Cloud Save Deletion

Cloud Save Deletion - Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Hi nesper8,

I understand you're looking for a way to completely remove Mass Effect Legendary Edition cloud saves associated with your account, not just delete the local files. This is a good question, as managing cloud saves, especially with the transition to the EA app, isn't always straightforward.

Based on my understanding and what's been discussed by the community, including the suggestion by holger1405, there isn't a direct "delete cloud saves" button within the EA app for ME:LE at this time. The cloud save functionality seems to be largely automated.

However, the method suggested by holger1405 is a known way to potentially force a resync and overwrite or clear the cloud saves by making the local saves appear as the most current version.

Here's a breakdown of that process, with some important considerations:

Potential Method to Influence Cloud Saves:

Backup your local saves: Before you do anything, VERY IMPORTANTLY, make a backup of your entire Mass Effect Legendary Edition save folder. The default location is typically:
C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\
Copy the entire Save folder to a different location on your computer or an external drive. This is your safeguard in case anything goes wrong.

Go Offline in the EA App: Launch the EA App and set it to offline mode. This prevents it from automatically syncing when you start the game.

Move or Rename Local Saves: While the EA App is offline, navigate to your ME:LE save location (C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Save) and move the Save folder to a temporary location, or rename it (e.g., to Save_backup).

Launch the Game Offline: Start Mass Effect Legendary Edition while still in offline mode. The game should not detect your previous saves. You might be prompted to start a new game.

Create New Local Save (Optional but Recommended): Start a new game and play just long enough for the game to create a new save file locally. This ensures there's a "current" local save for the app to compare against. Save and exit the game.

Go back Online in the EA App: Switch the EA App back to online mode.

Launch the Game Again: Start Mass Effect Legendary Edition again. This is where the EA App should detect a discrepancy between the cloud saves and your (now minimal or new) local saves.

Cloud Sync Conflict Prompt: You should ideally receive a prompt asking whether you want to use the local saves or the cloud saves. Crucially, choose to use the local saves. This action should signal the EA app to overwrite the cloud saves with your current local (empty or new) save data.

Verify (If Possible): Unfortunately, there's no easy way to directly view or manage cloud saves through the EA app to confirm they've been cleared. You would typically verify by launching the game again later (after ensuring cloud saves are enabled) to see if the old saves are gone.

Important Warnings and Considerations:

Risk of Data Loss: This method involves manipulating save files and cloud sync. While the intention is to clear cloud saves, there is a risk, however small, that you could lose your save data if the process is not followed correctly or if there are unforeseen sync issues. This is why the initial backup is absolutely essential.

No Direct Deletion: This process doesn't offer a direct "delete from cloud" function. It relies on the sync conflict resolution to potentially overwrite the cloud data.
EA App Limitations: As mentioned, the EA App currently lacks granular control over cloud saves compared to Origin. This method is a workaround based on how sync conflicts are typically handled.

Individual Game Saves within LE: Mass Effect Legendary Edition contains saves for ME1, ME2, and ME3 within the same overall save structure. This process should affect the cloud saves for the entire package.

In summary, while there's no simple delete option, the method of creating a sync conflict by removing/renaming local saves while offline and then choosing local saves when going back online is the most commonly discussed way to potentially clear the cloud saves for ME:LE. Always proceed with caution and ensure you have backups.

Hopefully, EA will implement more direct cloud save management options in the future.

Best regards,

sweanisse

nesper8​ 

If you move your saves from the default save folder ("C:\Users\>Your Username<\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition\Save") to a different folder while offline, the game should detect a mismatch between your cloud and local saves when you start the game the next time online, and offer to choose which one you want to use.
If you choose local saves, all cloud saves will be deleted.

You can then copy the saves you want to use back to the default save folder and they will be uploaded to the cloud again.