Steam’s Dynamic Cloud Sync lets players easily play across PCs

Steam is adding a new feature that will make it plenty easier for players to access video games “seamlessly” from different PCs. Valve posted a blog announcement about the Dynamic Cloud Synchron feature. It was part of the Steam Deck Console’s updates, and will help any player who enables it.

Valve said the feature will “automatically upload all modified save game data to the cloud prior to the device entering sleep mode.” That means that if you close your Steam Deck without exiting a game, it doesn’t matter: You can pick back up from wherever on any other PC device. This progress will be saved to your Steam Deck when you return to it.

“We anticipate that users will frequently suspend their Steam Deck without exiting the game, as is common with other hand-held gaming devices,” Valve said. “With Dynamic Cloud Sync, if they then choose to play on another device (whether a PC or another Steam Deck), their progress will be there waiting for them.”

To ensure that players benefit from this feature, developers must turn it on for their games. If it’s not enabled, Valve said “Steam will still track when save game data is changed on the Steam Deck,” but will prompt players who’ve suspended their games on Steam Deck to return there and close the game before playing on a different device — else they’ll continue without save progress from the Steam Deck.

Valve’s Steam Deck was announced in July 2021. After being delayed in November, the handhold console will ship in February. You can purchase Steam Deck devices for $399-$649 depending on your storage capacity. Some games may not work with the console. However, Valve offers an easy way to rate which games work best.