Help Understanding Saves

[FaZe AlphA]

Hi.

I've been playing this one Steam Deck using a "shared" copy from my father in law's library.

He is not planning on getting the DLC. I want to. My understanding is I cannot buy and play DLC for a game that technically isn't in my library (I'm playing a "borrowed" or "shared" copy).

This leads me to believe I need to buy my own copy of Elden Ring in order to buy and play Erdtree DLC. I'm cool with that. My worry though is that my save information will somehow get lost in the shuffle.

HELP!

1. I am currently playing a shared copy of the game from a library that won't be buying the DLC. Am I correct, that in order to play the upcoming DLC, I will need to buy my own version of the game and then buy the DLC?

2. If I'm playing a shared copy of the game, and then buy my own copy of it, will the save from the shared copy be available in my own library copy? Note: I'm on Steam Deck, not PC. I see lot of advice on various web searches about "folders" and "save files" and such, but again — I'm not on a PC where I can manage files that way.

Thank you so so much. I'm not very savvy in these things so I really appreciate the insights and advice. Much love.

[Greywander]

You actually can manage folders and whatnot on the Deck; the Deck is a PC. You need to switch the Deck to Desktop mode.

In any case, save files are tied to Steam accounts, I believe. I'm not 100% certain but I think this means you can keep your save as long as it's on the same account, but you cannot keep your save if you buy the game on a different account. Well, there is a way to transfer the save file over, but it will get you flagged for cheating and banned.

I've never used Family Sharing so I don't know the details of how it works. Is it possible for you to buy games on your shared account, or is that accounted treated as an extension of the primary account (i.e. your father-in-law's account)?

[FaZe AlphA]

Originally posted by Greywander:

I've never used Family Sharing so I don't know the details of how it works. Is it possible for you to buy games on your shared account, or is that accounted treated as an extension of the primary account (i.e. your father-in-law's account)?

All of this sounds promising.

I CAN buy games on my own account. The games he shares with me show up in my library as if I owned them as well, just mixed in with the games I bought on my own.

[nfinite.recursion]

https://store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorage

See if you have an entry for Elden Ring in the link above. If you do, then your Steam Deck will automatically download your save and you will be able to continue with your own copy of the game.

[FaZe AlphA]

Originally posted by nfinite.recursion:

https://store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorage

See if you have an entry for Elden Ring in the link above. If you do, then your Steam Deck will automatically download your save and you will be able to continue with your own copy of the game.

Wow! What an awesome answer! Thank you!!