ValveSoftware
Steam Cloud is blanking out save data upon install on Proton games
The following is a problem on both Ubuntu and Bazzite (desktop computer). I was simply using steam defaults, which starts out on Proton Hotfix. I switched to a couple other versions when troubleshooting, but no luck.
When I install and play any Steam game which works natively on Linux, everything is good. I can pick up the game where I left off with my save data from Windows.
Examples: Rhythm Doctor, Penny Larceny, A Short Hike, BZZZT.
When I install and play any Steam game which does not work natively on Linux, one that uses Proton, one that requires me to turn on Settings>Compatibility... The games boot up and my save data (from Windows) is gone. "New Game" is the only option. No cloud error message appears.
Examples: UFO 50, Temple of Snek, Frog Detective, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog, Marsupilami Hoobadventure, Mail Mole, Toodee and Topdee.
(The one and only exception I've found is Thumper. It doesn't requires Compatibility Mode, but Steam Cloud worked correctly and I can pick up where I left off in Windows.)
I think Steam Cloud is putting "newgame" save data (or lack of save data) in my Linux. Why is it doing that, and how can I get it to pull my actual save data so I can play from where I left off in Windows?
It's too late for the games I've already installed while I had Steam Cloud turned on. But it's not too late for the games I have yet to install. I want to fix the problem so that the next time I install a Proton game, the cloud pulls in the correct save file.
This is a repeatable problem: my friend using the same distro has the same thing happen to his Steam Cloud.
By the way, I'm already aware of how to back up my save data from Windows and move it to Linux by hand. I could do that for five or ten games by myself. But for en masse, I think I will need the cloud feature.
P.S. I booted into Windows and tried playing the same games listed above. Steam Cloud served me the "new game only" save file on there too. So that means Steam Cloud is remembering the "blank" save file that was "generated" on Linux and is committing that to my account everywhere.
Are you dual booting Linux and Windows?
I am having the same issue as you and is just trying to confirm my suspicion that there is a Proton bug and because games often save files in different places on windows vs Linux, the dual boot will then confuse Proton.
So you open the game in Linux, and because Proton can't find the original save, it creates a new prefix with no save file, and Steam Cloud automatically saving that empty state and replacing the existing save across all platforms.
sadly as you already said, it is probably already too late for the games already installed while Steam Cloud was turned on.
I don't think so. I've blanked out my save across 2 different sytems using linux (PopOS) and windows. I installed the game on Linux, then windows, and the windows save was empty, despite my linux save being uploaded and the steam cloud being synced.
One was a HP Omen 15 (PopOS) and the other was a Lenovo Ideapad. Both are single OS systems.
Are you dual booting Linux and Windows?
Yes, I am.
sadly as you already said, it is probably already too late for the games already installed while Steam Cloud was turned on.
That's fine. I want to find a way to prevent this mishap for games going forward. As in, the next time I install a game on Linux, I want the cloud to do the correct thing. Every time I ask online for the best way to move save data cross-platform, the answer is always Steam Cloud. So.
ok, I figured it out that least for me it was never an Linux issue or a Steam issue at all. It turned out that for some reason my Steam Cloud never saved the data in the first place. It saved some of my data like configurations and such, but most of my save data is lost in the void. Not all mind you, some games actually had my save backed up so that is good i guess.
when you download and start the game on a different system, be it dual-booted or not, the Cloud can't find a save locally so it overwrites the old one with a fresh game. If you still have your old game drive where you saved your games locally, the data for the games you did not install in the new system can still be saved, you just need to back them up and transfer them manually. If you did what i did and completely wiped the system to install Linux, it is sadly mostly all gone :/
If you are unsure, check https://store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorage to see what data was actually saved in your Cloud. if it is just some KB of data either its a game you never played much, or it only saved config data and not game save data.
You can also refer to my issue post https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/12094 for a more detailed explanation of my specific situation.
I am also having this problem, and I have been following it for about a year now. It will only occur in games that require Proton to function.
The issue occurs because the Steam cloud initially creates a prefix directory which only contains your original save file. This prefix will be considered faulty, because it wont contain any other files for the prefix to function, such as tracked_files, version, etc. Because of this, Proton will automatically assume the prefix corrupted, regenerating it without copying over the save files. (it will generated a corrupted-pfx backup folder) In return, this will cause the Steam Cloud to automatically sync, deleting your saves from the cloud.
This issue has been present for many years from what I've seen from user postings, but at the same time, I'm extremely surprised how little I see people posting about this issue, because I have been having it on multiple installations of Linux, across entirely different PCs.
Links to where I've seen users complain about this issue: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/zr44yj/psa_geproton_43_can_corrupt_your_previous_wine https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/0/5828254465006560175
It turned out that for some reason my Steam Cloud never saved the data in the first place. It saved some of my data like configurations and such, but most of my save data is lost in the void.
Hi TolianTaro. How would I know which one is the case for me? If steam cloud was never saving my data in the first place, or if it was the other situation I was talking about? Or is the answer to that question already answered when you said
If you are unsure, check https://store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorage to see what data was actually saved in your Cloud. if it is just some KB of data either its a game you never played much, or it only saved config data and not game save data.
I am also having this problem, and I have been following it for about a year now. It will only occur in games that require Proton to function.
That is the case for me, too, so that's why I suspect it's not simply a case of steam cloud not saving in the first place, back on Windows.
The issue occurs because the Steam cloud initially creates a prefix directory which only contains your original save file. This prefix will be considered faulty, because it wont contain any other files for the prefix to function, such as
tracked_files,version, etc. Because of this, Proton will automatically assume the prefix corrupted, regenerating it without copying over the save files. (it will generated a corrupted-pfx backup folder) In return, this will cause the Steam Cloud to automatically sync, deleting your saves from the cloud.
Yes! I've seen this corrupted-pfx folder. The files within it also don't appear to be of any use when it comes to restoring lost saves.
Sorry, I'm trying to follow along but I'm not understanding the technical things you're saying.
I do however notice you didn't mention a work-around to trick Cloud or Proton into doing the desired behaviour... That's troubling.
I apologize, I probably could've explained it better. The fix I did was changing the Proton version to "Proton Experimental" avoid Proton Hotfix.
But you did state you had no luck when trying out other versions of Proton. I'm assuming Steam Cloud is causing interference, which I explained in my own issue: https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/8854.
Hi TolianTaro. How would I know which one is the case for me? If steam cloud was never saving my data in the first place, or if it was the other situation I was talking about? Or is the answer to that question already answered when you said
The link leads to your Steam Cloud, you check it to see what is saved in the cloud itself on the browser. For me i just noticed that many of the games i have many many hours on the save size was too small, meaning the cloud never saved my progress even if it said so on the steam app. It did save somethings like config data and such but not game saves for some reason.
I now think that it might have something to do with me messing with windows way back, disconnecting it from any cloud linked to windows and Microsoft to save files locally to get some of my stuff under my own control. and it might have messed with my Steam Cloud as well indirectly.
I have no way to prof this or anything ofc as i don't have windows anymore to find out.
In remote storage, the vast majority of my games have stored files measured in KB, but about 30 of them are measured in mere hundreds of B. It's possible that steam cloud isn't saving those saves. I don't know how I'd force steam to commit those to cloud memory, though. If you know, please tell me.
However, I think this is an unrelated problem. It's not related to the problem that plagues exclusively Proton-requiring games. And none of the games with low save sizes are the same as games I was having problems with in OP.