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Back up the save data itself, not merely the installed Arkane game. Exit the game, find the save directory for that specific title, storefront and account, copy the complete relevant folder to separately named storage, and verify that the copy contains the expected files. Keep the original untouched until you need to restore it.
This protects progress only if the game can still read the files. A save copy does not preserve a license, installation, required patch or online service. Steam Cloud is also not a guaranteed independent backup: each developer decides what is uploaded, and an offline session can create a local-versus-cloud conflict. The procedures below cover Windows, Steam, PlayStation and Xbox, with special attention to Redfall, DEATHLOOP, Dishonored 2, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and Prey.
Why should I back up an Arkane save before a delisting or service change?
A store transfer and a save transfer are separate jobs. When Bethesda announced the Bethesda.net Launcher sunset on April 27, 2022, it provided a library migration to Steam but warned that some games required manual save copying. Its title-specific instructions also warned that moving a save into an existing Steam save could overwrite the existing slot. That documented event is a practical reason to make an independent copy before any migration, uninstall, troubleshooting session or cloud-sync decision.
A local copy cannot make an unsupported save format readable, restore a missing license or replace a server-side entitlement. It is still the most controllable way to preserve a known point in time. Bethesda specifically recommends periodically copying Redfall saves to another directory or external storage.
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Do not assume that a game being playable offline means its progress is safely archived. Redfall Game Update 4 added offline solo play, but Bethesda states that co-op requires persistent internet access. Offline capability and backup are different matters.
What do I need before copying a save?
Have these items ready before touching the files:
- The exact game and storefront: Bethesda.net, Steam, Microsoft Store/Xbox or a console edition.
- The Windows user account or console profile that owns the active save.
- A destination separate from the live save directory, such as an external drive or a clearly named second folder.
- Enough space for the save folder and room for more than one dated copy.
- A way to identify the copy later, such as a folder name containing the game, platform, account and date.
Finish play and exit to the desktop or console dashboard. Closing the game gives it a chance to flush its latest progress to disk. Do not rename, edit or move the original folder during the backup.
Where are Arkane save files on Windows?
The following are Bethesda’s documented defaults, not universal guarantees. Paths can differ when installation or save settings have changed, and Windows replaces <username> with the account name. Open the folder and confirm that it is populated and has a recent modification time before copying.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →| Game | Bethesda.net default | Steam default or additional location | Important details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redfall | C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosRedfall<PLATFORM>SaveGames |
Use the same game-specific structure for the installed platform; preserve the actual platform subfolder. | Identify the active account. Bethesda’s location FAQ uses SaveGame in one Steam-cloud sentence, while its restore procedure uses SaveGames; inspect the folder that actually contains the files before copying. Bethesda’s location guidance and restore guidance provide the source procedures. |
| DEATHLOOP | C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosDeathloopbase |
Steam also uses Steamuserdata<userid>1252330 under the Steam installation. Bethesda.net-to-Steam migration uses ...Deathloopbasesavegame. |
Migration files include save.dloop and title.data in SLOT01. Back up any existing Steam slot before importing. See Bethesda’s DEATHLOOP migration instructions. |
| Dishonored 2 | C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudioDishonored2 |
C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosDishonored2base |
The source uses “Arkane Studio” for the Bethesda.net path and “Arkane Studios” for Steam. For migration, copy the savegame folder. Do not normalize the spelling when searching. |
| Dishonored: Death of the Outsider | C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosDishonored_DObasesavegame |
C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosDishonored_DObasesavegame |
Bethesda directs players to copy the contents of the savegame folder. |
| Prey | C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosPrey_BNetSaveGames |
C:Users<username>Saved GamesArkane StudiosPreySaveGames |
For migration, copy the contents of SaveGames. |
| Dishonored (original) | Not established in the cited official material. | Not established in the cited official material. | Use the active storefront’s game-specific documentation and inspect which files the installation actually changes. Do not reuse the Dishonored 2 path. |
Bethesda’s migration article contains the platform-specific defaults and copy instructions for these titles: Bethesda Support migration guide.
How do I make a verified Windows backup?
Use a complete, dated copy rather than selecting a single file whose name looks familiar.
- Exit the game. Wait for the game and launcher to close. If a launcher remains open, do not let it start a sync or migration while you are copying.
- Identify the platform and account. A Bethesda.net save, Steam save and Microsoft Store save can use different folders even when the game title is identical.
- Open the applicable path. Paste the documented path into File Explorer’s address bar, then check nearby folders if the default is absent. Search for the game’s distinctive folder name rather than copying every Arkane folder.
- Inspect the active folder. Look for the expected subfolder or files, a plausible recent modification time and the slot or profile you recognize. For DEATHLOOP migration, for example, check for
SLOT01,save.dloopandtitle.data. - Copy the complete relevant folder. Use Copy, not Cut, and place it on another drive or in a separately named directory. A useful name is
Redfall-Steam-accountname-2026-11-03. - Verify the destination. Open the copied folder, confirm that files are present and compare its contents with the source. A copy that contains only an empty parent directory is not a backup.
- Preserve the original and create another generation. Keep the first copy untouched. A second dated copy protects you if a later copy is accidentally overwritten or corrupted.
Bethesda’s migration guidance is the basis for copying complete save folders and for making a backup before importing into an existing Steam location. Do not overwrite a destination save until the source and destination have separate copies.
Does Steam Cloud back up Arkane saves reliably?
Steam Cloud can be useful, but it should complement—not replace—an independent local copy. Steam says that developers determine which files a game uploads, that local cloud files normally live under C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata with account and app-ID subfolders, and that installation locations can vary. Its documentation is available at Steam Cloud FAQ.
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Check whether the game includes its saves
Open the game’s Steam Store page and look for the Cloud feature, then check the game’s own documentation if the page does not explain which files are synchronized. The presence of Cloud support does not prove that every profile, slot or configuration file is included.
Toggle Cloud per game when necessary
Steam allows the cloud setting to be changed for an individual game. If you are about to restore a known-good local copy, disable cloud synchronization first so Steam does not immediately replace it with a different version.
Handle a conflict deliberately
When Steam presents local and cloud versions, compare their dates and contents. Choose the version that matches the progress you intend to keep; do not automatically select Cloud or Local. Offline play can postpone synchronization and create a conflict when the computer reconnects.
Do not confuse installation backup with save backup
Steam’s Library > Properties > Installed Files > Backup game files function concerns installation files. It is not a verified copy of third-party save locations such as Saved Games or Steamuserdata. Make the separate save-folder copy described above.
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How do I restore a Redfall save safely?
Bethesda’s documented Redfall sequence is: disable cloud saves, copy the backed-up files into the original save directory, launch the game and only then decide whether to re-enable cloud saves. Keep the untouched backup until the game has loaded the intended character and you have resolved any subsequent sync prompt.
- Disable cloud saves for the relevant platform or game.
- Close Redfall completely.
- Copy the backed-up files into the original populated
SaveGamesdirectory, preserving the platform subfolder and file structure. - Launch Redfall and verify the character, progression and save slots.
- If the restored state is correct, re-enable cloud saves only after deciding which version should become authoritative.
Bethesda states that corrupted Redfall saves cannot be repaired. An earlier unaffected copy is therefore more valuable than repeatedly attempting to open a damaged file. Other Arkane games can use different restore behavior, so do not apply Redfall’s sequence blindly to another title.
How do I back up Arkane saves on PlayStation?
On PS5, Sony’s supported method is a console backup to a compatible USB drive rather than dragging an arbitrary game-save file from the file system.
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- Format a compatible USB drive as FAT32 or exFAT.
- On the PS5, open Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5.
- Select the data to include and start the backup.
- Keep the drive safely stored and label it with the console account and date.
Sony says the backup can include saved data, but it is account-linked, trophies are not included, not every USB device is compatible, and restoring a console backup erases current console data. Sony also documents a PS4 Backup and Restore process that includes saved and profile data. Read the platform instructions at PlayStation USB backup support.
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This is a console-level backup, not a promise that a PS5 save can be copied as an ordinary file, edited on Windows or transferred to another account.
Can I copy Xbox Arkane saves to a USB drive?
The cited Bethesda documentation does not establish a direct Xbox Series X|S console-to-USB save-export workflow, so do not promise one. It does establish that Redfall saves are shared between Xbox Series X|S and the Microsoft Store PC version through Xbox Play Anywhere.
Only one platform per profile can be played at a time under that arrangement. Shared cloud progress is convenient, but it is not an independent offline archive, and it does not imply that Steam saves interchange automatically with Xbox or Microsoft Store saves. Before changing platforms, make the Windows copy when a PC save directory exists and preserve the console profile’s cloud state.
Bethesda’s Xbox/Microsoft Store explanation is at Bethesda Support’s save-sharing article.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhat did the Bethesda Launcher change teach Arkane players?
The Bethesda.net Launcher sunset announcement, updated April 27, 2022, allowed players to transfer their libraries to Steam but noted that some saves needed manual copying. Bethesda’s per-game migration instructions supplied different paths for DEATHLOOP, Dishonored 2, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and Prey, and warned that importing into an existing Steam save could overwrite it. The lesson is specific: transfer ownership and transfer progress as two separate checklists, and make the progress copy first.
Redfall’s later service changes do not remove that distinction. Game Update 4, published May 30, 2024 as version 1.451.3.0, added offline solo play and allowed a disconnected player to continue a solo session. Bethesda separately says co-op needs persistent internet. The update therefore improves solo availability; it does not turn online services, licenses or cloud synchronization into a permanent backup system. The announcement is at Bethesda’s Redfall Game Update 4 notice.
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What can go wrong, and how do I recover?
The documented folder is missing
Check that you are using the Windows account that played the game, the correct storefront path and the correct platform subfolder. Search for the title’s distinctive directory under Saved Games and inspect recently modified folders rather than copying every similarly named directory.
The backup copy is empty or unusually old
Return to the game, confirm that the expected slot loads, exit normally and check the modification time again. If Steam Cloud is enabled, review its status before copying; do not let a sync conflict overwrite the only known-good local version.
Steam wants to overwrite a save
Stop and make separate copies of both local and destination versions. Compare dates and, where practical, open each version in the game before choosing. Bethesda’s migration warning specifically concerns importing into an existing Steam save.
The restored character does not appear
Recheck the platform subfolder, account and exact directory name. For Redfall, follow Bethesda’s cloud-disabled restore order and preserve the failed restore as a separate copy before trying another version.
The console restore would erase newer progress
Do not start a PS5 restore until the current console data is backed up or you have accepted that the restore replaces it. Sony’s console-level process is intentionally broader than restoring one game slot.
How should I maintain Arkane save backups?
Create a new dated copy after major milestones, before changing storefronts, before uninstalling, and before troubleshooting corruption or synchronization. Keep at least one copy on storage that is not continuously mounted to the gaming computer. Use names that identify the game, platform, account and date, and never edit the only copy.
For a migration, use this order: make and verify the independent copy; install or transfer the game; start it once if required; close it; back up any newly created destination folder; then import the old save according to that game’s instructions. This order leaves a rollback point on both sides of the transfer.
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Bottom line: what is the safest rule?
Close the game, locate the save folder for the exact game and store, copy the complete populated folder to separate storage, verify the files and keep the original untouched. Treat Steam Cloud and console synchronization as platform features rather than independent guarantees, and use each platform’s documented restore sequence before allowing a new sync to overwrite the progress you meant to keep.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I back up an Arkane save while the game is still running?
It is safer to exit first. A running game may still be writing the newest slot, so a live copy can miss the progress you are trying to preserve.
Does backing up the game installation also preserve my save?
Not necessarily. Steam’s installation-backup feature covers game files, while Arkane saves can live under Windows’ Saved Games or Steam userdata locations; copy those save directories separately.
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The documented sharing applies to Xbox Series X|S and the Microsoft Store PC version through Xbox Play Anywhere. It does not establish automatic compatibility with Steam saves.
What should I do if Steam shows two different save versions?
Stop the launch, preserve both versions in separately named folders, and compare their dates and contents. Choose only after identifying which one contains the progress you want; selecting a version automatically can discard the other.
Is a USB drive enough to restore a PS5 Arkane save on another account?
Sony’s PS5 backup is account-linked and console-level, so it is not a universal per-save transfer between accounts. A restore can also erase current console data, and the USB device must meet Sony’s FAT32 or exFAT and compatibility requirements.
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