is no general guarantee that an archived installer or save file will remain usable after a store, account-authentication system, or online service changes. Make copies while you can, but treat continued access and future playability as separate questions.
Back up saves and game files as separate jobs
A game installation backup may not include progress, settings, or custom content. Save data may live in a platform account, on a computer or console, on removable storage, or on the game cartridge. Identify the game and platform before choosing a backup method.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
- Saves: Find the game’s documented save location or export option. Check whether cloud saves are supported and whether the latest session finished syncing. If you see a conflict between local and cloud versions, resolve it carefully before copying or launching elsewhere; choosing the wrong version can overwrite progress.
- Game files: Use the platform’s supported backup or export feature where available. Check what it includes and what it leaves out, including saves and custom files.
- Account access: Keep your account credentials and recovery information, along with purchase records. A file copy does not replace the account or establish a right to bypass authentication.
Make a backup that you can verify
- List the games and devices you care about. Note each game’s platform and edition, and whether it is a download or a physical cartridge/disc. Instructions and save locations can differ even within one platform.
- Check cloud status before copying. For Steam, support and uploaded files vary by game; developers choose how Steam Cloud is used. Check the game’s store page and its behavior on your device. Steam also describes local saves when cloud functionality is disabled and warns about conflicts between local and cloud versions. See Steam Cloud support.
- Copy saves separately. Use the game or platform’s documented export, copy, or backup path. Confirm that the copy corresponds to the newest progress and preserve any required removable media.
- Back up eligible installations. Use the platform-supported feature and check its compatibility limits. On Steam, the backup feature can save eligible installed game files to a chosen folder, but third-party installers may be incompatible; Valve game backups omit saves and custom files, and third-party save locations vary. Steam recommends testing backups. Details are in Steam’s backup-feature instructions.
- Store a copy away from the original device. A second copy on the same console or computer can be lost with that device. Keep a separate copy on storage compatible with the platform, and check the platform’s rules before relying on removable media.
- Test the result. Verify that the copied files are readable, and use the documented restore process when practical. Do not overwrite a working save during a test; use a separate device or copy if the restore steps permit it.
Platform-specific details to check
Nintendo 3DS
Nintendo says downloadable software and its save data are stored on the SD card, while saves for cartridge games are stored on the cartridge. Its FAQ also warns that deleting downloaded software can delete its save data. Preserve the correct SD card and check the game-specific limitations before removing software or changing cards. Nintendo’s Downloadable Retail Software FAQ and Nintendo 3DS Operations Manual describe save-data backup support and limitations.
Steam on PC
Do not assume that Steam Cloud covers every save or that the Steam backup feature creates a complete archive. Cloud behavior and uploaded files vary by game; game-file backups can omit saves and custom files, and some third-party installers are not compatible. Locate and copy saves separately, then test the backup rather than assuming that a completed archive is restorable.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
PlayStation 3
A PlayStation 3 system software manual for models CECH-2101A and CECH-2101B documents copying or moving certain saved data to USB mass storage. That is a legacy-model example, not a universal procedure for every game or instructions for PS4 or PS5. Consult the manual for the relevant model and check each game’s restrictions before moving data. PlayStation 3 System Software Manual
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What a backup cannot settle
A backup can preserve files, but it does not prove that a future device will accept them or that a game can be installed or launched without the original account or service. Store operators may change redownload availability, and storage media can fail. Keep copies separate from the original device, retain account recovery details, and follow official instructions for the specific platform rather than treating an archive as an independently playable copy.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Rank #4
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
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