God of War uses a per-user folder beneath Saved Games. Copy that entire identifier folder and keep it separate from configuration data before restoring progress or testing a backup.
Identify the exact save you intend to edit
The researched God of War (2018) PC save location is Windows: %USERPROFILE%Saved GamesGod of War<account-id>. Known file/folder pattern: save records inside a user-specific subfolder. Storefront context: Steam, Epic Games Store. The active Steam, Epic Games Store installation determines which local profile and cloud copy can overwrite the save. Identify the storefront and account before restoring files. Do not edit a similarly named file from a different profile, edition, or cloud cache.
Make an untouched backup first
Close God of War (2018), let the launcher finish any synchronization, then copy the complete documented save directory to a dated folder outside the live path. Preserve companion files rather than selecting only the newest-looking record. Keep that copy outside the live save directory and do not overwrite it with later experiments. Cloud context: Storefront cloud sync may mirror local data; Santa Monica Studio recommends locating the user-specific save folder before manipulating files. If a launcher can synchronize the save, prevent it from silently replacing either the original or edited copy while testing.
Understand the format boundary
The PC port stores save data under Windows Saved Games in a user-specific folder. The account subfolder is part of the backup boundary. File-extension context: No single extension is sufficient to identify every relevant save record. Compatibility note: Treat saves as version-, storefront-, account-, and mod-sensitive unless the game or a separately verified migration workflow proves otherwise. A similar filename or extension is not evidence that two releases are interchangeable. These facts help identify the save but do not automatically reveal every field, checksum, encryption rule, or version-specific structure inside it.
Use only a Tool whose claim matches the file
Generic viewers and diff tools can inspect bytes without claiming game-specific semantics. A game-specific editor should be used only when its Tool page explicitly lists God of War (2018), a matching supported version/container, and a Verified operational runtime. A planned URL or Game Hub is not evidence that an editor exists.
Test the edited copy safely
Write to a new output file when the Tool supports it, keep the original backup, restore the edited copy into the correct profile/storefront location, and launch the game only after the file operation finishes. If the game rejects it, If progress is missing after a restore, confirm the active Windows account, storefront/profile, cloud state, and exact directory first. Restore the untouched backup before experimenting with individual files or older autosaves. Return to the untouched backup before trying another change.
Verification context: Windows save location, file-boundary, launcher/cloud, and backup notes were reviewed against the linked game-specific references for God of War (2018). This Game Hub is documentation only and does not claim a new game-specific Save Editor.
Recorded Phase 40 evidence boundary
This Phase 40 entry is grounded in the researched PC save boundary for God of War (2018): Windows: %USERPROFILE%Saved GamesGod of War<account-id> The recorded file or folder pattern is save records inside a user-specific subfolder. These concrete identifiers are retained so backup, transfer, recovery, and editing preparation remain tied to the documented game/storefront context instead of a generic extension guess.