Currently live on the Public Test Branch (PTB), this update moves away from the traditional method of storing your entire Viking world in single, massive .db and .fwl files. Instead, the game is shifting to a chunk-based system. This means that when you save, the game only updates the specific segments of the world that have actually changed, rather than rewriting the entire database from scratch.
For players with massive bases or long-running servers, this is a massive win for stability. The primary benefit is a significant reduction in the risk of file corruption—a nightmare scenario for any builder who has put hundreds of hours into a longhouse. By breaking the data into smaller folders and chunks, the save process is not only safer but also considerably faster, reducing those annoying stutters during auto-saves.
How to test the new save system
If you want to help Iron Gate stress-test this architecture, you will need to opt into the PTB on Steam. Because this is a fundamental change to how your data is handled, the developers have hidden the branch behind a specific password as a safety precaution. Use the code yesimadebackups in your Steam Betas settings to gain access.
- World Saves: Now stored in separate folders as chunked data.
- Character Saves: These remain unchanged and will function as they always have.
- Safety First: Always manually back up your local save files before switching to the PTB.
While this might not be as flashy as a new biome or a boss fight, these technical foundations are what keep a survival RPG alive in the long run. Faster, more reliable saves mean we can spend less time worrying about our data and more time defending our hearths from the dangers of the tenth world.
Soren