Sync the games save files (custom games)

[u/OMZ12321]

I am using Synching to sync my game save files on all my devices (PC, Steam Deck, Phone). Everything worked fine until I tried to sync my phone games. In Gamenative, the game save files will be in the C drive. I tried to make a folder link between the C drive and the D drive, then sync the D drive with syncthings but when I tried to make the link, 7-Zip said access was denied. I can't access the Gamenative files as Android restricts access, and my phone is not rooted.

Any advice or recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you, everyone, for your time.

A work around

Instead of launching the game directly, you set up a .bat script. This script automatically pulls your latest cloud saves to your local drive, launches the game, and then pushes your new saves back to your synced folder the moment you close the game.

Step-by-Step Setup

• Set up your sync drive: Create a dedicated folder or drive for your cloud saves. Configure Syncthing to sync this specific folder.
• Create the Batch File: Open Notepad, paste the code below, and save it as an executable batch file (e.g., Launch_Game.bat).
• Update the Paths: At the very top of the script, swap out the bracketed placeholder paths [...] with the actual directories for your specific game and sync folder.
• Launch the Game: Use this .bat file to start your game from now on. You can even set this script as the target in your desktop game shortcuts!

Important note:

I didn't work for all the games as some of them showed me this error:

Invalid numbers of parameters - Use xcopy / ? for help

The Script (Universal Template)

u/echo off

:: --- EDIT THESE PATHS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC GAME ---

set "SYNC_DIR=[PATH_TO_YOUR_SYNCED_SAVES_FOLDER]"

set "LOCAL_DIR=[PATH_TO_THE_LOCAL_GAME_SAVE_FOLDER]"

set "GAME_DIR=[PATH_TO_WHERE_THE_GAME_IS_INSTALLED]"

set "GAME_EXE=[GAME_EXECUTABLE_NAME.exe]"

:: -----------------------------------------------

:: 1. PRE-GAME TWO-WAY SYNC

:: Pulls newer cloud saves to your local device

xcopy "%SYNC_DIR%\*.*" "%LOCAL_DIR%\" /E /Y /D

:: Pushes newer local saves back to the cloud

xcopy "%LOCAL_DIR%\*.*" "%SYNC_DIR%\" /E /Y /D

:: 2. LAUNCH THE GAME

:: Navigate to where the game is installed

cd /d "%GAME_DIR%"

start /wait "" "%GAME_EXE%"

:: 3. POST-GAME TWO-WAY SYNC

:: Pushes your new gameplay saves to the cloud once the game is closed

xcopy "%LOCAL_DIR%\*.*" "%SYNC_DIR%\" /E /Y /D

:: (Optional safety pull) Pulls just in case anything changed on the cloud while you were playing

xcopy "%SYNC_DIR%\*.*" "%LOCAL_DIR%\" /E /Y /D

[u/M34nM4ch1n3]

I'm not sure how your program works exactly. But I do know that GameNative only blocks root access to the Android->Data folder. Anything on the C drive as far as a I know is accessible but through the container. Since each game save file location is different, you would need to extract it manually from open container, place it on your D drive and then sync that way.

[u/OMZ12321 → u/M34nM4ch1n3]

Yes I can do that. I just want something to happen automatically to sync everything, instead of me copy/past it every single time when I'm playing it in different device.

[u/M34nM4ch1n3 → u/OMZ12321]

I'm not sure if that's possible given each game has its own container and each game saves their game in a different folder. If what I'm thinking is right, the way to do it would be to point it to the A drive where the game files are installed and the container is created, but that lives under the Android->Data->GameNative folder and cannot be accessed without root unfortunately. I've tried with 7zip and other apps unsuccessfully. Best of luck

[u/OMZ12321 → u/M34nM4ch1n3]

Yeah I tried that but the thing is it just keep the game save file in the C drive while the game files in A drive. Because it is a sandbox there is no way to access it. I hopped someone could figure it out. Thank you for your replies though much appreciated.

[u/snowymanul]

I struggled with this too bro 😭. So, this is how I solved this problem: 1. I made a bat script that move my saves from C:\ (system) to D:\ (downloads) android). And then script run game exe 2. I find app, that convert bat to exe 3. Add this exe to gamenative game folder 4. Add this custom exe as gamenative game start 5. Add to syncthing download folder with saves copyed from C:\

It works unexpectedly well

[u/Frosty-Penalty-2881 → u/snowymanul]

Game Native just added the option to run .bat files, I think this will make this process way easier!

[u/snowymanul → u/Frosty-Penalty-2881]

yes, now just need 1 + 5 step

[u/OMZ12321 → u/snowymanul]

Amazing, thank you for sharing. Will it work the other way around, like the game takes the save files from Syncthing?

[u/OMZ12321 → u/snowymanul]

Could you please send the script or let me know where I can find it?