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Smart Delivery was once thought a joke and is now a proven superb feature

Ghost of Caelid

Ghost of Caelid

Banned
When smart delivery was announced people thought it was just Xbox making a big deal of a feature that didn't need a spotlight. Now as we move closer to a year on the launch of the consoles smart delivery is a feature that has been superb for X/S users.

Heres an example of where smart delivery just makes life so much easier for X/S users:

A Plauge tales Innocence save transfer from last gen to current gen:

Xbox:
Thanks to the game supporting Smart Delivery, everything you have done on the Xbox One version will automatically be ready for you when you start the Xbox Series X/S version.

Playstation:
Download the PS4 version of A Plague Tale: Innocence on your PS5.
You then need to download that save file from the cloud, and since you are playing the updated PS4 version, your file will now be compatible with the PlayStation 5 version.
Reupload it back to the cloud and download the updated PS5 version of the game.
You can now transfer your progress by downloading that data again in the PS5 application.

This has been the trend for other games and while it may not be a huge selling point it just makes life that much easier for X/S owners.

EDIT:

This graph on twitter sums it up really well.

E5tkzA-XoA8hlmo
 
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M1chl

M1chl

Currently Gif and Meme Champion
Watch people defend the PS approach, I find this to be ridiculous in this day and age. Also I am not giving much props to MS, because sincerely I would expect this to be bare minimum. Nobody ever have to deal with bullshit like this with Steam.

Maybe outside of few games like STALKER, but that's issue of the game, not system itself.
 
Fbh

Fbh

Member
It's still just cross buy, it's not some crazy new concept that MS invented.

It's just that in contrast to Sony they actually support it and have implemented it way better. Current Sony won't even give you free next gen upgrades for some of their first party games.
 
cireza

cireza

Member
Moving from One to Series is really well implemented by MS. All the saves are stored on the cloud, and Series enhancement gets downloaded automatically, you boot up your Series versions and the saves are downloaded.

Great user experience. UX is definitely a topic on which they invested a lot.
 
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SlimySnake

SlimySnake

Flashless at the Golden Globes
I never realized that smart delivery was about cross saves. I figured it would be easy to just import PS4 saves from the cloud and have the game convert them. I have no idea why I have to login to a game on my PS4, upload it from a separate menu then login on my ps5 and import it. Just do the conversion on the import from the cloud or the usb for people who dont have PS+?

At the end of the day, the conversion is happening either on the upload from the PS4 or the download to the PS5. Who gives a shit where the save file is coming from? It seems needlessly obtuse. Poor engineering.

I design software for a living and this stuff wouldnt even pass the spec design stage let alone demo well with internal product managers before it even goes to the clients or hits the development phase.

Not downplaying MS's features, but this shouldnt even be an issue especially since downloading PS5 versions of these games isnt really that hard. You install the disc and with a click of a button, you are taken to the download page and asked to download the PS5 version of FF7R. There is nothing smart or clever about it, it's just common sense. Why this cant be applied towards save games is beyond me.

P.S Bitching about this because I couldnt find my copy of spiderman and had to replay the entire game from scratch on PS5 even though my NG+ copy was sitting on the cloud. Dumb Delivery.
 
Black_Stride

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
kretos said:
just buy PS5 version

AR-210609667.jpg
Click to expand...
Are you stupid...i already know the answer.

Plagues Tale came out before the PS5 was out.
The PS5 update was free.

Are you implying the solution to this problem is to buy the same game twice?
And then go through the exact same fucked up getting my saves situation as before?
Nice.

PS fans never fail.
 
Last edited:
S

SScorpio

Member
Sony has never attempted to get multiple consoles working smoothly in terms of saves.

Cloud saves on the Xbox is amazing as you just need to be logged into your account and start the game and it automatically syncs. Sony you need to juggle saves yourself.

PS5 versions losing support for PSVR so you need to use the PS4 version on the new console is also annoying.
 
cormack12

cormack12

Gold Member
I thought smart delivery was just game versioning? The cloud save is an excellent feature though and is a real quality of life time saver.

I feel the SAVE file ease is just a byproduct of keeping it the same though. Sony fucked up with not allowing USB save transfers meaning you have to use cloud. Control UE was the same iirc. Because they store the save file relative to the version. It looks like MS make the saves profile centric.
 
R6Rider

R6Rider

Gold Member
For most games on PS5, the cross-gen carry over process isn't a hassle. It takes like 30 seconds with the cloud saves. Though I suppose if you don't have cloud saves then it's a little longer process.

Xbox Smart Delivery is obviously better and should be the standard way.
 
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kretos

kretos

Banned
Black_Stride said:
Are you stupid...i already know the answer.

Plagues Tale came out before the PS5 was out.
The PS5 update was free.

Are you implying the solution to this problem is to buy the same game twice?
And then go through the exact same fucked up getting my saves situation as before?
Nice.

PS fans never fail.
Click to expand...

now why did you have to call me stupid you cock sucking mutha fucking idiot? obviously it's a joke post you clown
 
Fredrik

Fredrik

Member
SlimySnake said:
I never realized that smart delivery was about cross saves. I figured it would be easy to just import PS4 saves from the cloud and have the game convert them. I have no idea why I have to login to a game on my PS4, upload it from a separate menu then login on my ps5 and import it. Just do the conversion on the import from the cloud or the usb for people who dont have PS+?

At the end of the day, the conversion is happening either on the upload from the PS4 or the download to the PS5. Who gives a shit where the save file is coming from? It seems needlessly obtuse. Poor engineering.

I design software for a living and this stuff wouldnt even pass the spec design stage let alone demo well with internal product managers before it even goes to the clients or hits the development phase.

Not downplaying MS's features, but this shouldnt even be an issue especially since downloading PS5 versions of these games isnt really that hard. You install the disc and with a click of a button, you are taken to the download page and asked to download the PS5 version of FF7R. There is nothing smart or clever about it, it's just common sense. Why this cant be applied towards save games is beyond me.

P.S Bitching about this because I couldnt find my copy of spiderman and had to replay the entire game from scratch on PS5 even though my NG+ copy was sitting on the cloud. Dumb Delivery.
Click to expand...
I recently bought a PS5 and while I absolutely love the games (R&C GOTY!) it’s shocking how far ahead MS is on the software side, you always need to double check on PS5 to be sure you don’t mess something up. The first boot process was interesting, I had to halt everything almost instantly and dig out my old PS4 and plug it in and do system updates, then connect it through wi-fi to PS5, and transfer the content from console to console. Cloud storage is a PS+ thing apparently. I only thought Nintendo was that backwards.
 
ChuckeRearmed

ChuckeRearmed

Member
Well at least they don't ask to pay for the ability to transfer on PS. Or do they?

SlimySnake said:
I design software for a living and this stuff wouldnt even pass the spec design stage let alone demo well with internal product managers before it even goes to the clients or hits the development phase.
Click to expand...
I mean PSN had the player ID as a primary key so...
 
Last edited:
yurinka

yurinka

Member
Smart delivery is Microsoft's name for crossbuy: you buy a game once and have it available on different devices.

Maybe if they ue their own name it's because Sony patented the crossbuy name.

ChuckeRearmed said:
Well at least they don't ask to pay for the ability to transfer on PS. Or do they?


I mean PSN had the player ID as a primary key so...
Click to expand...
Fredrik said:
I recently bought a PS5 and while I absolutely love the games (R&C GOTY!) it’s shocking how far ahead MS is on the software side, you always need to double check on PS5 to be sure you don’t mess something up. The first boot process was interesting, I had to halt everything almost instantly and dig out my old PS4 and plug it in and do system updates, then connect it through wi-fi to PS5, and transfer the content from console to console. Cloud storage is a PS+ thing apparently. I only thought Nintendo was that backwards.
Click to expand...
You don't need PS+ cloud storage to move your PS4 saves to PS5. You can also move them for free from a console to the other one using wifi, LAN cable or a pendrive.
 
Last edited:
jshackles

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
Agreed with OP. Everyone said "it's just cross-buy" but it's more than that. Another thing about Smart Delivery, especially when it comes to saves:

You can play the game on the Xbox Series X, then boot up the game again on an Xbox One, and your save file is backwards compatible as well. I don't think this is possible with the PS4 -> PS5 conversion. Niche case, sure, but again just illustrates how seamlessly they have this working.
 
BusierDonkey

BusierDonkey

Member
I like the trend Xbox set with their play anywhere program when they started looking at getting back into the PC space.

I was going to double-dip on Forza Horizon 3 because I was still actively playing it when I built my PC but it turned out I didn't have to . All my paint jobs and my save file were all pulled down automatically as soon as I signed in and I took up where I'd left off on the console. It was incredibly painless and I wasn't charged twice for owning the same game on both PC and Xbox. Same goes for KI, Forza Motorsport 7, MCC, etc, which I would have bought a second time for the improvements that came with the PC platform but didn't end up needing to.

Device to device saving is handled brilliantly on Xbox platforms too. If I want to play my save file on another PC I just sign in with my account and it pulls the last save.
 
Kagey K

Kagey K

Banned
People forget about the other side as well, if you are playing the Series X version of the game and then go play on Xbox One in a different room, your save is there also.

Try going back and playing the PS4 version after you have played it on PS5 and see if you’re new progress is there.
 
Kagey K

Kagey K

Banned
yurinka said:
Smart delivery is Microsoft's name for crossbuy.

Maybe if they ue their own name it's because Sony patented the crossbuy name.



You don't need PS+ cloud storage to move your PS4 saves to PS5. You can also move them for free from a console to the other one using wifi, LAN cable or a pendrive.
Click to expand...
It’s much more than cross buy, but I don’t expect anyone that hasn’t used it to fully understand and appreciate how seamless MS made everything.
 
THEAP99

THEAP99

Banned
Ill give them that. It was also pretty impressive to me that I loaded right back into where I left off on halo CE on Xbox one in 2016, a few weeks ago on my series x. And I didn't have to do a single thing at all.

Not like that at all with transferring files on ps4 to ps5
 
Captain Toad

Captain Toad

Banned
Kagey K said:
People forget about the other side as well, if you are playing the Series X version of the game and then go play on Xbox One in a different room, your save is there also.

Try going back and playing the PS4 version after you have played it on PS5 and see if you’re new progress is there.
Click to expand...
I would never do that, but I guess, cool? Otherwise, I guess I would download the cloud save when I switched between generations - again, something I'd never do.
 
kretos

kretos

Banned
Black_Stride said:
I didnt call you stupid I asked if you were stupid.

This post all but confirms my suspicions.

PS fans never fail
Hahaha
Click to expand...

i don't see a question mark in you post, said you know the answer then explained what smart delivery is aka calling me stupid

grow some balls and admit it it's not a big deal
 
ManaByte

ManaByte

Member
Captain Toad said:
I would never do that, but I guess, cool? Otherwise, I guess I would download the cloud save when I switched between generations - again, something I'd never do.
Click to expand...
The point is you can't continue a save on the PS5 and then take that PS5 back to PS4 with the new stuff unlocked.
 
yurinka

yurinka

Member
Kagey K said:
It’s much more than cross buy, but I don’t expect anyone that hasn’t used it to fully understand and appreciate how seamless MS made everything.
Click to expand...
No, it's exactly the same concept than crossbuy: you buy a game released on multiple devices once and you get these multiple versions to play them on these devices.

Black_Stride said:
Its smart because your save files move with you wherever you play.
XB1, XSX, PC.

No need to even think.
Just boot the game and your saves are loaded.
Click to expand...
If you use cloud saves yes, like on PlayStation. If you don't use this feature you have to move your stuff manually, like in PlayStation. The main difference is that on PlayStation the cloud saves are behind the PS Plus paywall.
 
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Fredrik

Fredrik

Member
Kagey K said:
People forget about the other side as well, if you are playing the Series X version of the game and then go play on Xbox One in a different room, your save is there also.

Try going back and playing the PS4 version after you have played it on PS5 and see if you’re new progress is there.
Click to expand...
I’m guessing that Play Anywhere was the ignition point for Smart Delivery. Works perfectly. They just need to included Steam as well now that their games are there too. I double dipped on Ori DE on Steam and ended up having to start over, which I really didn’t want to do at the time so I just dropped the PC version instead.

Dream scenario :
One license for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows Store, Steam.
One cloud save for all versions.
Gamepass Ultimate unlocks Steam version too.

Never gonna happen but one can dream.
 
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longdi

longdi

Banned
Panajev2001a said:
According to some people, Xbox fans, apparently smart delivery is the reason why Xbox games tend to be bigger as you see XSS + XSX version together so 🤷‍♂️.

Smart Delivery as a whole is smarter yeah.
Click to expand...

you were one of those back then who thought smart delivery was just branding for something simple to achieve?
 
Black_Stride

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
kretos said:
i don't see a question mark in you post, said you know the answer then explained what smart delivery is aka calling me stupid

grow some balls and admit it it's not a big deal
Click to expand...
Your own insecurities are seeping through friend.

You gonna call me out for missing a queston mark.

Hahahaha
PS fans never fail!
 
Hawking Radiation

Hawking Radiation

Member
M1chl said:
Watch people defend the PS approach, I find this to be ridiculous in this day and age. Also I am not giving much props to MS, because sincerely I would expect this to be bare minimum. Nobody ever have to deal with bullshit like this with Steam.

Maybe outside of few games like STALKER, but that's issue of the game, not system itself.
Click to expand...
Nothing to defend about the PS approach. Anyone that does is either all about them console warriors or stupid OR both lol.
Xbox has the better approach and its something PS can learn to adopt or work towards improving.
That and Quick Resume is killer 🤟
 
Naked Lunch

Naked Lunch

Member
Since getting my Series X - I have my Series in my gameroom and moved my One X to the living room.
We've been alternating playing the same Forza Horizon 3 and Halo MCC save file on both consoles without a hitch.
Great feature that works so well - you dont even have to think or worry about it.
 
Black_Stride

Black_Stride

do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
yurinka said:
If you use cloud saves yes, like on PlayStation. If you don't use this feature you have to move your stuff manually, like in PlayStation. The main difference is that on PlayStation the cloud saves are behind the PS Plus paywall.
Click to expand...

Even if you use cloud saves on PS5 you have to manually download PS4, update, the reupload your saves for them to actually work.
 
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