NieR: Automata is a case where backing up only “the save slot” can miss important surrounding state. Steam exposes three SlotData files but also stores GameData and SystemData in the same Documents directory. Ending and presentation state can therefore outlive a single slot replacement. SaveEditor recommends treating the folder as one backup set, then making any slot-level experiment only on a copy. Microsoft Store is additionally separated by its WGS container, so its files should not be treated as Steam .dat files solely because the gameplay is the same.
Which storefront context matters
Documented NieR: Automata PC launchers/storefronts: Steam, Microsoft Store. Steam and Microsoft Store use different containers; cross-store transfers may require renaming and account/ID-aware handling rather than a raw overwrite. The active storefront/account should be identified before any restore because cloud and local storage may not use the same path or container across editions.
Documented cloud behavior
Steam Cloud and Xbox Cloud can restore saves for their storefronts. Cloud synchronization is useful for continuity, but it can also turn a restore into a conflict-resolution event. Let synchronization settle before making a manual backup, and keep an offline copy outside any folder monitored by the launcher or operating-system sync service.
Local save roots still matter
The researched local save boundary is Windows: Steam: %USERPROFILE%DocumentsMy GamesNieR_Automata ; Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%Packages39EA002F.NieRAutomataPC_n746a19ndrrjgSystemAppDatawgs; the known file or folder pattern is Steam: SlotData_0.dat, SlotData_1.dat, SlotData_2.dat plus GameData.dat and SystemData.dat.. A cloud-enabled game still has concrete local data involved in ordinary play, and that local context is what you need when identifying which copy was modified most recently.
Avoid accidental overwrite loops
Back up the complete NieR_Automata folder on Steam, including SlotData, GameData, and SystemData, before replacing one slot. Preserve the full WGS tree on Microsoft Store. When restoring, close the game and launcher, preserve both the current local copy and the backup you want to test, then place the intended data in the matching profile/storefront location. Do not repeatedly open the game between different copies without noting which side the cloud client selected.
Compatibility and conflict checks
Ending-related and global progression can involve GameData in addition to SlotData. Do not assume one slot file is the only state worth preserving. If progress disappears or rolls back, If a slot vanishes or fails to load, verify the exact SlotData index, Steam account, cloud-conflict choice, and whether broader GameData/SystemData came from the same backup set. Resolve identity/path/cloud questions first. A cloud conflict is not proof that the save itself is corrupt, and a successful upload is not proof that files from another storefront are compatible.
Verification context: Reviewed against current PCGamingWiki NieR: Automata save paths and slot-transfer notes plus current community descriptions of SlotData/GameData/SystemData.