Birds of War ships with Steam Cloud saves as the canonical cross-device progression system, and the game is not on GOG, Humble Bundle, or other third-party storefronts as of patch 1.1.5. The Steam-exclusive launch means cross-platform progression is limited to Steam-to-Steam device transfers (desktop ↔ Steam Deck ↔ Linux), and the third-party storefront ecosystem (key resellers, bundle sites) is the only non-Steam path to purchase the game.
This page documents the cross-platform saves, GOG, Humble, and third-party storefront status: the Steam Cloud sync layer, the cross-device progression flow, the GOG and Humble Bundle considerations, the cross-shop key reselling ecosystem, and the launch-week community signals about future third-party storefront availability.
Steam Cloud as the Canonical Save System
The Steam Cloud infrastructure is the canonical save system for Birds of War. The Steam Cloud covers:
| Save category | Synced across devices | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ranked progress | Yes | Rank tier, MVB totals, season rewards |
| Settings | Yes | Graphics, audio, controller presets |
| Mod subscriptions | Partial | Some mods require re-subscribe on each device |
| Workshop mod data | Partial | Mod preferences sync, but mod files re-download |
| Achievements | Yes | Synced to Steam profile |
| Match history | Yes | Last 20 matches visible across devices |
The Steam Cloud sync is automatic and runs after each match. Players who switch between devices (e.g., desktop + Steam Deck) will see their progress synced within minutes.
Steam Cloud Sync Speed
The Steam Cloud sync speed depends on the network connection:
| Connection | Sync time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wired Ethernet | <30 seconds | Fastest |
| Wi-Fi 6 (close to router) | <60 seconds | Fast |
| Wi-Fi 5 (close to router) | 1–2 minutes | Acceptable |
| Wi-Fi 5 (further away) | 2–5 minutes | Slow but functional |
| Mobile hotspot | 5+ minutes | Not recommended for ranked |
Players who switch devices mid-session should wait for the Steam Cloud sync to complete before queuing for the next match.
Cross-Device Progression Flow
The cross-device progression flow is the canonical use case for Steam Cloud. The flow:
- Play a ranked match on the desktop (Windows PC).
- Quit the game (Steam Cloud sync triggers).
- Open the game on the Steam Deck.
- The Steam Cloud syncs and the rank progress is available.
- Play a ranked match on the Steam Deck.
- Quit the game (Steam Cloud sync triggers).
- Open the game on the desktop.
- The Steam Cloud syncs and the new progress is available.
The flow is fully functional for ranked progression, settings, and achievements. Workshop mod subscriptions may not auto-sync, which requires the player to re-subscribe on each device (estimated).
The Multi-Device Caveats
The Steam Cloud cross-device flow has three caveats:
Caveat 1 — Workshop Mod Re-Subscribe
Workshop mods subscribed on one device may not auto-subscribe on another device. Players who use Workshop mods heavily should expect to re-subscribe on each device.
Caveat 2 — Local Mod Files Re-Download
Workshop mod files are downloaded per-device. A 500 MB Workshop mod takes ~5–15 minutes to download on a fresh device. The Steam client caches downloads to reduce this on subsequent launches.
Caveat 3 — Cross-Device Rank Updates Are Delayed
The Steam Cloud sync can take up to 5 minutes, which means a player who finishes a ranked match on the desktop and immediately opens the game on the Steam Deck may see the previous rank tier (the new tier is visible after the sync completes).
GOG Status as of Patch 1.1.5
Birds of War is not on GOG as of patch 1.1.5. The GOG.com catalogue does not list Birds of War, and HexNest Games does not appear in the GOG developer directory.
| Status check | Outcome |
|---|---|
| GOG.com search for "Birds of War" | No result |
| GOG developer directory | HexNest Games not listed |
| GOG wishlist availability | No |
The GOG absence is consistent with the Steam-exclusive strategy. GOG has weaker modding support, which would have diluted the Steam Workshop ecosystem.
Why GOG Is Less Likely Than Epic
The GOG absence is more durable than the Epic absence for two reasons:
Reason 1 — GOG Has No Modding Infrastructure
GOG Galaxy does not have a Workshop-equivalent modding platform. Shipping on GOG would split the modding ecosystem, which is a stronger deterrent than the Epic Game Store.
Reason 2 — GOG Has Weaker Cloud Saves
GOG Galaxy's cloud save infrastructure is weaker than Steam's. The cross-device progression flow would be degraded.
The conclusion is that a GOG release is unlikely in the first 12–18 months of the game's life. Players who want a DRM-free alternative should monitor the HexNest Games site for any announcement.
Humble Bundle Status as of Patch 1.1.5
Birds of War is not on Humble Bundle as of patch 1.1.5. The Humble Bundle store does not list Birds of War individually, and the game is not part of any Humble Bundle monthly or featured bundle.
| Status check | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Humble Store search | No result |
| Humble Bundle monthly inclusion | No |
| Humble Trove inclusion | No |
The Humble Bundle absence is consistent with the Steam-exclusive launch. Humble is a curated store that typically picks up indie titles 6–12 months after launch (estimated).
The Cross-Shop Key Reselling Ecosystem
The cross-shop key reselling ecosystem is the only non-Steam path to purchase Birds of War as of patch 1.1.5. The ecosystem consists of authorized key resellers that sell Steam keys at varying prices:
| Reseller | Status | Estimated price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam (official) | Available | $9.99 / $7.99 (launch) | Default |
| Humble Bundle (key) | Not available | — | — |
| Fanatical | Available | $7.99–$9.99 | Authorized reseller |
| Green Man Gaming | Available | $7.99–$9.99 | Authorized reseller |
| GamersGate | Available | $7.99–$9.99 | Authorized reseller |
| Chrono.gg | Available | $7.99–$9.99 | Authorized reseller |
| G2A / Kinguin (gray market) | Available | $5.99–$9.99 | Gray market, not officially authorized |
The cross-shop key resellers sell Steam keys, which means the game still runs through Steam and unlocks the same Steam Cloud, Workshop, and News features. The only difference is the price and the purchase channel.
The Gray Market Question
Gray market resellers (G2A, Kinguin) sell Steam keys at lower prices, but the keys are often obtained through fraudulent chargebacks or stolen credit cards. HexNest has not officially endorsed gray market keys, and purchasing from gray markets risks:
- The key being revoked after purchase (if fraud is detected).
- Account-level consequences on Steam.
- Funding fraudulent activity.
Players who want a discounted Steam key should use authorized resellers (Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, GamersGate, Chrono.gg) rather than gray markets.
The Cross-Shop Bundle Potential
The cross-shop bundle potential is the most-likely near-term third-party storefront path. Indie UE5 titles often appear in cross-shop bundles (e.g., Fanatical's "Build Your Own Bundle") within 6–12 months of launch. A Birds of War bundle inclusion would deliver an audience spike similar to a Game Pass listing.
The estimated bundle inclusion timeline:
| Bundle type | Likelihood | Window (estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Fanatical Build Your Own | High | 6–12 months |
| Humble Choice (Humble Bundle monthly) | Medium | 12–18 months |
| Indie Mega Bundle (third-party) | Medium | 12–18 months |
| Steam Sales (official) | High | First major Steam sale |
The Steam sales are the most-reliable bundle path. Birds of War will be eligible for Steam's seasonal sales (Summer Sale, Winter Sale, etc.) starting with the first major sale window after launch.
The Cross-Platform Workshop Implication
The Steam Workshop is the canonical modding destination, and the cross-platform saves do not extend the Workshop to other storefronts. A player who buys the game through Fanatical still uses Steam Workshop because the game runs through Steam.
The implication is that all Birds of War modding happens through Steam Workshop, regardless of where the player purchased the key. The cross-shop key resellers do not create separate modding ecosystems.
The Family Sharing Cross-Shop Implication
Steam Family Sharing works through Steam accounts, which means a player who buys the game through Fanatical (a Steam key) can share it with family members on Steam. The cross-shop Family Sharing works exactly like a Steam-direct purchase.
The cross-shop Family Sharing caveats:
- The sharing is per Steam account, not per device.
- The shared user must authorize the device.
- Concurrent play requires separate devices.
The Steam Cloud Quota and Storage Limits
The Steam Cloud infrastructure has a per-game storage quota that governs how much save data Birds of War can sync. The quota mechanics:
| Save category | Estimated size | Sync frequency | Quota usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ranked profile | ~2 MB | After each match | Low |
| Settings presets | ~50 KB | On change | Negligible |
| Mod subscription list | ~500 KB | On subscribe/unsubscribe | Low |
| Workshop mod data cache | ~50 MB | On subscribe | Medium |
| Match history (20 matches) | ~5 MB | After each match | Low |
| Achievement cache | ~200 KB | On unlock | Negligible |
The total Steam Cloud footprint for a typical Birds of War player is roughly 60 MB, which is well below Steam's per-game quota of 1 GB. Even heavy Workshop users rarely exceed 200 MB of cloud data. Players who use the maximum number of Workshop mods may approach the quota over time; in that case, the Steam client prompts for a manual cleanup of old mod data.
Cross-Region Cloud Sync Performance
Steam Cloud's sync performance varies by geographic region. The estimated sync times from a US East Coast player playing on a US West Coast server:
| Region pair | Sync time (wired) | Sync time (Wi-Fi) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US East ↔ US West | <30 seconds | 1–2 minutes | Best |
| US ↔ Europe | 1–2 minutes | 3–5 minutes | Acceptable |
| US ↔ Asia | 2–5 minutes | 5–10 minutes | Slow |
| Europe ↔ Asia | 3–5 minutes | 5–15 minutes | Slowest |
Players who travel internationally and play ranked on different continents may see delayed sync, which can cause brief overlap in ranked history. The Steam Cloud sync is eventual-consistency rather than transactional, so temporary mismatches between devices are expected behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Birds of War have cross-platform saves?
Yes, through Steam Cloud. Players can switch between Windows desktop, Steam Deck, and Linux and have their ranked progress, settings, and achievements synced.
Is Birds of War on GOG?
No. Birds of War is not on GOG as of patch 1.1.5. The game is exclusively on Steam.
Is Birds of War on Humble Bundle?
No individual listing. Birds of War may appear in cross-shop bundles (Fanatical, Humble Choice) in the 6–12 month window after launch (estimated).
Can I buy a Steam key at a discount?
Yes, through authorized resellers (Fanatical, Green Man Gaming, GamersGate, Chrono.gg). Avoid gray market resellers (G2A, Kinguin) due to fraud risk.
Does the cross-device progression work for ranked matches?
Yes, fully. Ranked progress, MVB totals, and season rewards sync through Steam Cloud. The sync takes up to 5 minutes, so players should wait before queuing for the next match.