In the vast expanse of the galaxy, there’s one question that has been plaguing players of the beloved sandbox adventure game Starbound: Does Starbound have cloud saves? For those who have spent countless hours exploring the procedurally generated worlds, fighting off hostile aliens, and building their dream bases, the thought of losing their progress due to a game crash or hardware failure is a daunting one. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Starbound’s save system and answer once and for all whether cloud saves are a feature of this intergalactic adventure.
The Importance Of Cloud Saves In Modern Gaming
In today’s gaming landscape, cloud saves have become an expected feature in many modern titles. With the rise of cloud gaming and the ability to play games on multiple devices, the need for saves to be accessible across platforms has become increasingly important. Cloud saves provide a safety net for players, allowing them to pick up where they left off on any device with an internet connection. This feature is particularly crucial in games with heavy investment in character progression, such as RPGs and sandbox games like Starbound.
The Original Save System Of Starbound
When Starbound was first released in 2014, the game’s save system was relatively straightforward. Saves were stored locally on the player’s device, and could be accessed by navigating to the game’s directory on their computer. While this system worked adequately, it had its limitations. Players who wanted to play on multiple devices or needed to reinstall the game would have to transfer their save files manually, a process that could be tedious and prone to errors.
The Addition Of Steam Cloud Saves
In 2015, game developer Chucklefish partnered with Valve to release Starbound on Steam, the popular digital distribution platform. As part of this partnership, Starbound gained access to Steam’s cloud saving feature. This meant that players who purchased the game through Steam could have their saves synced across devices, as long as they were connected to the internet and had the Steam client installed.
However, it’s essential to note that this feature was limited to Steam users only. Players who purchased the game through other platforms, such as GOG or the Humble Store, were still stuck with the original local save system.
Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility
One of the significant drawbacks of Starbound’s save system is the lack of cross-platform compatibility. While Steam cloud saves work seamlessly across Windows, macOS, and Linux, players who want to play on consoles or mobile devices are out of luck. The game’s saves are not compatible between platforms, meaning that players who start a game on PC cannot pick it up on their Xbox or PlayStation.
This limited compatibility is a significant obstacle for players who want to play on multiple devices. For example, a player who starts a game on their PC and then wants to continue playing on their Xbox will have to start from scratch, losing all their progress.
Third-Party Workarounds And Modding Community
In the absence of official cloud saves, the Starbound community has stepped up to fill the gap. Resourceful players and modders have created third-party workarounds to allow for cloud saving, using services like Google Drive or Dropbox to sync saves across devices. While these solutions are not officially supported by Chucklefish, they have become popular among players who want to access their saves from anywhere.
The modding community has also been instrumental in creating custom solutions for cloud saving. Mods like the popular “Cloud Saves” mod, which utilizes Google Drive to store and sync saves, have become essential tools for players who want to ensure their progress is secure.
The Future Of Cloud Saves In Starbound
Despite the limitations of Starbound’s current save system, there is hope on the horizon. In a 2020 update, Chucklefish mentioned that they were exploring ways to improve the game’s save system, including the possibility of cloud saves. While no official announcement has been made, the developer’s willingness to revisit the save system is a promising sign.
In the meantime, players can continue to rely on Steam cloud saves or third-party workarounds to ensure their progress is safe. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more games adopt cloud saving as a standard feature. Whether Starbound will eventually join their ranks remains to be seen, but for now, players can continue to reach for the stars, knowing that their progress is (somewhat) secure.
| Platform | Cloud Saves |
|---|---|
| Steam | Yes |
| GOG | No |
| Humble Store | No |
| Console (Xbox, PlayStation) | No |
| Mobile Devices | No |
In conclusion, while Starbound does not have universal cloud saves, players who purchase the game through Steam can take advantage of Steam cloud saves. For players on other platforms, third-party workarounds and mods offer a solution, albeit not an officially supported one. As the game continues to evolve, the possibility of cloud saves being added in the future remains a glimmer of hope for players who want to ensure their progress is secure.
Does Starbound Have Cloud Saves?
Starbound, a popular sandbox-style space-exploration game, has been a topic of discussion when it comes to cloud saving capabilities. The answer is yes, Starbound does have cloud saves, but only for certain platforms.
To be specific, cloud saves are available for players on GOG Galaxy and Steam. This means that if you’re playing Starbound on one of these platforms, you can access your game saves from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. This is especially convenient for players who play on multiple devices or switch between devices frequently.
How Do I Enable Cloud Saves In Starbound?
Enabling cloud saves in Starbound is a straightforward process. For Steam users, cloud saves are enabled by default, so you don’t need to do anything extra. Your game saves will automatically be uploaded to the Steam cloud when you exit the game.
For GOG Galaxy users, you’ll need to make sure that the “Cloud saving” option is enabled in the GOG Galaxy client. To do this, open the GOG Galaxy client, navigate to the “Settings” tab, and toggle the “Cloud saving” switch to the “On” position. Once you’ve done this, your Starbound game saves will be uploaded to the GOG cloud.
Do I Need An Internet Connection To Play Starbound With Cloud Saves?
To play Starbound with cloud saves, you’ll need a stable internet connection. This is because the game needs to communicate with the cloud servers to upload and download your game saves. If you don’t have an internet connection, you won’t be able to access your cloud saves.
However, it’s worth noting that once your game saves are downloaded to your local device, you can play Starbound offline without an internet connection. Your progress will be saved locally, and when you reconnect to the internet, your saves will be uploaded to the cloud again.
What Happens If I Lose My Internet Connection While Playing Starbound?
If you lose your internet connection while playing Starbound with cloud saves, the game will continue to save your progress locally. This means that you can keep playing without any issues, even if you’re not connected to the internet.
When your internet connection is restored, your local saves will be uploaded to the cloud, ensuring that your progress is synced across all your devices. However, if you’ve made significant progress offline, it’s a good idea to wait until your saves are uploaded to the cloud before exiting the game, to ensure that your progress is safely stored.
Can I Access My Starbound Cloud Saves On Multiple Devices?
One of the biggest advantages of cloud saves in Starbound is that you can access your game saves on multiple devices. As long as you’re logged in to your Steam or GOG Galaxy account, you can download your cloud saves to any device that has the game installed.
This means that you can start playing on one device, and pick up where you left off on another device, without having to worry about transferring your saves manually. Your cloud saves will be synced across all your devices, making it easy to play Starbound on the go.
Are Cloud Saves Available For All Platforms?
Unfortunately, cloud saves are not available for all platforms that Starbound is available on. Currently, cloud saves are only supported on GOG Galaxy and Steam.
If you’re playing Starbound on Xbox, PlayStation, or Nintendo Switch, you won’t have access to cloud saves. Instead, you’ll need to rely on local saves, which are stored on your console or handheld device. However, it’s possible that cloud saves may be added to these platforms in the future.
Are Cloud Saves Secure In Starbound?
The security of cloud saves is a top priority for both Steam and GOG Galaxy. Both platforms use robust encryption and secure servers to store your game saves, ensuring that they’re protected from unauthorized access.
In addition, both platforms have strict policies in place to prevent data breaches and ensure that your saves are kept confidential. While no system is completely foolproof, the security measures in place make it highly unlikely that your cloud saves will be compromised.