Idiots guide: Arkham City GOTY Edition replace your saved games following update to remove Games for Windows Live (GFWL)

[Davy Jones]

This subject has been discussed many times but I thought I'd add a bit of a quick idiots guide if it helps anyone as it definitely helped me once I'd figured it all out.

In my case as for many the game was automatically updated to remove the integration for Games for Windows Live making it "Steam Powered" instead. I understand the reasons why and glad they choose to do so but a bit of a mess, at least for me.

1. Following the update any of your original saved games may perhpas still be in the following local path on your PC:
C:\Users\<username>\Documents\WB Games\Batman Arkham City GOTY\SaveData
- NOTE: In my case the directory was empty as the update it seemed has moved any game save files from here to the path outlined in step 3 below.
- So your own file <Windows Live username>-save0.sgd may now have been moved to Steam's own folder on your PC.

2. Depending on the number of separate games you created there should be a .sgd file for each one. In my case since I played through only once there was one single file like below:
<Windows Live username>-save0.sgd

3. Following the update Steam will now be storing your game saves in the following directory.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\111631859\200260\remote
OR
C:\Program Files\Steam\userdata\111631859\200260\remote

Note the reference to "200260" in that path refers to the Steam App ID as per the links below.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/200260/
http://steamcommunity.com/app/200260/discussions/
Yes it's obvious but stating it anyway :)

4. And the same again your number of saved games will match the number of .gsd files you have in that path plus there should also be a profile BIN file:
<Windows Live username>-save0.sgd
profile.bin
save0.sgd
- Note my original Games for Windows Live based saved game(s) have been moved to this path and even if I delete them, since once I have recreated the saves I no longer need them, once Steam synchronises the game the file is replaced.

5. I found threads here detailing instructions on using a HEX Editor to manually edit and rename copies of your original saved games but I could not really follow the instructions so my best bet was to use the app shared by user Pallando, link below:
https://github.com/pallando/gfwl-stripper/releases/tag/v1.1

Note props to Pallando and the extremely detialed guide THANK YOU!!!! http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=188027765

6. Download that app and unpack the Zip archive into a folder on your PC and keep it open as you're going to need it.

7. Create copies of your original Games for Windows Live game save files (the file(s) detailed in steps 1-4 above) and use the app to convert them.
- Note Windows may offer a prompt on whether the app is safe to use, in Windows 8 you need to select "more details" and okay it to run it.
- The app will convert for both Arkham Asylum and Arkham City titles.
- Once the conversion of the copied original game save has been completed in the unpacked folder of the app there should then be a newly created folder entitled "200260" where your converted game saves should now be.
- Note the created file will of course not contain your Windows Live username in the file name which of course it should not.

8. Copy that file(s) into your new "Steam Powered" game save directory as detailed in step 3 above and once you start your game your original save(s) should appear inside the game.

Hope this maybe helps someone!

[Super Camarano Super Sayajin]

can you post a 100% completion save game? i had one but i lost it

[Davy Jones]

Could your save now be in Steam's own userdata folder? Refer to the steps above.

Sorry I haven't finished this game yet, only ehem... < 10% in so far... Google one and if it's the old Games for Windows Live type, which I suspect it will be use the same process above to convert it?

[Super Camarano Super Sayajin]

i've really tryied to google it, but could not find one! Just 71% savegamess... thanks

[Davy Jones]

I assume you've wiped or moved PCs since otherwise if it's just a case of you had saved games before the update then they should be in the paths below. Mine at least were. It wasn't the same for Arkham Asylum though as they remained in the original path in My Documents.

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\111631859\200260\remote
OR
C:\Program Files\Steam\userdata\111631859\200260\remote

[Halcyon ✖ Doll]

It's a good thing I don't mind playing the game all over again, because this looks complicated to do. Meh, I'll figure it out when the retail keys start working.

[Pallando]

Originally posted by Daniel:

i've really tryied to google it, but could not find one! Just 71% savegamess... thanks

Have you looked in the 57400 folder ? If you had the standard edition, savegames are in a different directory...
You might have looked there, but I thought I should mention it...

[Davy Jones]

Originally posted by Pallando:

Originally posted by Daniel:

i've really tryied to google it, but could not find one! Just 71% savegamess... thanks

Have you looked in the 57400 folder ? If you had the standard edition, savegames are in a different directory...
You might have looked there, but I thought I should mention it...

Yes good point. My post was only on the GOTY versions which is what I have.

Originally posted by LuKP99:

It's a good thing I don't mind playing the game all over again, because this looks complicated to do. Meh, I'll figure it out when the retail keys start working.

It's not actually that hard, even for me, hence my reference to an idiots guide :)
You basically have two directories.
- The original one inside My Documents where the game saves were stored (and not stored by Windows Live AFAIK)
- and the new directory where Steam will now store them and upload so if you need to restore or change PC then no need for manual backups.
- You then use the tool to convert the old one so Steam can read it and it works, I've tested it on both titles.
- And again thanks to Pallando of course!