12 Free GameMaker Studio 2 Steam Demo Export and Save Sanity Resources (2026)
Trend-timed <span style="font-weight: 600;">June 2026</span> <span style="font-weight: 600;">GameMaker</span> fest bookmark list—Windows Steam export sanity, <span style="font-style: italic;">%LOCALAPPDATA%</span> save roots on <span style="font-style: italic;">packaged exe only</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">save_path_map.json</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">gamemaker_steam_export_receipt_v1.json</span> before October uploads. Distinct from <a href="https://gamineai.com/resources/12-free-defold-gdevelop-renpy-steam-save-path-audit-templates-2026">multi-engine brief #5</a>; pairs <a href="https://gamineai.com/blog/your-first-gamemaker-steam-demo-export-sanity-check-one-evening-2026-beginner-pipeline">one-evening export pipeline</a>.
Multi-engine spine—save_path_map.json pattern; this list is the GameMaker Studio 2 lane only.
Start here: cross-engine fest cluster
GameMaker Manual — Saving And Loading Data
Official DocsOfficial save API—ini, buffers, and included files; know what your demo writes before fest promotion.
Pro tip: log slot keys in save_path_map.json
GameMaker Manual — Game Options (Platforms)
Official DocsWindows export contract—texture pages, Included Files, and platform flags that change between IDE Run and standalone exe.
Use for: fest_demo export preset
GameMaker Manual — Steam IDE preferences
Official DocsSteamworks wiring—App ID, depots, and build identity before SteamPipe upload; pairs export receipt gates.
Best for: first Steam integration
Steamworks — Uploading your game
Platform DocsDepot upload lane—content builder, branch labels, and build_id discipline after GameMaker folder passes local smoke.
Use for: post-export only
Microsoft — Known folders (AppData / Local)
Official DocsWindows save root truth—document %LOCALAPPDATA% on packaged Windows build, not IDE Run preview paths.
Verify on: installed Steam exe
Implementation pipeline—five export gates + gamemaker_steam_export_receipt_v1.json; this resource is the external link stack.
Start here: GameMaker teams
Branch promotion failure mode—UI slot numbers diverged from on-disk paths; motivates maps before GameMaker display-name renames.
Best for: producer + engineering alignment
Save-root troubleshooting—ini / SAVE_DIR drift on packaged Steam build; save_root_match gate pairs this bookmark list.
Use when: export receipt passes but players reset
Sibling 2D engine—Storage extension + branch promotion mismatch; same save_path_map discipline as GameMaker.
Use for: cross-engine comparison
Steamworks — Steam Cloud
Platform DocsLocal path still required—fest FAQ must match offline canonical path reviewers test when Cloud is enabled.
Use for: Cloud-enabled GameMaker demos
BUILD_RECEIPT save_path column—diff save_path_map.json before fest branch promotion on installed Steam build.
Pro tip: IDE Run is not fest proof