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Check the exact order before changing anything
The developer's October 29 hotfix describes a specific failure: adding mods to an existing save before that world was upgraded to the new game version could corrupt it. This is narrower than 'mods always corrupt saves'. First identify whether this describes your sequence and check the installed platform build.
| What happened | Developer's note | Next decision |
|---|---|---|
| Mods were added before the existing world upgraded | Hotfix 1.5.0.31836 fixes the issue and may recover some affected saves | Update first; then try the world cautiously |
| Official mod is outdated after 1.5 | Old official mods are automatically disabled until creators update them | Do not force-enable an outdated mod; check its current listing |
| Fatal Error while unofficial mods are present | Developer says uninstall unofficial mods; leftover files may remain | Remove the external install and use the clean-install branch only after protecting saves |
| Crash while official mods are enabled on the hotfix | Developer advises disabling official mods before reloading | Disable through the game's mod controls before another load |
References: Deep Field Games: Hotfix v1.5.0.31836
Confirm the platform's build, then use the hotfix order
Deep Field published separate version/build strings for Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series / PC App. Do not compare a console label to Steam's numeric build ID or assume platform updates arrive at the same moment. If your platform reports a build below the listed hotfix, update before reopening a world affected by the sequence.
- Read the installed version in the relevant launcher or console update screen; compare it with the platform-specific row in the official hotfix post.
- If it is below the hotfix, update the game first. If using a dedicated server, check its update state separately before reconnecting clients; this guide does not test server-provider rollout timing.
- If the world was affected, preserve the current save before experimenting further. Avoid repeatedly loading and saving a valuable world while the game is still below the fix.
- After updating, try loading the world once with the updated build. The developer says the fix can recover some corrupted worlds; it does not promise every world will recover.
- If it still fails, record platform, exact build, mod type, whether the world was played after the incident, and the displayed error. Use the official bug-report/support path; do not delete save files based on a forum guess.
References: Deep Field Games: Hotfix v1.5.0.31836
Separate official-mod crashes from unofficial leftovers
The hotfix distinguishes two paths. Official mods that have not yet been updated are automatically disabled. If an official mod is enabled and the game still crashes, the developer says to disable it before loading the save again. For unofficial mods, the developer says to uninstall them and notes that residual files may remain even after uninstalling; deleting folders blindly can affect the wrong data, so preserve saves and use the installer's removal method first.
| Mod source | Low-risk isolation step | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|
| Official in-game mod library | Use the game's mod controls to disable before loading the world | That subscription means it is currently compatible |
| Unofficial / external files | Remove using the same external tool/steps used to install; keep saves separate | That unsubscribe or game verification removes every external file |
| No mods | Record exact build and repeat the reported steps before filing a bug | That a mod-specific hotfix explains an unrelated crash |
References: Deep Field Games: Hotfix v1.5.0.31836 · Deep Field Games: How to Install Mods in Abiotic Factor
Use the local preflight and report reproducibly
Select the build, mod source and situation in the checker. It returns a short sequence derived from the developer's published hotfix and mod-install instructions. For discussion, the Steam board is community-run: compare posts only when the platform, build, mod type and save-upgrade order match. Do not post account IDs or raw save folders in public.
- Record the platform, storefront, build string and whether this is a local world, hosted session or dedicated server.
- State whether the mod is official in-game, unofficial/external, gameplay or cosmetic, and whether the save was upgraded before mods were added.
- Include the exact crash text and the result of the documented isolation step; label anything else as untested.
- Ask for help on the player forum or use the developer's bug-report link. A matching community report is a clue, not a verified cause.
References: Deep Field Games: Hotfix v1.5.0.31836 · Abiotic Factor Steam Discussions
Before you play
- I matched the platform-specific version string instead of relying on another platform's build ID.
- I updated to the hotfix before reopening a world affected by the mod-before-upgrade order.
- I separated official in-game mods from unofficial external files and kept the save intact.
Frequently asked questions
Does 1.5.0.31836 guarantee a corrupted save will recover?
No. Deep Field says the fix may recover some affected worlds and that recovery is more likely when the world was played less after corruption.
Should I delete my save or all game folders if it still crashes?
No. Preserve the save first. The developer's note is to remove unofficial mods and warns that leftover files may remain; it does not instruct players to delete save data.
Are outdated official mods automatically removed?
The hotfix says downloaded official mods are automatically disabled until the creator updates them. It does not say they are unsubscribed or permanently deleted.
Sources & revision notes
Editorial revision: November 5, 2026; not a gameplay test date. The reference notes identify source limits and version differences.
- Deep Field Games: Hotfix v1.5.0.31836 (Official)
Developer announcement dated October 29, 2026. Records the save-upgrade/mod-order corruption fix, its possible recovery behavior, platform build identifiers, and unofficial/official-mod crash guidance. The live announcement index may show newer notes; check the platform row before following version-specific steps.
- Deep Field Games: How to Install Mods in Abiotic Factor (Official)
Developer's October 26, 2026 instructions: subscribe in the main-menu Mods library, enable gameplay mods per saved world, enable cosmetics in Customization, and accept the server mod prompt to download/enable required mods. No mod was installed or tested.
- Abiotic Factor Steam Discussions (Community)
Player-run discussion board, useful for comparing reports after matching platform, build, mod type and save-upgrade order. Community posts are not developer confirmation and are not reproduced here.
November 5, 2026: added a platform-aware sequence for the October 29 mod/save hotfix, distinguishing the documented recovery possibility from a guarantee. No save or mod was tested.
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