Will Starfield Have Cross Saves? Everything You Need to Know
Yes, Starfield features robust cross-save functionality, allowing players to seamlessly transition their game progress between Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. This means that whether you’re playing on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or your PC, you can pick up right where you left off. This feature, a core component of the game’s “Play Anywhere” capability, ensures your adventures among the stars are never interrupted, no matter where you choose to play.
How Starfield’s Cross Save Works
Cloud-Based Synchronization
The magic behind Starfield’s cross-save lies in its cloud-based synchronization system. As you play and save your game, these save files are automatically uploaded to the cloud. When you start the game on a different platform using the same Microsoft account, your latest save data is downloaded, allowing you to continue your journey without losing any progress. This process happens in the background, requiring no manual intervention from the player, making it incredibly user-friendly.
Account Linking and Aliases
To ensure seamless cross-saving, it’s crucial that you’re using the same Microsoft account across all platforms. If you happen to have different email addresses linked to your Xbox account and your Microsoft account for your PC, don’t worry. You can add your Xbox email as an alias to your Microsoft account. This consolidates your profiles and ensures that your save data synchronizes correctly.
No Game Pass Required for Cross Saves
A common misconception is that you need a Game Pass subscription to utilize cross saves in Starfield. That is incorrect. Cross-save functionality is built into the game itself, and it does not require an active Game Pass subscription. As long as you own a digital copy of the game and have linked your Microsoft account correctly across your devices, your progress will be synchronized seamlessly.
Understanding Save Transfers and Limitations
Automatic Cloud Saves
Starfield automatically manages your save data through the cloud, and it will download your game progress from their online cloud servers for both Steam and Xbox Game Pass versions. This system makes it easy to keep all your saves up-to-date on every platform.
Local Saves for Backups
While the game utilizes cloud saves, it also maintains local copies of your save files. These local saves can be found on your PC and can be copied and pasted as a way of manual backup. The ability to access and backup local saves provides an additional layer of security for your progress. If you wish, you can backup your saves manually, for added piece of mind.
Single-Platform Usage at a Time
A key limitation of the cross-save feature is that you can only be signed into the game on one platform at a time. If you are playing on your PC, you cannot simultaneously be playing on an Xbox console using the same Microsoft account, and vice-versa. This limitation prevents any potential conflicts in save data and maintains the integrity of your game.
New Game Plus (NG+) and Cross-Save
Interestingly, cross saves work flawlessly with New Game Plus (NG+). Your progress is seamlessly transferred, so you can pick up your NG+ play session on either a PC or Xbox. However, it’s worth mentioning that only your physical attributes, skills, and powers carry over to NG+ mode, not your gear and inventory.
Cross-Save and Cross-Progression
Cross-save in Starfield ensures your game saves seamlessly transfer between systems. The term “cross-progression” is often used interchangeably. Effectively, this means your gameplay progress carries over between PC and Xbox consoles through cloud saves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Starfield Cross Saves
1. Can I play Starfield on Xbox and then pick up on my PC without losing progress?
Yes, absolutely. Thanks to the Play Anywhere feature and cloud saves, you can start playing on your Xbox and seamlessly continue your game on your PC, picking up exactly where you left off.
2. Do I need Xbox Game Pass to use cross saves?
No. Cross-save functionality is independent of Xbox Game Pass. It relies on your Microsoft account and is available to anyone who owns a digital copy of Starfield.
3. What if my Xbox and PC accounts use different email addresses?
If you have different emails for your Xbox and PC accounts, you can add your Xbox email as an alias to your Microsoft account to ensure seamless save synchronization.
4. Does cross-save work with Steam version of Starfield?
Yes, the cloud save system works for both the Steam version and Xbox Game Pass version of Starfield.
5. Can I transfer saves manually if I have to?
Yes, you can manually copy your local save files on your PC and transfer them if needed, providing an alternative backup solution in addition to automatic cloud saves.
6. Can I play on both PC and Xbox at the same time using the same account?
No. You can only be signed in and playing on one platform (either a PC or Xbox) at a time.
7. How are save files synchronized between my devices?
Save files are synchronized automatically via the cloud. When you save your game, the files are uploaded to the cloud, and when you start the game on a different platform, those files are downloaded, keeping your progress consistent.
8. Does cross-save work for New Game Plus?
Yes. Your New Game Plus progress will transfer between PC and Xbox consoles via the cloud save system.
9. Will I lose anything by moving between Xbox and PC?
No. As long as you're using the same Microsoft account, all your progress, from character levels to quest completion, will transfer seamlessly using cloud saves.
10. Can I have multiple saves and switch between them on different devices?
Yes, Starfield allows multiple manual saves and utilizes automatic quick and auto-saves. These saves can be used on different devices, assuming you’re on the same Microsoft account.
11. Are there any restrictions on cross-save functionality?
The primary restriction is that you can only be logged into the game on one device at a time. However, this is to preserve the integrity of your save data.
12. Can I share save files with friends?
While you can manually copy save files, **cloud sync is linked to your account**, making direct sharing for progression not possible.
13. If I start on PC and then play on Xbox, will my settings transfer as well?
While the majority of progress transfers including quests and character development, settings for graphics and controller layout will likely need to be configured on each system individually.
14. Is there a risk of save corruption when using cross saves?
While it’s always a possibility, **cloud saves are designed to be secure and stable**. Occasional minor issues are always possible, but automatic cloud sync is designed to prevent this.
15. Does Starfield’s cross-save feature work between Xbox One and PC?
No, the cross-save feature works between Xbox Series X/S consoles and Windows PC’s only. Xbox One consoles are not compatible with this functionality.
By implementing a smooth cloud save system and the “Play Anywhere” feature, Starfield ensures that your intergalactic adventures are always accessible, no matter where you choose to play. With this detailed guide and FAQs, you can make the most of Starfield’s cross-save functionality and dive into the vast universe without any worry of losing progress.