Palworld 1.0 launched on 10 July 2026, leaving Early Access with 27 pages of patch notes. Pocketpair confirmed old saves technically carry over, but the studio strongly recommended starting fresh. If your server still runs an Early Access world, here is why that advice holds and how to wipe cleanly.
The Short Answer
Pocketpair's Head of Publishing, John "Bucky" Buckley, put it directly: "You do NOT need to wipe your data for Palworld 1.0, but you should."
Your Early Access character, bases, and bred Pals will load in 1.0. But treating this like a normal patch means missing the point of the update.
Why a Fresh Start Is Recommended
1. Old Map Chunks Do Not Regenerate
Pre-existing map chunks will not properly generate the new 1.0 layout shifts. Players on old maps have to travel thousands of units out just to find new resources, leaving established bases stranded in resource dead zones.
2. Missed Permanent Stat Boosts
The 1.0 update restructures the entire early-game progression curve. New tutorial quests award permanent stat boosts that cannot be claimed retroactively on old characters. A level 50 character skips all of it.
3. New Ecosystems and Mechanics
1.0 introduces new Wildlife Sanctuaries, revamped tower bosses, offshore base building, and the World Tree endgame. Bolting these onto a heavily modified Early Access save is a recipe for edge-case bugs and map conflicts.
4. The Fresh Wave Advantage
A public server advertised as a fresh 1.0 world is easier to fill than one where veterans already sit on maxed endgame bases. New and returning players want an even start.
How to Wipe Your Dedicated Server for 1.0
Follow this protocol to transition your community smoothly.
Step 1: Create a Legacy Backup
Before you wipe, take a manual backup of your save directory:
/Pal/Saved/SaveGames
Compress it and store it safely so your community's old world is preserved forever. On the Space-Node panel, use the backup button before you touch anything. Every plan has 2 backup slots.
Step 2: Offer the World File to Your Players
Upload the zipped legacy save to your community Discord. Players who want to keep building their old world can run it in single-player or local co-op. This is a good goodwill step.
Step 3: Wipe the Server Directory
Stop the server, delete the contents of the SaveGames folder, and make sure the server is on the latest version (on Space-Node you update from the panel). The server then generates a clean 1.0 world with the correct biome layouts.
Step 4: Set the Spawn Point on Day One
Instruct your community to pick the new southern spawn zone on character creation. The rebalanced starting areas are tuned for 1.0's vertical progression and early Sky Island access.
What If You Keep Your Old Save?
If you choose not to wipe:
- Your bases stay where they are but may sit in resource-poor zones
- You keep your Pals and levels
- You miss the new progression stat boosts
- You may need to travel far to reach new 1.0 content
- Some new mechanics may behave inconsistently on old chunks
It works, but it is not the intended 1.0 experience.
Why Move to a Dedicated Server for 1.0?
If you are starting over anyway, this is the moment to move off local co-op hosting:
- Local hosting tanks your frame rate. The heavier 1.0 build running on your gaming PC alongside the game itself causes stutters and desync.
- No tether limits. Dedicated servers let your whole group explore independently.
- Always online. Your world stays up 24/7, so bases and breeding farms keep running.
- Backups. Take a backup from the panel before an update or a risky change, so one corrupted save does not cost you the world.
Palworld 1.0 FAQ
How do I update my Palworld server when Pocketpair ships a patch? On Space-Node you update from the panel. Take a backup first, then run the update.
Did Early Access worlds carry over to Palworld 1.0? Yes. Pocketpair said old saves would carry over, while recommending a fresh start for the best experience. If you kept an Early Access world, you can still upload it to your server through FTP.
Will the new map size require more RAM? Pocketpair's requirements page lists 16GB of memory, adds "Recommended for larger than 32GB", and says 8GB "is also bootable, but increases the possibility of server crashes due to out of memory." A fresh 1.0 world starts light and grows as bases go up, so leave room. For a full 32-player lobby we point people at 32GB or more. See our Palworld 1.0 hardware guide.
Starting a Fresh 1.0 World
Back up the legacy world, wipe SaveGames, update the server from the panel and let it generate a new world. Then share the address and let everyone pick their spawn on day one.
View Space-Node Palworld hosting plans. AMD Ryzen 9, 8GB to 48GB RAM, NVMe SSD, up to 32 players, from EUR 10.20/mo. Our 16GB DEPRESSO plan at EUR 20.50/mo matches the 16GB figure on Pocketpair's requirements page.
Related: Palworld dedicated server guide, Palworld 1.0 server requirements, Palworld 1.0 new Pals and features