Does PS Plus Automatically Save Game Data? Everything You Need to Know
Yes, PlayStation Plus (PS Plus) does automatically save game data to the cloud, but it’s not quite as simple as pressing “play” and forgetting about it. This feature, a cornerstone of the PS Plus subscription, ensures that your hard-earned progress isn’t lost should your console encounter issues or if you decide to play on another device. However, there are some nuances to how this works, and it’s important to understand them to get the most out of your subscription. Here’s a deep dive into how PS Plus cloud saves operate, what to expect, and how to manage your data effectively.
How PS Plus Cloud Saves Work
The automatic saving feature is linked directly to your PlayStation Network (PSN) account and your PS Plus subscription status. When you are actively playing a game, your save data is stored locally on your console’s storage. However, the key process happens when you log out of your game, put your console into rest mode, or shut down your PlayStation system. At this point, your updated save data is automatically uploaded to the PlayStation Network server.
This seamless background process means that you can pick up your game on another device, such as another PS5 or a PS4 (if the game is cross-generational), and your saved game data will be waiting for you. It provides excellent flexibility and helps prevent the frustration of losing countless hours of gameplay.
The Importance of a PS Plus Subscription
It’s crucial to note that this automatic cloud save feature is exclusively available to PlayStation Plus subscribers. Without an active subscription, you won’t be able to utilize this convenient and important backup system. You are essentially reliant on local saves only. This limitation underscores the benefit of having a PS Plus subscription, not just for the free monthly games, but also for the critical protection of your game progress.
Managing Your Saved Data
While the system is largely automatic, you do have some control over your saved data. You can manage it directly from your PlayStation console.
Manual Cloud Saves
While automatic saves are the default, you can also manually manage your saved data, both on PS4 and PS5 consoles.
On PS5:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
- Choose Saved Data (PS4) or Saved Data (PS5), depending on the game.
- Select Cloud Storage.
- From here, you can upload game saves to the cloud or download them to your console.
On PS4:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Application Saved Data Management.
- Choose Saved Data in System Storage.
- Then, select Upload to Online Storage or Download to System Storage.
Backing Up to USB
If you don’t have PS Plus, you’re not out of luck for managing saves. Both PS4 and PS5 consoles allow you to copy game data to a USB storage device. This provides a manual backup solution and the ability to transfer saves between consoles.
- On your console go to Settings.
- Select Application Saved Data Management
- Choose Saved Data in System Storage
- Select Copy to USB Storage Device or from Saved Data on USB Storage Device
What Happens When Your PS Plus Subscription Lapses?
Understanding what happens to your saves when your subscription expires is essential. Here’s a breakdown:
- Cloud Saves Are Retained: When your PS Plus subscription ends, your cloud-saved data is not immediately deleted. Sony generally keeps the data for a grace period.
- Re-Subscription Required for Access: While the saves aren’t gone, you cannot upload new saves to the cloud or download existing ones until you renew your subscription. This means you can’t pick up a game on another console using cloud saves without an active subscription.
- Grace Period: Sony promises a six-month grace period for your save data in the cloud. However, it’s not a guarantee that your data will be permanently deleted after six months. The length of the grace period has been reported to be approximately 90 days in some instances.
- Reactivating Your Subscription: Once your subscription is active again, you will have full access to your saves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions that elaborate on different aspects of automatic cloud saves and their management.
1. How Long Does PS Plus Keep Saved Game Data Before It’s Deleted?
While Sony promises a six-month grace period, there are reports indicating that save data can sometimes be kept longer than this period. However, it’s crucial to resubscribe before the grace period ends to ensure your saves are accessible.
2. Do I Lose Access to My PS Plus Games When My Membership Ends?
Yes, if your PS Plus membership ends, you can no longer play or download any of the free monthly games that you previously downloaded while subscribed to PlayStation Plus.
3. How Can I Recover Lost Saved Game Data on PS4 Without PS Plus?
You can manually copy your game data onto a USB storage device to back up your saves without a PS Plus subscription. Then, restore it as needed.
4. How Do I Get My Saved Data from PlayStation Plus?
On your PS5, go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Saved Data (PS4 or PS5) > Cloud Storage and choose Download to Console Storage. Then, select the saves you want to download. The process is similar on a PS4.
5. What Happens If I Delete a Game on PS5?
Uninstalling a game on your PS5 does not delete your save data, unless you specifically choose to delete the game’s associated save files. You can safely delete a game and reinstall it later, and your save progress will still be there.
6. Can I Transfer Save Data From PS4 to PS5 Without PS Plus?
Yes, you can transfer PS4 game saves to a USB drive and then copy them to your PS5, even without a PS Plus subscription.
7. Will I Lose Save Data If I Cancel PS Plus?
No, you will not lose your save data. Your saves remain stored in the cloud for a grace period after your subscription ends. However, you won’t be able to upload new saves or download existing ones until you resubscribe.
8. Do You Need PS Plus For Cloud Saves?
Yes, you need an active PlayStation Plus membership to utilize the automatic cloud save feature. Without it, you must rely on manual USB backups.
9. Can I Share PlayStation Plus Cloud Saves With Other Accounts?
No, save files are locked to the PSN profile that created them. You can only access your save data from the PSN account that has an active PS Plus membership and is linked to the save data.
10. Does PS Plus cloud save for all games?
Yes, the automatic cloud save feature applies to all games on PlayStation consoles, assuming you have a PS Plus subscription and the game supports the save functionality.
11. How do I get my game progress back after setting up a new console?
On your new console, after signing in to your PSN account, you can go to settings then to Saved Data and Game/App Settings and download your saved data from the cloud.
12. Is there a limit to how much cloud save data PS Plus offers?
While there isn’t a specific limit on the number of save files, PlayStation Plus does have a storage limit for cloud saves. While it’s generally substantial, very large save files may require the management of your storage.
13. Can System Restore on my PS5 or PS4 recover my saved games?
No, System Restore is designed for software and system settings, not individual game files. To restore your saved games, use USB backups or your cloud saves.
14. What happens if I don’t transfer data when setting up my PS5?
If you skip the data transfer process when setting up your new console, it’s a clean slate. You can download your games, and save data (if you have PS Plus) or transfer save files manually via USB.
15. How long does the PS5 data transfer process take?
The data transfer time varies depending on the size of the data being moved and the method used (network transfer or USB). It can range from a few minutes to several hours for larger amounts of data.
Conclusion
Automatic cloud saves are a significant advantage for PlayStation Plus subscribers, offering peace of mind and flexibility in your gaming habits. While understanding the nuances of how this system works is crucial, the process is generally smooth and convenient. By managing your saves properly, utilizing manual backups when needed, and keeping your subscription active, you can ensure that your precious game progress is always secure and accessible.