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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAct before the announced shutdown date. Make one final in-game save, let the platform finish synchronizing, copy every local save folder to an external USB drive and a second location, and request any publisher data export while your account still works. This can preserve a playable save only when the game can read that save without the retired service. Characters, inventories, currencies, matchmaking records and account entitlements held on the publisher’s servers usually require an official migration or export, and no universal conversion format exists.
Start with the shutdown deadline
Find the game’s official shutdown notice, support article or in-client announcement and write down the exact date, time zone and final login time. A date stated only as “June 30” is incomplete until you know whether the publisher means the start or end of that day and which time zone applies. Record any separate deadlines for account transfers, refunds, data requests, server selection or downloadable clients.
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- Save a local copy of the notice as a PDF or screenshot, including the URL and publication date.
- Note whether the announcement promises a migration, an offline mode, a downloadable archive, a fan-server package or only account closure.
- Plan the backup before the final day. Authentication, cloud synchronization and support queues can fail before the advertised shutdown hour.
Do not close or delete the account while trying to preserve it. A Ubisoft account-support article updated 2 June 2026 says permanent closure removes access to Ubisoft games, in-game progression, online services and personal data. Submit requests and make copies first; closure is not a preservation step.
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Online games often split progress between your device, a platform account and publisher servers. A folder copy is useful only for the portion the game actually reads locally.
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| Progress layer | Typical contents | What a backup can do | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local files | Save slots, settings, key bindings, screenshots, replays or downloaded profile data | Copy the files to removable and off-device storage; a compatible game may load them later | The files may be encrypted, tied to an account or useless when the service is retired |
| Platform cloud | Selected save files, settings or profile statistics | Download or synchronize the files while the platform still authenticates | The developer chooses which paths are included; cloud coverage is not universal |
| Publisher servers | Characters, inventories, currencies, unlocks, matchmaking ratings, guild data and account flags | Use a documented migration or data-access process; capture visual evidence as a fallback | A local copy cannot recreate server-only state |
| Entitlements and purchases | Licenses, add-ons, subscriptions, transaction history and linked accounts | Preserve receipts, order numbers, account identifiers and the publisher’s transfer instructions | Ownership usually remains in the original account or platform ecosystem |
| Client software | Game executable, patches, installers, configuration and required runtimes | Keep a legally obtained installer or an already downloaded, permitted client | The client may require authentication, an online API or a future operating-system component |
Make a written inventory for each game. Include local save locations, platform account, publisher account, linked console or mobile account, characters, inventory, currency balance, achievements, screenshots, videos, purchases and any two-factor-authentication method. This list prevents an attractive screenshot archive from being mistaken for a recoverable save.
Perform a final save and capture the platform copy
- Launch the game while the account and servers still work.
- Complete an ordinary in-game save or reach a checkpoint. If the game has several profiles or characters, save each one deliberately.
- Exit through the game’s normal quit command rather than forcing it closed. Some clients write the final state only during shutdown.
- Wait for the platform’s synchronization indicator or confirmation to finish. Do not suspend, power off or disconnect the device during this step.
- Reopen the platform’s cloud or save-management view and confirm that the game and the latest timestamp are present.
- If the platform exposes downloadable cloud files, copy them to your archive while authentication still succeeds.
A cloud icon is not proof that every item is covered. Steam says developers decide which files are integrated with Steam Cloud, many games do not use it, and lost saves may not be recoverable. Steamworks documentation describes configured files being sent to Steam after exit and downloaded before launch on another computer; it is not an automatic export of all account progress.
Back up PC files to two independent locations
Use a dated folder structure
Connect an external USB flash drive or hard drive with enough free space for the client and saves. Create a folder such as GameName_2026-10-19 and preserve the original directory structure inside it. Make a second copy in a different physical or cloud location. A single removable drive is not a backup if it is the only place the files exist.
- Keep the original files untouched until both copies have been checked.
- Use a new dated folder for each capture rather than overwriting yesterday’s copy.
- Copy screenshots, configuration files, mods and replay folders separately from the core save.
- Record the game version, platform, operating system and the character or profile represented by each folder.
Ubisoft Connect local saves
Ubisoft’s documented procedure is to open the Ubisoft Connect installation folder, open savegames, select the folder for the game, and copy it somewhere outside the installation directory. Ubisoft names cloud storage and an external storage drive as suitable destinations and says the copy can be restored later. Use that procedure for the local portion of the game, then preserve a second copy elsewhere.
The copy does not guarantee that an online character, inventory or entitlement will work after a server shutdown. Treat it as a local-save archive unless the game’s own shutdown notice explicitly promises offline operation.
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Steam games
Check the game’s Steam store page for the Cloud indicator and identify the game’s actual save path. The path can be under the user profile, the game’s installation directory or another location chosen by the developer, so do not assume the Steam folder contains everything.
Steam’s Backup and Restore Games feature is narrower than a preservation archive. It works for games fully downloaded, installed and patched through Steam, while many third-party installers and MMO-style or free-to-play titles are incompatible. For Valve games, Steam says the backup may omit saved games and custom content; copy those folders separately. Keep the manually copied saves even when the Steam backup completes successfully.
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GOG GALAXY and other PC clients
GOG developer documentation says GOG GALAXY can synchronize a specified local save directory when a game launches or closes. That feature can provide another copy, but it remains a service feature rather than a universal migration format. Configure the directory if the game supports it, allow a launch-and-exit synchronization, and retain the manual USB and off-device copies.
Nintendo Switch: know what the console can and cannot copy
Nintendo Switch save data is stored in system memory and cannot be copied to a microSD card. Deleting or archiving the game software does not itself delete the save, but deleting the user account deletes its associated save data.
Save Data Cloud
Nintendo Switch Online membership and compatible software are required for Save Data Cloud. Compatibility varies by title. Check the game’s eShop or Nintendo Store listing and its Save Data Cloud menu before relying on the feature. A compatible backup can be downloaded on another Switch 2 or Switch console on which the game is playable.
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Nearby-console transfer
For a direct transfer, keep both consoles available, connect them to the internet and link the same Nintendo Account to a user on each console. Nintendo says a Nintendo Switch Online membership is not required for this transfer. Follow the console’s data-transfer prompts while both systems are signed in; do not delete the source user until the destination has been checked.
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Mobile games and Google Play Games
Sign in to the Google Play Games account used by the game and check whether the title displays a saved-progress or cloud-save status. Google says some games autosave when signed in, but not all games automatically save. Google also says it does not manage in-app data or game accounts; if restoration fails, the developer is the support contact listed in the store entry.
Before shutdown, capture the player ID, server or region, character name, guild, inventory, currency balance, achievements and purchase history. Keep screenshots and screen recordings with visible dates where possible. These records cannot recreate a server account, but they document what the publisher may need for a migration or refund request.
Request publisher data while the account works
Look for buttons or forms labeled Download my data, Access your data, Portability, Account transfer or Shutdown FAQ. Submit the request before the final login deadline and save the confirmation number, emails and downloaded files.
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Ubisoft’s privacy policy describes an “Access your data” portability request that lets users consult or transfer personal data to another service provider. That mechanism should be treated as an account-data request, not as a promise of a playable save-file export. Ask the publisher specifically whether the response includes a game-readable save, character package, inventory list, purchase record or only personal-data records.
- Use the exact account email, user ID, platform ID and region associated with the game.
- List every character, profile and linked account that must be included.
- Ask whether a transfer must be completed before shutdown and whether it is one-time or reversible.
- Keep the exported archive in both your local and off-device backup locations.
Preserve the client, proof and credentials
A save without a usable client may be unreadable, and a client without credentials may stop at an authentication screen. Where the publisher permits continued use, preserve the legally obtained installer, offline installer, patches, required runtimes and configuration notes. Do not redistribute copyrighted game files or bypass access controls.
- Save purchase receipts, order numbers, license emails and subscription dates.
- Record platform IDs, publisher usernames, linked console or mobile accounts and the email address used for each.
- Store recovery codes for two-factor authentication in a password manager or another secure location; never place them in a public archive.
- Capture achievement pages, character equipment, unlock trees, settings, screenshots, replays and memorable locations that a save file cannot represent.
- Keep a text file explaining the game version, save path, required launch options and the date of the final successful login.
Test one copy without risking the original
- Duplicate the backup into a separate test folder or use a second drive.
- Disconnect or rename the original save location so the game cannot silently overwrite it.
- Launch the game in the same edition and platform where local loading is supported.
- Load the copied profile and verify at least one character, save slot, setting and recent timestamp.
- Close the game, compare the test folder with the untouched archive and restore the original location only after the check.
Never test by opening the only original while cloud synchronization is enabled. An older cloud version can overwrite a newer local file, or a failed test can alter the only usable copy.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can transfer to another game?
Direct character transfer between unrelated games is unusual. A publisher may offer a successor-game migration, promotional entitlement or account-link process, but a save folder from one title is not a universal format. Verify the individual game’s shutdown FAQ for the destination title, eligible regions, deadlines, required account links and items that are excluded.
| Goal | Most realistic method | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Continue a local single-player save | Copy the save directory and retain a compatible client | Save files, game version, installation notes and a tested duplicate |
| Recover a cloud-managed save | Download the platform files before access ends, then test on a supported device | Cloud timestamp, downloaded files and platform account details |
| Move an online character | Use the publisher’s documented migration or export | Transfer confirmation, player ID, region and screenshots of the character |
| Prove purchases or entitlements | Retain receipts and linked-account records; follow refund or migration instructions | Order numbers, license emails and account identifiers |
| Preserve memories when no playable export exists | Capture video, screenshots, achievement pages and inventory views | Original media files with dates and descriptive filenames |
Choose storage for the backup’s actual job
- External USB drive: best for a direct, inexpensive copy of local saves, installers and media. It cannot export a server-only character and can be lost or damaged, so keep a second copy.
- Cloud storage: useful as the off-device copy and for protecting against drive failure. It does not turn an encrypted or server-bound save into a portable format.
- Manual folders: transparent and easy to inspect when you manage only a few games.
- PC backup software: convenient when many games use different paths, but verify that the program supports the current client, excludes temporary files and retains multiple dated versions. Automation should supplement, not replace, a final manual check.
Fix common shutdown-backup failures
The cloud timestamp is old
Return to the game, create a new save, exit normally and wait again. Check for a platform conflict prompt and choose the newest file only after comparing timestamps. If no cloud entry appears, locate and copy the local save immediately.
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The game has no save folder
It may keep all progress on the publisher’s servers, use a protected database or store files in an unexpected user-data directory. Search the game’s official support article and shutdown FAQ; do not download unknown “save converter” utilities or modify files blindly.
A copied save loads as a new profile
Check that the copy came from the same edition, region, platform account and game version. Some games require a matching account identifier or encryption key. A new profile after those checks is evidence that the save is not independently playable, not proof that another random folder will fix it.
The platform will not restore the backup
Confirm that the destination device runs the same game edition and that the account owns the title. On Switch, confirm Save Data Cloud compatibility; on mobile, contact the developer through the store listing because Google does not manage the game’s account data.
The shutdown has already happened
Try the publisher’s published data-request address and migration form, then preserve every local file and receipt you still have. If the server no longer authenticates, a local copy may still work only when the client supports offline loading; otherwise your remaining preservation option is documentary media and account records.
Final shutdown checklist
- Record the exact shutdown date, time zone and final-login deadline.
- Identify local files, platform cloud data, server-side progress, entitlements and linked accounts.
- Make a final in-game save and exit normally.
- Wait for and verify platform synchronization.
- Copy local saves to a dated external USB folder and a second off-device location.
- Download exposed cloud files while authentication still works.
- Submit the publisher’s data-access or portability request and save its confirmation.
- Capture characters, inventories, achievements, settings and other server-only history.
- Preserve the permitted client, updates, receipts, license details and recovery information.
- Test a duplicate on another folder, drive or machine without exposing the sole original to cloud overwrite.
- Re-read the title-specific FAQ for migration, offline mode, fan-server or archival instructions.
The practical boundary is simple: local files can sometimes preserve a playable game, while server-held progress needs the publisher’s cooperation. Two independent copies, a verified final save and an early data request give you the best chance of retaining what the game can legally and technically preserve.
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