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Comment by butz | Hacker News Reader

Isn't there a way to download older versions of game on Steam? Or one just have to backup own games right after purchase, just in case?

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Only if the publisher allows it and specifically creates rollback point. The days where you, the customer, decided whether to apply a patch, install original version or rollback are long over.

I bet breaking a verified game on Steam Deck isn't even covered by basic consumer protection.

Steam has a hidden debug console that allows users to rollback any game to any previous release via the `download_depot` command. It's not remotely as user friendly as when a publisher adds an old version of a game as a beta branch that can be easily switched to in the UI, but as far as I know there's no way to prevent its use.

that only works as long as the old depot is still there, and it usually is just to make it easier to delta update.

I haven't tried it myself, but when I was considering trying Spelunky 2 co-op I ran into this thread which suggests which version of the game works best in co-op and how to make Steam download it https://steamcommunity.com/app/418530/discussions/3/38016519...

I assume you could look up the manifests in steamdb and manually rollback in any game? Monster Hunter Rise at least shows what I think are past versions https://steamdb.info/depot/1446781/manifests/

That said, presumably the older version is covered by the older DRM which may cease to work.

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