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Can You Have Multiple Games in Far Cry 4? The Ultimate Guide

The burning question for any Far Cry 4 enthusiast looking to experience the chaotic beauty of Kyrat multiple times: Can you have multiple games in Far Cry 4? The somewhat frustrating answer is: Officially, no. Far Cry 4, unlike some of its successors, only provides ONE save slot. This means starting a new game will overwrite your existing progress. However, fear not, fellow adventurers! There are workarounds to achieve the effect of having multiple games, allowing you to revisit different story choices or simply start fresh without losing everything. Let’s delve into the details.

Understanding the Single Save System

Far Cry 4’s single save system is a relic of a different era in gaming, where storage space and cloud syncing capabilities were more limited. This design choice forces players to be more deliberate about their actions and stick with their choices throughout the game. However, it also creates a problem for those who want to explore different storylines, endings, or simply experience the game from a new perspective without sacrificing their existing progress.

The Limitations

The single save slot means:

Starting a new game overwrites your existing progress. All your unlocked skills, collected weapons, and completed missions will be lost.
Exploring different story paths requires careful planning or the use of manual backup methods.
Replaying specific missions becomes impossible without reverting to an earlier point (if you backed up your save file).

Creating Your Own Multiple Save System: Manual Backups

The key to enjoying multiple “games” in Far Cry 4 lies in manual save backups. This involves creating copies of your save file at various points in the game and storing them separately. Here’s how you can do it:

PC Users

Locate Your Save File: The Far Cry 4 save file location is typically found within the Ubisoft Game Launcher directory. Look for a folder named after the game and then a subfolder containing your save data. A typical path might look something like this: C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launchersavegames<UplayID>573. The <UplayID> will be a long string of numbers and letters unique to your account.
Copy the Folder: Once you’ve located the save folder, copy the entire folder to a safe location on your computer, such as a separate folder labeled “Far Cry 4 Saves” on your desktop or in your Documents folder.
Rename the Backup: Rename the copied folder to something descriptive, such as “Far Cry 4 Save – Pre-Temple Choice” or “Far Cry 4 Save – End Game Pagan Alive”. This will help you easily identify the save point later.
Repeat the Process: Repeat this process at various key points in the game, such as before making a major story decision, completing a significant side quest, or reaching a certain level.
Restoring a Save: To restore a backed-up save, simply copy the contents of the backed-up folder back into the original save location, overwriting the existing save file. Make sure Far Cry 4 is closed when you do this.

Xbox 360 Users

Use a USB Stick: You’ll need a USB stick formatted as a Memory Unit on your Xbox 360.
Copy Save Game to USB: From the Xbox 360 dashboard, go to Storage Devices, find your Far Cry 4 save game, and copy it to the USB stick.
Label and Store: Connect the USB to a computer, and copy the save file from the USB drive to a folder. Label it with something meaningful. Repeat this process at different points throughout the game.
Restoring a Save: To restore a save, connect the USB stick back to your Xbox 360, copy the save game from the USB to your Xbox 360’s hard drive, overwriting your existing save.

PlayStation Users

The process for PlayStation users is broadly similar to Xbox. Back up your save data using either a USB drive or the PlayStation Plus cloud save functionality. Make sure to disable automatic uploading, as it can override your backups. Rename your save file and restore as required.

Uplay Cloud Saves: A Potential Complication

While Uplay’s cloud save feature is convenient, it can sometimes interfere with manual save backups. The cloud save might automatically sync and overwrite your manually restored save. To prevent this, consider disabling cloud saves for Far Cry 4, or being very careful about disconnecting from the internet while restoring a manual save.

Why Bother? The Benefits of Multiple Save Points

Creating your own multiple save system might seem like a hassle, but the benefits are considerable:

Explore Different Story Choices: Far Cry 4 offers branching storylines, particularly around the Golden Path leadership. By backing up your save before making critical decisions, you can easily revisit those moments and experience the consequences of different choices.
Replay Favorite Missions: Want to relive a particularly exciting outpost liberation or a challenging boss fight? With manual saves, you can jump back to those moments whenever you like.
Experiment with Different Playstyles: Perhaps you want to try a stealth-only playthrough or focus on using only certain weapons. Multiple saves allow you to experiment without losing your progress in your main game.
Avoid Game-Breaking Bugs: While Far Cry 4 is relatively stable, bugs can occur. Having a backup save can be a lifesaver if you encounter a game-breaking glitch that prevents you from progressing.

Beyond Save Management: Extending Your Far Cry 4 Experience

While managing multiple saves is a practical solution, there are other ways to extend your enjoyment of Far Cry 4:

Complete All Side Missions: Kyrat is filled with side quests that offer unique challenges and rewards. Completing all side missions can significantly extend your playtime and provide a deeper understanding of the game’s world.
Collect All Collectibles: From Propaganda Posters to Lost Letters, Far Cry 4 is packed with collectibles. Hunting down all these items can be a rewarding experience for completionists.
Explore the Open World: Kyrat is a vast and beautiful region, ripe for exploration. Take the time to venture off the beaten path and discover hidden locations, secret encounters, and stunning vistas.
Play Co-op with a Friend: Far Cry 4’s co-op mode allows you to team up with a friend and tackle the game’s challenges together. Playing with a partner can add a whole new dimension to the experience.

Understanding Game Design: Why Single Saves?

While the single save system can be frustrating, it’s important to understand the potential design reasons behind it. For example, a single save can encourage players to live with their in-game choices. An interesting read that might shed light on design choices in games is found on the Games Learning Society website (GamesLearningSociety.org). The single save encourages players to live with consequences, just like Ajay has to deal with the ramifications of his choices in Kyrat.

FAQs: Mastering Multiple Games in Far Cry 4

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of managing multiple games in Far Cry 4:

Does starting a new game really overwrite everything in Far Cry 4? Yes, starting a “New Game” from the main menu will completely wipe your progress. Be absolutely sure you’ve backed up your save if you want to keep it.
Will disabling cloud saves mess up my game? Disabling cloud saves won’t directly mess up your game, but it does mean your save data won’t be automatically backed up online. Remember to manually back up your saves if you disable this feature!
Can I have different characters with different skill trees if I use manual saves? Absolutely! Each backed-up save file represents a snapshot of your character’s progress, including their skills, weapons, and story choices.
How often should I back up my Far Cry 4 save file? This depends on how often you make important decisions or accomplish significant milestones. As a general rule, back up your save before any major story choice or after completing a long series of missions.
What happens if my Uplay cloud save overwrites my manual save? If this happens, you’ll lose the progress from your manual save. This is why disabling cloud saves or disconnecting from the internet while restoring a save is recommended.
Is there a mod that allows multiple save slots in Far Cry 4? While mods exist for various aspects of Far Cry 4, a mod specifically adding multiple save slots is rare. The manual backup method is the most reliable solution.
Will using manual saves affect my achievements or trophies? No, using manual saves will not affect your ability to earn achievements or trophies. As long as you meet the requirements for an achievement in a particular save file, you’ll still unlock it.
Can I share my Far Cry 4 save files with friends? Yes, you can share your save files with friends, but keep in mind that their game progress will be overwritten if they use your save.
Does Far Cry 4 have a New Game Plus mode? No, Far Cry 4 does not feature a New Game Plus mode. The manual save backup method is the closest equivalent.
What are the “best” story choices to make in Far Cry 4? This is entirely subjective and depends on your preferences. Experiment with different choices using manual saves to see which outcomes you prefer.
How much storage space do Far Cry 4 save files typically take up? Far Cry 4 save files are relatively small, usually only a few megabytes in size.
Can I use the same manual save backup method for other Ubisoft games? Yes, the same basic principle applies to many other Ubisoft games with single save slots. Just locate the save file directory for the specific game.
Does the difficulty setting affect the save file? No, the difficulty setting is stored separately and can be changed at any time without affecting the save file itself.
Is it possible to revert to an earlier point in the game without using manual saves? No, without manual saves, you are limited to the single save slot and cannot revert to earlier progress.
Are there any risks associated with modifying or backing up Far Cry 4 save files? As long as you follow the instructions carefully and create backups of your backups, the risks are minimal. However, always exercise caution when modifying game files.

Navigating the one-save-slot limitation in Far Cry 4 is tricky. However, with these questions answered and the method of manual backups, you are well on your way to exploring the diverse potential timelines that can occur in the land of Kyrat. Good luck, and have fun!

Can you have multiple games in Far Cry 4?