There is no reason in my mind that Fdev can't "clone" console accounts, make the necessary adjustments to fix CMDR names and any other data that would be console specfic, and place those saves attached to our Frontier Accounts with PC login flags.
Only 2 years ago, there was a bug that allowed xbox accounts, forsure, to be logged into on PC.
There were small things like CMDR names that wouldn't show correctly, but the Save file was obviously compatible enough to be loaded by PC, even with the "undecodable" data like CMDR names.
Since then, there has only been Odyssey as a major update... and since consoles are still behind that, I don't see any issues with cloning Horizons saves, editing the required things, and then letting those saves be used on PC with Horizons or Odyssey.
1) Clone our console accounts
2) Fix any issues in the clones to work on PC correctly
3) Then drop the saves on our Frontier accounts with PC flags requires to load them.
4) The first time these "Horizons" saves are opened in Odyssey, they will auto update any configuration required, just as all previous users didn't have to do anything.
Not too mention, Odyssey saves on PC can still be loaded in Horizons, just with the loss of the content, much like Horizons saves could be opened in Base Game if one chose to do so. So quite litterally, besides some information like CMDR names needing fixing, the saves are basically identical between Horizons and Odyssey and to claim otherwise is not true.
And with the below attached screenshots, we can see the proof that console and PC saves are also compatible, if not fully readable without modification. Confirmed by a fdev community manager as well.
There is no reason to not do this for console users.
Other than fdev simply being unwilling to do so for what ever reason they choose, cost, time, ect... but saying it's not possible, would be blatantly ignoring the facts and proof that is readily available.
It may have been disallowed for "cross-save" previously to prevent cross-play, and unfair advantages, but this is not that in this situation.
In this situation we're asking fdev to manually move the information, and not too keep the console login accessible, essentially, delete the console account after, so any attempt to play on console after the transfer, would require a new CMDR and starting from scratch on console, with the knowledge of being limited to Horizons permanently.
Even at this point, fdev might not have to do much work themselves even, if they were smarter than I think they are tbh.
Let's say,
they open cross platform Save access for a period of time, 1 month for example, as we can see below was possible only 2 years ago via a "bug", but could obviously be reintroduced as a temporary feature.
Allow users to load their profiles on PC, and change their CMDR names to be readable/desirable instead of xbox/ps gamer tag IDs... just make it so once they change their CMDR name from a PC platform, their Save file flag changes permanently to PC.
That would automatically remove access to the Save file from console and should be all that is needed. And should give console users 100% of all of their information, ranks, purchases, ect, without changing thier email address or anything else.
The only difficulty would be existing PC users.
Merging would be a different situation.
Worst case, i would think, if you want your console account, you have to delete your current PC cmdr, it's all or nothing. But there should be no reason that can't be done.
Merging would take more time and effort and likely would be left with the old option of credits for assets value and nothing else, otherwise manual editing of all Save information would need to take place for each Merging user and that would be a bit excessive maybe.
But if my automated process of letting users basically do it themselves is even remotely possible, they should allow it. It would really fix the hurt they've caused and likely change the stance of users like myself who were willing to keep buying updates on xbox, and also play on mobile game pass which pays them per play, that have large ARX balances and heavily engineered ships. We shouldn't loose all of that if we want to play on Odyssey while existing PC users get to keep all their Pre-Odyssey stuff.
Users like me have spent alot of money on ED and to loose my progress over somthing as trivial as this situation isn't a nice experience.
But I was buying Fdev content, just to support their company, even if I didn't play. I bought PC ED and Odyssey just to support them and try VR and Odyssey once. I have under 24hours play time on PC. On xbox, I have thousands of hours and over 2000 first discovered systems, scanned in full. I was considering buying F1 Manager, just too support them, but I won't be if I lose my console account to play on Odyssey. I don't play racing games like that, but I would have bought it to support fdev anyways, won't be now... If fdev wants to ever make a penny off of users like myself, with lots of spending money and a singular interest in ED, they need to allow these account transfers to happen.
ED alone was my Holy Grail of video games, somthing I hoped to play, pay for updates, buy ARX, pay for servers, ect, for the rest of my life, litterally. But that won't be happening if I can't keep my xbox cmdr data on the newest content (PC) going forward. ED will become just another game that didn't live upto its possibilities, a waste of money on console, and destroy any support for any future fdev or Elite games ever being considered for purchase or play, as I will always be reminded of this.
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