Can I Save an Entire Game and Its Data on an External Hard Drive?

Yes, you can save an entire game and its data on an external hard drive, but the process can vary depending on the gaming platform and the specific game. Let's explore the details and considerations for PC and console gaming.

For PC

Installation

When installing a game, you can often choose the installation directory. Selecting your external hard drive as the location allows you to install the game’s files on the external drive. This gives you the flexibility to have your game files in one place for easier management and backup.

Game Saves

Much of your game data, especially for PC games, is stored locally. Most games save data in specific directories, which can be written to the external hard drive. For instance, if you use a platform like Steam, you can set the library folder to your external drive, allowing you to install and launch games directly from there.

For Consoles (e.g., PlayStation, Xbox)

External Storage Support

Many gaming consoles, such as the PlayStation and Xbox, support external hard drives for game storage. Formatting the drive according to the console's requirements (NTFS for PCs, exFAT for consoles) allows you to install games directly to the external drive.

Game Saves

Some consoles automatically save game data to the cloud or on the console’s internal storage. However, you can often configure the system to save game data to the external drive. For example, on an Xbox, you can enable storage space settings to allow games to save data to the external storage.

Considerations

Performance: Running games from an external hard drive may affect loading times compared to an internal SSD. For mission-critical or high-performance games, the external drive might not provide the same level of performance.

Compatibility: Ensure that the external hard drive is compatible with your device and is properly formatted for the gaming platform. For instance, a Windows PC requires an NTFS-formatted drive, while consoles typically use exFAT.

Backup: Regularly backing up your game saves is crucial to prevent data loss. Unlike on an internal drive, external drives can be more prone to physical damage and data loss.

Most Games Have an Option to Choose Installation Directory

Many games provide an option to decide the folder where the game files and save data are stored. By selecting an external hard drive, you effectively move the game and its data to the external storage, making it accessible from virtually any computer with the drive.

However, it’s important to note that while the game files are on the external drive, certain system-specific components like the Windows registry, which store information about running applications, are always on the boot drive where Windows resides. As a result, if you take the external drive to another computer, the game won’t run without additional steps to locate and update the missing registry information.

Nevertheless, if your goal is to install and run a game from an external drive, the answer is yes, provided you have the option to decide where to install the game. However, the performance might be affected by the slower speeds of an older HDD compared to an internal SSD or HDD.