Where does the game keep user-specific files? And is it possible to have multiple profiles?

[duckweedseattle]

All three of my kids want to play this game using their own character and car. I want to do this as well.

With many other games that only allow for a single profile or save slot, we've figured out how to store the user-specific files in a folder that we created and named accordingly for each player. Then we copy those files back into their original locations when the corresponding person goes to play. It take a few extra steps, but works like a charm.

Any idea how to this with FH4? Has anyone tried it with any success?

[Void Dance]

Seems to be possible by using seperate accounts in the X-Box Game Bar app. References:

https://www.reddit.com/r/forza/comments/9kphlf/fh4_pc_with_2_profiles/
https://forums.forzamotorsport.net/turn10_postst168646_Multiple-profiles-on-PC.aspx

[duckweedseattle]

Cool, thanks. We'll try using our various Steam accounts. (We have four for four people.)

[Void Dance]

No I meant X-Box accounts to switch between gamer tags and apparantly savefiles through that Game Bar app. Since the game itself is tied to one single account on Steam you cannot use seperate Steam accounts.

[Moga CMDR]

You can only change what steam account the game is linked to once per 30 days.

So using different live accounts via the app should work. I did that for a bit. But you need to be careful. I would be sure to back up your data and not depend on the cloud.

[Void Dance]

Originally posted by Moga CMDR:

using different live accounts via the app should work. I did that for a bit.

Do you mean you succesfully switched save data or registration only? Quoting from this FAQ[support.forzamotorsport.net] it seems having multiple sava data profiles on the Steam version isn't possible afterall. I suspect the links I gave in my first reply were of people using the Microsoft Store version of this game.

Your save file which includes progress and in game items on Steam is completely unique and separate from any pre-existing save file that’s associated with your Xbox Live gamertag, due to technical limitations.

However, I did find the default savegame location, so manually switching between saves should be possible, as long as you turn off the Steam Cloud sync for this game:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\*unique number*\1293830\remote

That "remote" folder contains things like tuning profiles and liveries too so better to keep the entire folder seperate when switching.

[Moga CMDR]

I had to go check, but for FH4, they don't have separate folders for each account, like they do in FH5.

So yes, back up that remote folder, as that has everything.

[duckweedseattle]

Thanks for the input! I'll do some experimenting.

As for switching Steam accounts: I didn't mean linking the game to different accounts. We have four people on four different accounts in our household, and they all have mutually shared game libraries. Many games that offer only one save slot or profile will let you have another profile/save if you log in under a different Steam account which shares the library of the owner. In this way, you can have multiple "save slots" for many games that don't offer save slots (as many saves as you have shared libraries... if that makes sense).

[Void Dance]

Well if you have multiple licenses for this game I think they will all be in seperate folders anyway. The "unique number" folder I mentioned, where you would find the 1293830 folder which is the distinct number assigned to this game. I figure as long as every person in your household has the same version of the game (so same amount of content, possibly DLC) only one installation would be needed. Although that would still require logging into seperate Microsoft and X-Box accounts linked to those licenses when you switch between the Steam accounts.

[Lordimbroke]

Originally posted by duckweedseattle:

Cool, thanks. We'll try using our various Steam accounts. (We have four for four people.)

Gamer family. Goals.

[duckweedseattle]

Although I wasn't talking about different installations -- only different shared Steam accounts taking turns on the same computer -- that gives me an idea: Install the game on multiple computers. So long as cloud is turned off, there should be a different user profile (character and car progress) on each computer. That's all we need.

[Void Dance]

I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you can share libraries among your family on Steam. Looking at this FAQ though it seems it excludes games using external registration like this one with the Microsoft and X-Box accounts. So I think switching savegame folders is the way to go, using only your personal Steam account.

[duckweedseattle]

I just confirmed that you don't need to switch savegame folders. Switching Steam accounts is all that's required.

Just to restate, in case anyone is interetsed and just tuning in...

If you want to play with an all new character and car (i.e., start the game over from the very beginning, but without losing your progress), all you need to do is switch Steam accounts to an account that has a shared library.

In my case, my 3 kids and myself have a total of 4 Steam accounts, and all have shared libraries. We confirmed that all four of us can play FH4 with our own profiles (i.e., separate cars, characters, and progress), just by logging in to our own Steam account before launching the game. We are doing this using a single copy of the game and a single install on a single computer.

This "strategy" seems to work for nearly all games on Steam that lack multiple save game slots.

[duckweedseattle]

Also... ANYONE can share libraries on Steam. It is not limited to family members. Steam isn't even aware that the four of us are family members. All you do is send a share request to someone, and they have to confirm. Then you have access to all of each other's games.

[Void Dance]

Good, glad you figured it out. :)

[Rondrian82]

Originally posted by duckweedseattle:

If you want to play with an all new character and car (i.e., start the game over from the very beginning, but without losing your progress), all you need to do is switch Steam accounts to an account that has a shared library.

Sorry, for digging up this old thread, but I have a very similar situation here and one question about sharing the game with family share.
Do you all use the same Microsoft-XBox Account for FH4? Or do you have for all your sons a seperate XBox-Account?