What are Local Saved Games on Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S?
Local saved games refer to the game progress and achievement files that are saved directly to the console‘s internal hard drive or external USB storage drives connected to your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S.
Unlike cloud saved games which are stored remotely on Xbox Live servers, local saved games reside locally on your console. This gives them some unique advantages and disadvantages compared to cloud storage.
Benefits of Local Saved Game Storage
Storing saved games locally offers gamers two standout benefits:
1. Faster access for loading times – Fetching save files from your console‘s internal drive is much quicker than having to download them from Microsoft‘s cloud servers each time you boot up a game. This means faster load times when continuing where you left off.
2. Offline accessibility – Your gaming session isn‘t disrupted if you lose your internet connection. The local saved games act as a backup when you can‘t connect to Xbox Live and sync with the cloud.
| Local Saved Games vs Cloud Saved Games | Local Saved Games | Cloud Saved Games (Xbox Live) |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Location | Internal drive or external USB drive | Microsoft remote servers |
| Access Speed | Very fast | Dependent on internet speed |
| Internet Required? | No | Yes |
| Backup Protection | Risk of single point of failure | Resilient to device failure |
However, relying solely on local game storage does come with risks in terms of durability and game transportability…
Risks of Only Using Local Saved Game Storage
The downside of limiting yourself to local saved games is increased vulnerability:
- If the internal hard drive fails, the save files could be lost forever if you don‘t have a backed up copy
- External USB drives that are accidentally damaged or corrupted also pose a risk
- If you get a new Xbox console, transferring local saved games requires manually moving the files via USB drives
Unlike the automatic syncing that Xbox cloud storage enables, local save games require more hands-on management to avoid the above risks.
Where Local Saved Games Are Stored on Xbox One & Xbox Series X
When you save a game while playing on your Xbox console or suspend a game session, where exactly are those local files saved?
Default Xbox One Local Storage
- Internal hard drive – All locally saved games are housed on the 500GB internal drive by default
- External USB hard drives (if connected)
Default Xbox Series X|S Storage:
- 1TB custom internal SSD
- Xbox Series X|S Storage Expansion Card
The super fast internal SSDs used in the Xbox Series X|S enable gameplay capture and quick resume of multiple titles. The proprietary 1TB Expansion Card neatly replicates the internal SSD experience.
So if you‘re rocking an Xbox Series X|S, local saved games populate onto those drives by default as you play.
Tips for Managing Local Saved Games
Making sure you don‘t lose access to local saved games on Xbox One or Series X|S means being proactive. Follow these tips for protection:
- Back up your local saved games – Manually copy important save files to a USB drive or enable Xbox cloud syncing
- Set your external USB drive as the default save location – Then if the internal drive fails, your saves are still stored
- Take advantage of Xbox cloud sync – This automatically backs up saved games securely in the cloud
- Check save file health – Under "Manage Game & Add-ons", check for corrupt files
Properly administering where saved games are stored locally takes some work but pays off through peace of mind.
Transferring Local Xbox Saved Games to New Console
Upgrading to Xbox Series X|S from an older device? What about moving saves to a friend‘s house to continue playing your games?
Transporting locally stored saved games involves a few manual steps:
- Copy the local saved game files to an external USB drive
- Take that USB drive and connect to your new Xbox console
- Move the saved game files back into the internal drive or storage locations
- Launch game to access transferred saves!
Just be aware that saved game formats can differ across Xbox generations so some files might not carry over. Using cloud storage helps smoothly transition saves between consoles.
The Takeaway
Local game saving is a useful capability allowing for quicker access, offline play, and overall convenience. But sole reliance on local Xbox storage poses some risks versus leveraging cloud syncing.
My recommendation? Xbox gamers should utilize both local saving AND coordinated cloud sync for comprehensive protection – getting the best of both worlds.
What has been your experience with managing saved games on your Xbox? Do you prefer local console storage or cloud sync? Let me know!
