ROM Hack Question Why do Stardew Valley last version's saves seem encrypted?

[Deleted User]

I recently installed the last update of Stardew Valley and began a farm, when I tried to exctract the save and play it a pc with the same version, it didn't seem to work, looking into the save file, when I try to open the main save file, it's illegible, although the SaveGameInfo seems fine. The main file of a pc save is an XML and also much bigger than the switch version. The problem is that this didn't use to happen before, because before the update, switch saves were identical to pc ones, there are many reports about this. So, is this a problem with my save? Is it because the developers have changed it? and most important, is there a way to solve it?

 

[LikeChrist]

Hi, did you find a solution for this, or further information on wether the save can be made readable on PC? You mentioned that there are other reports on this, I am curious where that thread is located so I can follow to see if anyone has found a way to convert the file.

 

[Deleted User]

Hi, did you find a solution for this, or further information on wether the save can be made readable on PC? You mentioned that there are other reports on this, I am curious where that thread is located so I can follow to see if anyone has found a way to convert the file.

The reports I mentioned are about the saves in previous versions of Stardew Valley in switch, which could be read in pc as a normal XML.
https://gbatemp.net/threads/stardew-valley-pc-saves-working-on-switch-version.510107/
https://gbatemp.net/threads/stardew-valley-save-transfer-between-pc-and-save-editing.503643/
These two threads are about saves in previous versions, proving that the save file was identical to the pc version.

I still haven't found any solution to the problem with saves in the last version and no one seems to be discussing this issue.

 

[Zkajavier]

The new saves are encrypted even to the game itself on Switch now... If you go and delete the update and leave just the base game and try to load your save file the game crashes lol.

All old save editors will only recognize the SaveGameInfo portion of the save and will also crash while trying to load any switch save file.

I think we are safe to say that cross-platform save compatibility is just gone for the Switch


However, I found some interesting data from the changelogs:

 You can no longer load saves created in a newer version of the game than you have. (This will only affect future versions of the game.)

That's for the 1.4 update, and well, currently the latest version of Switch is 1.4.2 while the latest version on PC is 1.4.3.

Patch notes on 1.4.3 state:

 There is a patch out now for Xbox and PS4, and coming soon (it’s still in certification) for Switch.

So maybe once 1.4.3 hits the Switch we might, hopefully, try again?


EDIT:

Surprise surprise, the switch version was updated to 1.4.3 and it's still not possible to extract its save files and use them in PC, they will always crash. I submitted this as a bug to concernedape, but well... who knows if it will work ever again. All hopes are lost.

 

[Balorin]

The new saves are encrypted even to the game itself on Switch now... If you go and delete the update and leave just the base game and try to load your save file the game crashes lol.

All old save editors will only recognize the SaveGameInfo portion of the save and will also crash while trying to load any switch save file.

I think we are safe to say that cross-platform save compatibility is just gone for the Switch


However, I found some interesting data from the changelogs:

 You can no longer load saves created in a newer version of the game than you have. (This will only affect future versions of the game.)

That's for the 1.4 update, and well, currently the latest version of Switch is 1.4.2 while the latest version on PC is 1.4.3.

Patch notes on 1.4.3 state:

 There is a patch out now for Xbox and PS4, and coming soon (it’s still in certification) for Switch.

So maybe once 1.4.3 hits the Switch we might, hopefully, try again?


EDIT:

Surprise surprise, the switch version was updated to 1.4.3 and it's still not possible to extract its save files and use them in PC, they will always crash. I submitted this as a bug to concernedape, but well... who knows if it will work ever again. All hopes are lost.

So...I played around with this, after google did nothing to help me.

Turns out, if you take a PC save, you can edit it, and it will load on the Switch version just fine. I made sure my Stardew Valley PC version was 1.4.3, as well.

However, once you load it on the Switch the save file goes from 2000kb to 80kb, so whatever encryption is happening happens once the Switch saves the savefile.

 

[unknowndatax]

The save is compressed using Ionic.Zlib with default compression. I've attached a tool to (de)compress the save.

 

[Balorin]

The save is compressed using Ionic.Zlib with default compression. I've attached a tool to (de)compress the save.

This worked awesomely. I can now transfer my save back and forth between my PC and Switch. Thank you!

Guess it was less encryption and more compression to save file space on the Switch (and explains why no other version that I've seen has this, or at least, no one's mentioned it!)

 

[aQuaKuVS]

The save is compressed using Ionic.Zlib with default compression. I've attached a tool to (de)compress the save.

This worked awesomely. I can now transfer my save back and forth between my PC and Switch. Thank you!

Guess it was less encryption and more compression to save file space on the Switch (and explains why no other version that I've seen has this, or at least, no one's mentioned it!)

help, please. i have these save files exported from my android ver of game.
Which of them i should compress or decompress and then import into sdcard?

 

[CoKKeN]

Hi, people! I'm trying to transfer a saved game from a computer to Switch, but when I load it, the game crashes and the title screen restarts. I used the attached compressor and the Switch reads the game, but then it crashes.

What did happen is that the game saved in the computer was created in an older version of the game than the one in Switch. I also tested how the game reacted from the 1.4.5 version to the 1.4.4, but I got a pop-up telling me that it's not compatible. But I don't get a pop-up if it's done the other way around - from older to newer -. Is it just a matter of incompatibility of versions, or do you think it's something else?

 

[Eapzy]

Hi, people! I'm trying to transfer a saved game from a computer to Switch, but when I load it, the game crashes and the title screen restarts. I used the attached compressor and the Switch reads the game, but then it crashes.

What did happen is that the game saved in the computer was created in an older version of the game than the one in Switch. I also tested how the game reacted from the 1.4.5 version to the 1.4.4, but I got a pop-up telling me that it's not compatible. But I don't get a pop-up if it's done the other way around - from older to newer -. Is it just a matter of incompatibility of versions, or do you think it's something else?

Heres what I did and it worked:

On your computer

• Navigate to "%APPDATA%/StardewValley/Save"
  
• Make a copy (just anywhere on your computer) of the save folder there that's named something like "name_123456789"
  
• In this copy there should be two files, one with the same name as the folder (name_123456789) and one named "SaveGameInfo" if there are more files in there you can delete.
  
• Optional step if you want to more easily read the file: In Notepad ++ go to Plugins > Plugin Admin.. and install XML Tools. After it restarts and you open either file go to Plugins > XML Tools > Pretty print. It takes a second to load. This should add linebreaks and make the whole thing much more intelligible.
  
• Open SaveGameInfo with text editor. Search for "gameVersion" and change the number following from 1.4.5 to 1.4.4 - save and close.
  
• Open name_123456789 with text editor. Search for "gameVersion" change the number following from 1.4.5 to 1.4.4 - for me there were TWO instances of "gameVersion" in this file, make sure you change all of them. - save and close.
  
• Use the compression tool to compress the name_123456789 file you just edited.
  
• Locate Checkpoints Save Folder for Stardew Valley on your SD Card at "Sdmc:/Switch/Checkpoint/Saves/0x0100E65002BB8000 Stardew Valley"
  
• Create a new folder inside of it with whatever text you want (this is just what you'll select in checkpoint).
  
• Inside of this folder place the folder named "name_123456789" that contains the two files (the edited SaveGameInfo and the edited and compressed name_123456789 file)

On your switch

• Open Checkpoint navigate to Stardew Valley
• Backup any other save on the device using Checkpoint just in case
• Select the name you chose, restore with [R] button.

DONE!


Summary & Notes

• The current Switch Stardew Valley version is 1.4.4 while the current PC version is 1.4.5. The files from PC must be edited to show version 1.4.4.
• The way Structure of Stardew valley saves is a folder [name_123456789] that contains 2 files, name_123456789 and SaveGameInfo
• The switch wants a compressed name_123456789
• I'm assuming this works in reverse if you just copy the file from the switch and decompress it using that tool (no need to fuck with the version number going this direction)

 

[NekoNoor]

I tried this on the latest version (1.5.4, both steam and switch are the same version) and after transferring the save to my switch, it says "the software was closed because an error occurred" after i press a on the save

 

[Caylab]

For anyone who is trying this on the Version 1.5.
I just copy and pasted this comment from another thread.


For the switch to recognize your save on the new version it now needs a startup_preference file.
You first need to create a brand new save on your switch in the game and then exit out of it.
Now go to your save manager and back that save up (with Checkpoint you need to press the R button).
Now go to your PC and access the SD card. Create a new folder in the Stardew Valley save folder.
Take the startup_preference file from the new save that you made on the switch in there. Create another folder in the folder where your startup_preference is and put your save files there (if you don't understand what I'm trying to say just look at the folder the game created and see how the files are arranged there).
The game should recognize your save now.