As much as Valve insists that Steam Deck is really a PC with which we can play on the go and wherever we want our Steam games, their appearance and design they lend themselves to being used as a console. More specifically, like a Nintendo Switch. Logically, this implies that sooner or later we will have to juggle our progress and games if we want to continue our games in progress. And what if we want to switch between systems on the fly?
Fortunately, Gabe Newel’s team has taken this into account and with the recently announced Dynamic synchronization with Cloud from Valve anticipate the problem and Steam Deck is patched before the injury: as broken down verbatim on Steam, this feature allows players to seamlessly move between Deck and their team no need to exit the game on Steam Deck.
The procedure goes through the Steam platform and, according to Valve, there are hardly any complications: before our device goes into sleep mode, all the data of the modified saved games will be automatically uploaded to the cloud. Naturally, there is a preliminary consideration: developers must enable it in their games manually from Steamworks.
With Dynamic Cloud Sync, Steam will automatically upload all modified save game data to the cloud before the device goes to sleep.
Users can then resume their game on any PC, laptop or other device. Steam will also automatically download any changes to saved games when users turn their Steam Deck back on.
As simple as it sounds, and with a twist that sets this cloud save feature apart from that offered with Nintendo Switch Online or PlayStation Plus: it’s totally free. Basically, like online play on Steam (and usually on PC) syncing with Cloud doesn’t require a subscription or additional cost. And that earns the Steam Deck even more bonus points.
Valve wants to have everything tied up before the launch of Steam Deck
Logically, for the transition between systems to be comfortable and simple on our part, we must have previously activated dynamic synchronization with the Cloud. That said, and according to Valve, even if we have it disabled Steam will still be able to log when game save data changes and Steam Deck.
And what happens if in the middle of an ongoing game on Steam Deck we enter sleep mode, our last progress is not recorded and we want to continue on PC or any other device? In Valve they have taken it into account and offer us two solutions:
- We will be asked to turn on Steam Deck again so that we close the game and not lose the progress.
- Or we can continue directly knowing that the most recent progress in the game has not been saved.
Steam Deck no busca to compete with current consoles. At least directly. Its purpose is to extend the library of games we already have and take the Steam platform beyond desktops. Valve is being very transparent with its hardware, of course, but it’s also He takes his chances very seriously.
The first pre-ordered Steam Deck units are expected to start shipping during the first half of 2022. One year, by the way, is already making a big splash on PC with gems like Monster Hunter Rise, God of War and very soon Elden Ring and the Uncharted collection.
