In hindsight, the console wars of the 90s were pretty straightforward. Sega, Nintendo, and eventually Sony, had just one thing to convince gamers they were the best option: their libraries of games. Whoever had the better games, won the war. These days, things aren’t quite so simple, and there are a bunch of other factors that usually come into play when determining which console to opt for. Not least of which is the strength of the console’s subscription service on offer. In this regard, Microsoft’sXbox Game Passis the pick of the bunch, offering a host of high-quality titles for a low monthly cost. This library of titles does rotate though, and many gamers wonder what will happen to their save files if a title they are playing leavesXbox Game Pass.
Xbox’s library of games that are available to play via Game Pass is regularly updated. In fact,15 games are leaving Game Pass in Novemberalone, and a handful of new titles are usually added to the surface to replace the departing ones. This can leave some gamers in a race against time to play through their favorites before they leave the service. Depending on the title, it isn’t always a race the player can win, but thankfully, just because the game leaves the service, it doesn’t affect the associated save file in any way.
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Your Save File is Still Intact If a Game Leaves the Service
Games are incredibly varied in terms of their length. While some can be completed in a single sitting, other mammoth titles such asRed Dead Redemption 2orAssassin’s Creed Valhallacan easily take upwards of 100 hours to finish. These types of games are usually tackled over long periods of time as gamers look to juggle their busy lives, so it’s entirely plausible that a game could leave the Game Pass service before the player has had a chance to finish it off. Thankfully though, regardless of when or if the game leaves the service, a player’s save file is stored separately, meaning it remains intact even after the game has left.
This ensures that should the player wish to continue where they left off, all they need to do is purchase the game, and install it. Once the game is booted up, players will be able to load their save files and continue their progress exactly as they left it. Alternatively, they could of course wait and see if the title re-emerges on the service at some stage. The regular rotation means this is always a possibility, asXbox Game Pass incorporates a mixture of Day One gameswith older titles. Either way though, the save file will still be there ready and waiting.
The Xbox Game Pass has given gamers access to some titles that were previouslyinaccessible on this generation, such asFinal Fantasy 13, andFight Night Champion,as well as the entire back catalog ofHaloandGears of Wartitles. With hours of content to keep gamers busy, it’s especially reassuring to know that their progress throughout these games is not linked directly to the Game Pass service.
