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Import a world and manage backups

This page explains where the server stores its worlds, how to import the world you started locally or on a friend's PC, how to back up and restore, and how to start a new world.

Back up before any change

Create a backup from the Backups tab before every import, restore or world change. A wrong file operation can overwrite your current world.

Where are worlds stored?​

The Core Keeper dedicated server stores its data in a DedicatedServer folder, located by default in the game's standard save folder. On a Linux server, this is usually:

.config/unity3d/Pugstorm/Core Keeper/DedicatedServer/
├── worlds/
│   ├── 0.world.gzip        ← world no. 0 (default slot)
│   └── 1.world.gzip        ← another world, if you created one
└── ServerConfig.json       ← server settings (depending on the version)
  • The file number matches the world slot loaded by the server (0 by default)
  • The .config folder is hidden: enable hidden files in the file manager
  • If a data path is set in the Startup tab, worlds are stored in that folder instead
  • The extension may vary with the game version: go by the files actually present in worlds/
Finding the right file

If in doubt, look at the modification dates in the worlds/ folder: the world in use is the one most recently modified while the server was running.

Importing a local world to the server​

1. Find the world on your PC​

On Windows, Core Keeper worlds are stored in:

%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Pugstorm\Core Keeper\Steam\<your Steam ID>\worlds\

Paste this path into the Windows Explorer address bar (replacing the last part with the numeric folder you have). You'll find files like 0.world.gzip, 1.world.gzip… one file per world slot in the game menu.

Which number is my world?

The number usually follows the order of world slots in the game menu. To be sure, launch the game, play a few seconds on the world you want to import, quit, then look for the file whose modification date just changed.

Close Core Keeper before copying the file, to make sure it has been fully saved.

2. Upload the world to the server​

  1. Log in to your Game Panel: game.yorkhost.fr
  2. Select your server and stop it
  3. Create a backup from the Backups tab
  4. In the Files tab, open the server's worlds/ folder (see Where are worlds stored?)
  5. Download a copy of the current world (for example 0.world.gzip) if you want to keep it
  6. Upload your world file, using the file manager or SFTP (credentials under Settings → SFTP Details)
  7. Rename it so it carries the number of the world loaded by the server: 0.world.gzip if you haven't changed the world slot
  8. Start the server and watch the Console
  9. Join the game with the Game ID and check that your world is there
Mode and seed of an imported world

An imported world keeps its own mode (Standard, Hard, Creative, Casual) and its original generation. The seed and mode settings in the Startup tab are only used when creating a new world: they don't transform an existing one.

What about characters?

In Core Keeper, characters are stored on each player's PC, not in the world. Everyone joins the server with their own character, just like on a game hosted by a friend.

If the imported world doesn't load (server stops, empty world or a new world generated instead), see Troubleshooting. Our support team can also help you on Discord.

Backing up and restoring​

From the panel​

The Backups tab of the Game Panel lets you create a server backup and restore it. Create one before any risky operation:

  • importing a world or changing the world slot
  • installing or removing a mod (see Install mods)
  • updating the game

You can automate backups from the Schedules tab.

Stop the server for a consistent backup

The world is saved regularly during play. For a fully up-to-date backup, stop the server before creating it.

Keeping a copy off the server​

Regularly download your world file (worlds/0.world.gzip for example) using the file manager or SFTP. That way you can open it locally or re-import it later.

Restoring​

  1. Stop the server
  2. Restore the backup from the Backups tab, or replace the world file in worlds/ with your copy
  3. Start the server

Starting a new world​

To change mode or seed, or simply start over, you need to create a new world. Two methods:

  1. Stop the server and create a backup
  2. Download the current world file to keep it
  3. In worlds/, rename it (for example 0.world.gzip to 0.world.gzip.old) or delete it once downloaded
  4. In the Startup tab, set the seed, mode and name of the new world (see Configure the server and world)
  5. Start the server: with no world in that slot anymore, it generates a new one

Alternative: switch world slot​

If your Startup tab exposes the world slot (-world parameter), change it for example from 0 to 1: the server creates a new 1.world.gzip world and the old one stays untouched on disk. You can go back to it by setting 0 again.

Updating the game​

Core Keeper gets regular updates. The server and the players must be on the same version.

  • Take a backup before every server update.
  • After an update on Steam, restart the server so it updates as provided by the panel. If it stays on the old version, contact support.
  • Check that your mods are compatible with the new version before restarting (see Install mods).

See also​