Speedrunners - Save File

Speedrunners rely on a range of tools to manage and manipulate their save files, including:

When a game writes data to a save file, it updates variables like coordinates, map IDs, and cutscene flags. If a player interrupts this process—either by hard-resetting the console or pulling the memory card at a precise microsecond—the file becomes partially written.

On PC, these files are usually located in Documents/My Games , AppData , or within the Steam folder. Runners swap these files in and out to match the segment they are practicing. speedrunners save file

Speedrunners rarely practice by playing the entire game. Instead, they use specialized save files to isolate and master specific segments.

| Issue | Likely Cause | Solution | |--------|--------------|----------| | "Corrupted save" error | Partial write or Steam Cloud conflict | Restore a backup. If none exists, delete save & start over. | | Ranked MMR stuck / not updating | Local save desync from server | Go offline → delete save → go online → let Steam re-sync. | | Unlocked characters relock | Steam Cloud overwrote newer file | Disable Steam Cloud temporarily, then restore backup. | | Save file not appearing | Game ran as admin vs non-admin | Ensure same user runs game & accesses AppData folder. | Speedrunners rely on a range of tools to

There are for Speedrunners . Community tools exist (e.g., Speedrunners Save Editor on GitHub), but:

: In some games, data from one save file can "leak" into another. For example, in Banjo-Kazooie Runners swap these files in and out to

This led to the concept of . By starting a "New Game" at a precise millisecond, or by loading a specific save file and performing a specific sequence of inputs, runners could predict and control the "random" elements of the game. They weren't just reacting to the game; they were reading a script written into the save data's memory.

Save states allow runners to practice navigating moving obstacles that operate on strict global timers, ensuring they learn the exact rhythm required during a real run. Segmented Runs

A is a specialized game save created or modified to start at a precise point in the game. Unlike a standard "New Game" file, these saves are curated to allow the runner to: Skip tedious cutscenes or unskippable tutorials. Start immediately before a difficult trick or boss fight.

[ SAVE FILE DATA STRUCTURE ] ├── Global Variables (Playtime, difficulty, game completion %) ├── Player State (Coordinates, health, stamina, active status effects) ├── Inventory & Progression (Items held, unlocked skills, quest flags) ├── World State (Open doors, defeated bosses, moved objects, NPC locations) └── Engine Artifacts (RNG seeds, camera angles, physics vectors)