What’s the difference between manual and autosave in RDR2?

In Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), saving and loading progress is essential for managing your gameplay experience. The game offers two primary save systems: manual saves and autosaves. Understanding the difference between these systems is crucial for both new and experienced players to avoid losing progress or encountering unexpected setbacks.\n\nManual saves allow players to create specific save points at any time, provided they are not in the middle of a mission or combat. To manually save, open the pause menu, navigate to the ''Story'' tab, and select ''Save Game.'' You can create multiple save slots, which is particularly useful for experimenting with different choices or revisiting key moments. For example, if you want to explore a risky decision in a mission, you can save beforehand and reload if things go wrong. Manual saves give you full control over your progress and are ideal for players who want to carefully manage their game state.\n\nAutosaves, on the other hand, are automatically created by the game at specific intervals or after completing significant events, such as finishing a mission or entering a new area. These saves are stored in a separate slot and cannot be manually overwritten. Autosaves are convenient for players who prefer a more hands-off approach, as they ensure you always have a recent backup. However, relying solely on autosaves can be risky, as they may not always capture the exact moment you want to return to. For instance, if you fail a mission or make an irreversible mistake, the autosave might already reflect that outcome, leaving you with no way to undo it.\n\nOne common gameplay challenge is losing progress due to unexpected events, such as dying or failing a mission. To mitigate this, always create a manual save before starting a mission or exploring a dangerous area. For example, before attempting to rob a train or engage in a high-stakes gunfight, save your game manually. This way, if things go south, you can reload and try again without losing hours of progress. Additionally, if you''re exploring the open world and stumble upon a rare item or encounter, pause the game and create a manual save to preserve that moment.\n\nAnother important mechanic to consider is the camp system. Your progress in camp activities, such as upgrading facilities or completing companion requests, is tied to your save file. If you want to experiment with different camp upgrades or dialogue options, create a manual save before making any changes. This allows you to revert to a previous state if you''re unhappy with the results. For example, if you spend all your money on a camp upgrade but later regret it, reloading a manual save can help you recover your funds.\n\nPractical tips for managing saves include regularly rotating between multiple manual save slots. This ensures you have multiple points to fall back on if one save becomes corrupted or unusable. Additionally, always check the timestamp of your autosaves before relying on them, as they may not always reflect your most recent progress. Finally, if you''re playing on a console, consider enabling cloud saves or backing up your save files to an external device for added security.\n\nIn summary, manual saves provide full control over your progress, while autosaves offer convenience but less precision. By combining both systems and following best practices, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable RDR2 experience. Whether you''re a new player exploring the vast open world or a seasoned gamer tackling challenging missions, mastering the save system is key to success.