Cache clearing guide v3: fix performance, crashes, lag, stuttering, and fix saves that don't update.

0x6A7232 · November 2016

I updated this guide, however, if you're looking for something from the old versions, they're in [ spoiler ] tags at the end of the post.

If you have any problems or need clarification, please reply here and I'll try to address the issue.

If you've got dirt in your base, you'll want to follow the second list right after this one.

Close the game
Navigate to your Subnautica Saved Games folder. For Steam, that's
```
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\SNAppData\SavedGames"
```
For Epic Games, go to:
```
"%userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\Subnautica\SavedGames"
```
NB: DO NOT navigate to the folder \SNUnmanagedData\Build18\ or you WILL need to re-install or re-verify the game files! (\SNUnmanagedData\Build18 is where your 'fresh' / 'default' files are kept that are used to start a new game). If you see a folder named Build18, you're in the wrong place, go back and try again!
Find your slot00xx folder that has the saved game that needs fixing. (look at the screenshot.jpg in each one if you need help, that's the little thumbnail that shows when you go to load. Or sort by date if that helps).
Delete both the CellsCache and CompiledOctreesCache folders - and also, delete the legacy batch-object*.txt files in the slot00xx folder, just be sure to only delete those, and not the main saved game files, which are listed below:

Make sure you do not delete the following four files sitting directly in the slot00xx folder:

gameinfo.json
global-objects.bin
scene-objects.bin
screenshot.jpg < - that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load

ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, I'll repeat: these four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DELETE THESE!! If this freaks you out, hey, take it easy, just back up these files or the entire saved game slot folder first.

Better safe then sorry, right?

(If you have dirt in your base, read this section).
The terraformer method: (NOTE: As of 10/8/2017, the terraformer / item 514 still works, but with no persistence ie, it won't save changes made to your save file any more. You can use the terraformer to gain access to your base to deconstruct components and move them to where there is no terrain, however. Also note the terraformer won't have a proper icon any more (just a question mark) - still fully functional though)

Clear all of the cache if you haven't already (see section above)
Type
```
item 514
```
and press enter in the debug console
Clear out the dirt. (left-click, or shift+right-click)
(if you want to get rid of the terraformer) Make an empty locker, put the terraformer inside of it, and deconstruct the locker. (Update: or you could make a trash can and put it in there, not sure if lockers will deconstruct with items in them any more.)
Save

IGP's video is linked in the old v1 and v2 guides, I'll leave it here for reference, but keep in mind a lot of it (saving the batches your base is built in) is no longer necessary, and can be instead worked around with the terraformer, and even that's usually not necessary as base terraforming is no longer allowed.

Some useful stuff:

* If you find yourself doing this cache cleaning often, there's an automated batch file to help you do it here.
* Link to a tool to make this process a bit easier (currently the program still wants you to find which batches your base is in) here (Tool to clean cache by @foxxyfox - source code available ).

Interesting notes:

* you can totally avoid this issue if you don't mind cheating, according to this quote, thanks @Nachoman :

Nachoman wrote: »

Theres another workaround. The lag is caused 100% entirely by the amount of resources you have picked up throughout your playtime in the world, the more resources youve collected, the worse it gets. You can use the console cheat commands (press f3 then f8 to activate mouse cursor, click the box top left of screen to activate it then just press enter in game to enter cheats,) to spawn yourself items or to remove building costs, doing this will allow you to play a full lag free game where you can cheat as much/ as little as you want, just start a new game and either take notes of the resources you would be collecting and then spawn yourself the according amount of items etc. this will allow you to play completely lag free and go anywhere in the game world without problems, I have a low end 5 year old pc and doing this I can play the game just fine, started a new game spent a full 90 minutes making a massive base, have 2 cyclops and prawns and seamoths, been to all the wrecks and precursor bases and not a single crash from a new play file done in this method.

* Found this thread over on Steam, the very interesting part is the developer reply afterwards (by @LumpN): {{The consensus of the whole thread was that some people had relief from crashing by deleting that one file, whereas others did not.}}

https://steamcommunity.com/app/264710/discussions/0/154644787622360894/?ctp=2#c154644928866890353

Originally posted by LumpN:

Originally posted by BoredJedi:
I painstakingly went through each files in the CellCache and CompiledOctreesCache by deleting, running the game and restoring the deleted files. Seems there is just one file that's in the center of this lag and crash issue. If you don't want to reset the terrain and resources, just delete this file....

baked-batch-cells-14-18-15.bin In the CellsCache. In the SavedGames directory.

Thanks for the tip, we'll investigate. By the way, even though we hardly ever reply, we do read the forums all the time and hints like this one are very helpful to us. Please keep in mind that it might take a very long time to find and fix the underlying issue though.

In the meantime I can provide a little background information about these files.

The CellsCache folder contains data about all the entities (plants, creatures, loot, etc.) in batches the player has seen. If a player never visits batch 14-18-15 then there won't be a file about it in that saved game.

The CompiledOctreesCache contains terrain data only. Terrain data almost never causes issues unless one of the files gets corrupted while writing which may result in missing terrain.

If a saved game runs slow at certain coordinates while a new game runs fine at the same coordinates then there is a fair chance that there is an issue with the CellsCache. The other potential culprits being the batch, global, or scene objects. You don't want to mess with the latter two though, because they contain all your built subs, bases, and items.

By the way the warp command to go to that batch is "batch 14 18 15". Batch numbers are always positive. The dashes are added to the filename for readability only.

So as I said, thanks, we'll add this to our long list of issues to investigate, which you can find on our Trello board. https://trello.com/b/eLEWpq3P/subnautica-playtesting

EDIT again: Asked LumpN what the batch-objects-xx-yy-zz.txt files in the main slot directory did, response:

Well, they contain batch objects. We don't really use them anymore but they are kept for legacy data.

The old versions of this post are archived below:

v2:

I updated this guide, however, if you're looking for something from the old one, it's in [ spoiler ] tags at the end of the post.

If you have any problems or need clarification, please reply here and I'll try to address the issue.
If you've got dirt in your base, you want the second list right after this one.

Navigate to your Subnautica Saved Games folder. For Steam, that's
```
"%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\SNAppData\SavedGames"
```
For Epic Games, go to:
```
"%userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\Subnautica\SavedGames"
```
NB: DO NOT navigate to the folder \SNUnmanagedData\Build18\ or you WILL need to re-install or re-verify the game files! (\SNUnmanagedData\Build18 is where your 'fresh' / 'default' files are kept that are used to start a new game). If you see a folder named Build18, you're in the wrong place, go back and try again!
Find your slot00xx folder that has the saved game that needs fixing. (look at the screenshot.jpg in each one if you need help, that's the little thumbnail that shows when you go to load. Or sort by date if that helps).
Make a new folder called temp-backup
Move the CellsCache and CompiledOctreesCache folders to the temp-backup folder
Load your saved game, and go check all of your bases for terrain popping in. If you see terrain, you can either spawn the terraformer (see the following section), and clear the terrain, or, open the F1 window and note down (Alt-tab and Notepad works well for this) the camera batch number that the terrain is located at. There's a video by IGP kind of describing this process below, just follow the part about copying down batch numbers.
Save and exit the game.
If you noted any batch numbers down two steps previously, go into the temp-backup\CompiledOctreesCache folder, find the files that match the batch numbers you noted down, and copy them back into the slot00xx\CompiledOctreesCache folder, overwriting the newer files now present there.

Make sure you do not delete the following four files sitting directly in the slot00xx folder:

gameinfo.json
global-objects.bin
scene-objects.bin
screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, I'll repeat: these four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DELETE THESE!! If this freaks you out, hey, take it easy, just back up these files or the entire saved game slot folder first.

Better safe then sorry, right?

(If you have dirt in your base and you were linked to this thread, read this section).
The terraformer method: (still works as of 10/7/2017)

Clear all of the cache (see section above)
Do 'item 514' and press enter in the console (no quotes)
Clear out the dirt.
Put all of your stuff except the terraformer (including anything on your paperdoll UI person like rad suit, rebreather etc) in a locker
Do 'clearinventory' and press enter in the console (do not enter the quotes)
Put all your stuff (O2 tanks, rebreather / rad suit etc) back on
Save
Close game

IGP's video:

Some useful stuff:

* If you find yourself doing this cache cleaning often, there's an automated batch file to help you do it here.
* Link to a tool to make this process a bit easier (you still have to find which batches your base is in) here (Tool to clean cache by @foxxyfox - source code available ).

Interesting notes:

* you can totally avoid this issue if you don't mind cheating, according to this quote, thanks @Nachoman :

Nachoman wrote: »

Theres another workaround. The lag is caused 100% entirely by the amount of resources you have picked up throughout your playtime in the world, the more resources youve collected, the worse it gets. You can use the console cheat commands (press f3 then f8 to activate mouse cursor, click the box top left of screen to activate it then just press enter in game to enter cheats,) to spawn yourself items or to remove building costs, doing this will allow you to play a full lag free game where you can cheat as much/ as little as you want, just start a new game and either take notes of the resources you would be collecting and then spawn yourself the according amount of items etc. this will allow you to play completely lag free and go anywhere in the game world without problems, I have a low end 5 year old pc and doing this I can play the game just fine, started a new game spent a full 90 minutes making a massive base, have 2 cyclops and prawns and seamoths, been to all the wrecks and precursor bases and not a single crash from a new play file done in this method.

* Found this thread over on Steam, the very interesting part is the developer reply afterwards (by LumpN): {{The consensus of the whole thread was that some people had relief from crashing by deleting that one file, whereas others did not.}}

https://steamcommunity.com/app/264710/discussions/0/154644787622360894/?ctp=2#c154644928866890353

Originally posted by LumpN:

Originally posted by BoredJedi:
I painstakingly went through each files in the CellCache and CompiledOctreesCache by deleting, running the game and restoring the deleted files. Seems there is just one file that's in the center of this lag and crash issue. If you don't want to reset the terrain and resources, just delete this file....

baked-batch-cells-14-18-15.bin In the CellsCache. In the SavedGames directory.

Thanks for the tip, we'll investigate. By the way, even though we hardly ever reply, we do read the forums all the time and hints like this one are very helpful to us. Please keep in mind that it might take a very long time to find and fix the underlying issue though.

In the meantime I can provide a little background information about these files.

The CellsCache folder contains data about all the entities (plants, creatures, loot, etc.) in batches the player has seen. If a player never visits batch 14-18-15 then there won't be a file about it in that saved game.

The CompiledOctreesCache contains terrain data only. Terrain data almost never causes issues unless one of the files gets corrupted while writing which may result in missing terrain.

If a saved game runs slow at certain coordinates while a new game runs fine at the same coordinates then there is a fair chance that there is an issue with the CellsCache. The other potential culprits being the batch, global, or scene objects. You don't want to mess with the latter two though, because they contain all your built subs, bases, and items.

By the way the warp command to go to that batch is "batch 14 18 15". Batch numbers are always positive. The dashes are added to the filename for readability only.

So as I said, thanks, we'll add this to our long list of issues to investigate, which you can find on our Trello board. https://trello.com/b/eLEWpq3P/subnautica-playtesting

EDIT again: Asked LumpN what the batch-objects-xx-yy-zz.txt files in the main slot directory did, response:

Well, they contain batch objects. We don't really use them anymore but they are kept for legacy data.

The old version of this post is archived below:

v1:

Alright guys / gals, remember before, when we deleted our CellsCache and CompiledOctreesCache folders, we would afterwards have terrain in our base?

Here's how to avoid that, and also, apparently we should have also been deleting the batch-objects- txt files in the main slot00xx directory located (by default, anyways) in "%ProgramFiles(x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\SNAppData\SavedGames\" or "%userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\Subnautica\SavedGames"

{{EDIT: some info on what those files do at the bottom}}

BUT, we should not delete the files in CellsCache, CompiledOctreesCache, and the main slot00xx directory that match where our base(s) are (and for large bases, sometimes that's 2 or more files, so be sure to check all around your base).

To do this, you're going to want to make note of which camera batch files you've got modified terrain on.

///EDIT: Those having problems getting near their bases to get the batch numbers, please take note of the last part of this post for a workaround.

EDIT2: If you find yourself doing this cache cleaning often, there's an automated batch file to help you do it here.

EDIT3: Added instructions at the end for it you don't want to check your base batches and/or get dirt in your base somehow (maybe the terrain was updated and now the new landscape intersects your base whereas it didn't before the last update).

This is usually just your base(s). Just open notepad, and with the Subnautica F1 window open, swim around, making a note of the camera batch numbers that your base(s) occupy.

Next, delete the numbered cache files in both the cache folders, as well as the numbered cache files in the main save folder, except for the cache files that contain modified terrain data. Make sure you do not delete the following four files:

gameinfo.json
global-objects.bin
scene-objects.bin
screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, I'll repeat: these four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DELETE THESE!! If this freaks you out, hey, take it easy, just back up these files or the entire saved game slot folder first.

Better safe then sorry, right?

To make it easier, you can watch IGP walk you through this process below:

*This helpful guide has been made possible by the kind support of IGP.*

If you can't get near your base(s), do this:

1) Back up your entire saved game folder.

2) Clear you cache (all of it).

3) Go to your base, note what batch(es) it / they are in.

4) Exit, copy the batches noted above from the back up to the new save.

5) Profit!

If you have dirt in your base somehow (didn't want to get base batches, or game was changed between updates), follow these instructions:

* Clear all of the cache
* Do 'item 514' and press enter in the console (no quotes)
* Clear out the dirt.
* Put all of your stuff except the terraformer (including anything on your paperdoll UI person like rad suit, rebreather etc) in a locker
* Do 'clearinventory' and press enter in the console (no quotes)
* Put all your stuff (O2 tanks, rebreather / rad suit etc) back on
* Save
* Close game
* Profit!

EDIT#?? Also please note that you can totally avoid this issue if you don't mind cheating, according to this quote, thanks @Nachoman :

Nachoman wrote: »

Theres another workaround. The lag is caused 100% entirely by the amount of resources you have picked up throughout your playtime in the world, the more resources youve collected, the worse it gets. You can use the console cheat commands (press f3 then f8 to activate mouse cursor, click the box top left of screen to activate it then just press enter in game to enter cheats,) to spawn yourself items or to remove building costs, doing this will allow you to play a full lag free game where you can cheat as much/ as little as you want, just start a new game and either take notes of the resources you would be collecting and then spawn yourself the according amount of items etc. this will allow you to play completely lag free and go anywhere in the game world without problems, I have a low end 5 year old pc and doing this I can play the game just fine, started a new game spent a full 90 minutes making a massive base, have 2 cyclops and prawns and seamoths, been to all the wrecks and precursor bases and not a single crash from a new play file done in this method.

EDIT#??? Thanks @Frustrated for helping with clearer phrasing.

EDIT#???+1 Link to a tool to make this process a bit easier (you still have to find which batches your base is in) here (Tool to clean cache by @foxxyfox - source code available ).

EDIT#???+][
Found this thread over on Steam, the very interesting part is the developer reply afterwards (by LumpN): {{The consensus of the whole thread was that some people had relief from crashing by deleting that one file, whereas others did not.}}

https://steamcommunity.com/app/264710/discussions/0/154644787622360894/?ctp=2#c154644928866890353

Originally posted by LumpN:

Originally posted by BoredJedi:
I painstakingly went through each files in the CellCache and CompiledOctreesCache by deleting, running the game and restoring the deleted files. Seems there is just one file that's in the center of this lag and crash issue. If you don't want to reset the terrain and resources, just delete this file....

baked-batch-cells-14-18-15.bin In the CellsCache. In the SavedGames directory.

Thanks for the tip, we'll investigate. By the way, even though we hardly ever reply, we do read the forums all the time and hints like this one are very helpful to us. Please keep in mind that it might take a very long time to find and fix the underlying issue though.

In the meantime I can provide a little background information about these files.

The CellsCache folder contains data about all the entities (plants, creatures, loot, etc.) in batches the player has seen. If a player never visits batch 14-18-15 then there won't be a file about it in that saved game.

The CompiledOctreesCache contains terrain data only. Terrain data almost never causes issues unless one of the files gets corrupted while writing which may result in missing terrain.

If a saved game runs slow at certain coordinates while a new game runs fine at the same coordinates then there is a fair chance that there is an issue with the CellsCache. The other potential culprits being the batch, global, or scene objects. You don't want to mess with the latter two though, because they contain all your built subs, bases, and items.

By the way the warp command to go to that batch is "batch 14 18 15". Batch numbers are always positive. The dashes are added to the filename for readability only.

So as I said, thanks, we'll add this to our long list of issues to investigate, which you can find on our Trello board. https://trello.com/b/eLEWpq3P/subnautica-playtesting

EDIT again: Asked LumpN what the batch-objects-xx-yy-zz.txt files in the main slot directory did, response:

Well, they contain batch objects. We don't really use them anymore but they are kept for legacy data.

0x6A7232 · November 2016

Also, please take note of the following word from the devs:

Obraxis wrote: »

We're looking into this issue. If deleting the files works for you, use it as a work-around for now. However bear in mind, you might have unforeseen consequence due to the game world having to be rebuilt.

Which, now that we have a more comprehensive way of clearing the cache whilst preserving the bits around our bases, hopefully will be minimal.

jpinard · November 2016

What you delete all that cache is it almost a cheat? As in, does it repopulate all the metal nodes and stuff and other things like items, recipes etc?

0x6A7232 · November 2016

Yes it does. Unless you can find a way around that. I mean, you're deleting the location files from 3 different directories, maybe one of them is for loot etc, but i don't know. If you find out, let us know.

ErnieW · November 2016

if you already have the plans for stuff it doesn't change anything; i haven't noticed any reappearing titanium scrap but then i go out to obtain scrap and materials rather than take resources from near my habitat. seems that scrap always rains down in the other areas.

NorrinRadd · November 2016

Nice workaround Thanks!

After removing cached files except the batch from my Base, the Game not Crashed.
Now it works fine and i can visit DeepGrandReef

(sorry for my bad english)

diLuca · November 2016

thanks it fixed my crashing loops i had when i played a world for several hours.

halcyoned · November 2016

Hi there, don't mind me asking but how do I go about clearing the cache?

EDIT: Ok, I watched the video and managed to do it. But it only works for about 5 minutes or so before the game crashes again.

0x6A7232 · November 2016

O.o Yikes.

Wait until after it crashes, and then upload your saved game folder so the devs can look into it? Link is in my sig.

matttitus1215 · November 2016

How do I clear my cache if I bought through Oculus Home? Im not using Steam for SN. I thought this would be fixed by now. I'm sure the devs are working hard, I just love this game and its been messed up for a while.

0x6A7232 · November 2016

matttitus1215 wrote: »

How do I clear my cache if I bought through Oculus Home? Im not using Steam for SN. I thought this would be fixed by now. I'm sure the devs are working hard, I just love this game and its been messed up for a while.

Find your slot000x directory where your saves are, instructions are the same.

matttitus1215 · November 2016

I found the save games if you're using Oculus Home instead of Steam.

C:/Users/{username}/AppData/Roaming/Subnautica/SavedGames/

Testing fix now

matttitus1215 · November 2016

After going to C:/Users/{username}/AppData/Roaming/Subnautica/SavedGames/ and clearing the caches for your save,

you also have to go to C:/ProgramFiles/Oculus/Software/Software/unknown-worlds-subnautica/SNUnmanagedData/Build18

Ignore the autosave folders and just empty the same 2 cache folders here. No more crashes for now

0x6A7232 · November 2016

Interesting. ... very interesting. There's cache in Build18 as well? humm... might explain why cache clearing doesn't work for some. Just checked, and \SNUnmanagedData\Build18 caches also exist for Steam.

matttitus1215 · December 2016

Well it doesn't crash anymore, but there is nothing to scan or collect, no fragments, nothing. Just bare terrain and boredom. I'll just wait for the devs to fix, I'm not sure what I did.

Still one of the best games out there. Patiently waiting for an update...

0x6A7232 · December 2016

Eh. Here. Move your saved game files somewhere else. Just the whole \SavedGames directory to like your Desktop.

Then, delete the Subnautica directory, and verify your game cache in Steam / or re-install it from Occulus Home.

Then move your SavedGames directory back.

Frustrated · December 2016

Just copying out the 42 files I want to keep from the 3 different directories, and I see that I'm missing a file, the same one in each of the 3 directories.

If the file is missing, shouldn't it be recreated when I launch the game?

I back up every couple of weeks or so. It is missing in the last 2 backups, but it does exist in the one before that. I will rescue it from there.

Interesting though, how it's missing in the first place...

WarpZone32 · December 2016

0x6A7232 wrote: »

Alright guys / gals, remember before, when we deleted our CellsCache and CompiledOctreesCache folders, we would afterwards have terrain in our base?

Here's how to avoid that, and also, apparently we should have also been deleting the batch-objects- txt files in the main slot000x directory

Question: Would starting a new save also solve all these problems? If so, would the problems reoccur in a fresh save in the latest build of the game, or are the causes of the problems permanently fixed in the latest build, as long as you don't have any old data?

Crewman87 · December 2016

@WarpZone32 I have my doubts. As soon as you enter a cell it logs it, this may not happen until after you create the first save (would have to check to find out). I have also noticed, as the video in the OP shows, saving seems to write them all back into the save folder. Starting a new save will essentially do the same, however the same problem would likely persist, but I haven't made a new save yet so maybe give it a shot and see what happens.

0x6A7232 · December 2016

WarpZone32 wrote: »

0x6A7232 wrote: »

Alright guys / gals, remember before, when we deleted our CellsCache and CompiledOctreesCache folders, we would afterwards have terrain in our base?

Here's how to avoid that, and also, apparently we should have also been deleting the batch-objects- txt files in the main slot000x directory

Question: Would starting a new save also solve all these problems? If so, would the problems reoccur in a fresh save in the latest build of the game, or are the causes of the problems permanently fixed in the latest build, as long as you don't have any old data?

Yes (new game would have a fresh copy of cache files); and I don't know.

JosephTheGreat · December 2016

I have found out that my game will not crash as long as I do not build a base. After I build a base it will eventually start to freeze, and after 3 or so freezes game crashes. So i decided to build a cyclops and build everything inside a Cyclops, my FPS is very good (50-70 FPS) everywhere except in safe shallows and grand reef (25-50 FPS), game does not freeze anymore but i does stutter like it always had (dips to 15-20 FPS from time to time).
PC specs in my signature.

Frustrated · December 2016

Did the cache clean, keeping my base ones. Didn't help the load time at all or the stutters. It also made some terrain stop loading at all. So I would be somewhere deep checking my bases, and when I leave the terrain doesn't show at all. I can go right through the terrain, back to my nearest top base, which is floating in nothing as there is no terrain.

I thought I had done the file swap wrong so I put the backup in. All great, I see terrain, go deep, all fine, come back up and I lose terrain again. Not happy. It's obviously there as I see it before I go deep, but doesn't reload when I come back. Files have been verified. Wish I'd never done it now.

MsCende · December 2016

Frustrated wrote: »

Did the cache clean, keeping my base ones. Didn't help the load time at all or the stutters. It also made some terrain stop loading at all. So I would be somewhere deep checking my bases, and when I leave the terrain doesn't show at all. I can go right through the terrain, back to my nearest top base, which is floating in nothing as there is no terrain.

I thought I had done the file swap wrong so I put the backup in. All great, I see terrain, go deep, all fine, come back up and I lose terrain again. Not happy. It's obviously there as I see it before I go deep, but doesn't reload when I come back. Files have been verified. Wish I'd never done it now.

I've never done this cache clean, and I'm getting this rendering issue like mad - my husband (a software architect himself) thinks they have a resource leak in the code that's causing the problem.

Frustrated · December 2016

Have to say though, as I zoomed in a straight line between floating bases (and the aurora with no interior at all where the living quarters should be - just a vast outer shell), that I had no lag at all...

0x6A7232 · December 2016

Frustrated wrote: »

Did the cache clean, keeping my base ones. Didn't help the load time at all or the stutters. It also made some terrain stop loading at all. So I would be somewhere deep checking my bases, and when I leave the terrain doesn't show at all. I can go right through the terrain, back to my nearest top base, which is floating in nothing as there is no terrain.

I thought I had done the file swap wrong so I put the backup in. All great, I see terrain, go deep, all fine, come back up and I lose terrain again. Not happy. It's obviously there as I see it before I go deep, but doesn't reload when I come back. Files have been verified. Wish I'd never done it now.

After a cache clean, the game is supposed to load the source resources to give you a fresh cache, just like when you started a new game.

If this didn't happen, either your source files are damaged or (more likely) a glitch caused them to not load correctly (or at all). Usually a game re-load will fix this, if not, cache clean again, if not, then re-verify your game file integrity in Steam, then cache clean one more time when those are fixed. (If you still have issues, run chkdsk on that drive, then verify with Steam, then cache clean).

Instructions for all of that ▼ down there.

Frustrated · December 2016

A game reload does not work. The original set I backed up did not work either. I played last night same bug. Files have been verified in steam. Just run chkdsk, and there is no problem. I will clean again.

Note that your instructions say to clean the 4 files in the main save folder (json, bin x2, jpg), but the video does not. Why the difference?

One last thing of interest, the cache clean also added a sea emperor. Going back to my old cache files, it's gone...

0x6A7232 · December 2016

Frustrated wrote: »

A game reload does not work. The original set I backed up did not work either. I played last night same bug. Files have been verified in steam. Just run chkdsk, and there is no problem. I will clean again.

Note that your instructions say to clean the 4 files in the main save folder (json, bin x2, jpg), but the video does not. Why the difference?

One last thing of interest, the cache clean also added a sea emperor. Going back to my old cache files, it's gone...

Err, actually, I said not to delete any file with modified terrain data and those four files, but to be more clear, I've edited the OP.

The cache clean added a sea emperor because it has been added to the game, and cache cleaning let you experience it now (hence why IGP had this method to upgrade your saved games originally).

Before:

0x6A7232 wrote: »

This is usually just your base(s). Just open notepad, and with the Subnautica F1 window open, swim around, making a note of the camera batch numbers that your base(s) occupy. Next, delete every file in both cache directories AND THE MAIN SAVE FOLDER besides the batch files that have modified terrain data AND the four main save game files located in the main folder, which are
gameinfo.json

global-objects.bin

scene-objects.bin

screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

After:

0x6A7232 wrote: »

This is usually just your base(s). Just open notepad, and with the Subnautica F1 window open, swim around, making a note of the camera batch numbers that your base(s) occupy. Next, delete every file in both cache directories AND THE MAIN SAVE FOLDER besides the batch files that have modified terrain data AND the four main save game files located in the main folder, which are

EDIT: ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, these following four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT DELETE THESE!!
gameinfo.json

global-objects.bin

scene-objects.bin

screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

EDIT: @Frustrated

Frustrated · December 2016

I didn't delete them, I followed the video. But seriously I would change the 'AND' to 'BUT NOT'

Next, delete every file in both cache directories AND THE MAIN SAVE FOLDER besides the batch files that have modified terrain data AND the four main save game files located in the main folder...

to

Next, delete every file in both cache directories AND THE MAIN SAVE FOLDER besides the batch files that have modified terrain data, BUT NOT the four main save game files located in the main folder...

In fact even that isn't very clear, someone might think they have to delete the main save folder.

How about:
Next, delete the numbered cache files in both the cache folders, as well as the cache files in the main save folder, except the cache files that contain modified terrain data. Make sure you do not delete the following four files...

0x6A7232 · December 2016

@Frustrated - How's this?

0x6A7232 wrote: »

This is usually just your base(s). Just open notepad, and with the Subnautica F1 window open, swim around, making a note of the camera batch numbers that your base(s) occupy. Next, delete every file in both cache directories AND THE MAIN SAVE FOLDER besides the batch files that have modified terrain data AND the four main save game files located in the main folder, which are
gameinfo.json

global-objects.bin

scene-objects.bin

screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, I'll repeat: these four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DELETE THESE!! If this freaks you out, hey, take it easy, just back up these files or the entire saved game slot folder first. Better safe then sorry, right?

0x6A7232 · December 2016

Err.

Take 2 (somehow I didn't remove the correct sentence when I copy-pasted, brb)

0x6A7232 · December 2016

@Frustrated - take 2 complete:

0x6A7232 wrote: »

Next, delete the numbered cache files in both the cache folders, as well as the numbered cache files in the main save folder, except for the cache files that contain modified terrain data. Make sure you do not delete the following four files:
gameinfo.json

global-objects.bin

scene-objects.bin

screenshot.jpg (<- that's the little thumbnail showing you a preview of the save when you go to load)

ZOMGWTFBBQ! In case I wasn't clear, I'll repeat: these four data files have your actual saved game progress, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE DELETE THESE!! If this freaks you out, hey, take it easy, just back up these files or the entire saved game slot folder first. Better safe then sorry, right?

Cache clearing guide v3: fix performance, crashes, lag, stuttering, and fix saves that don't update.

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