Progress safety · historical claim clearly labeled

Save and exit: what is known and what must be checked

The save interaction has generated player confusion. A 2025 developer reply said Return to Main Menu preserved progress, while a player reported Return to Desktop did not; that thread predates Early Access.

Early Access · patch-sensitiveChecked 2026-08-12

Historical developer reply · 2025

Return to Main Menu was the stated save path

The old Steam discussion says progress was preserved when selecting Return to Main Menu. The same discussion includes a player report that Return to Desktop did not preserve progress. Because the evidence predates the August 2026 Early Access build, treat it as a risk signal.

Saved on this device

Your field plan

Finish the active transition
Avoid closing during combat, loading, rewards, or a colony state change.Return to Main Menu
Use the menu path named in the historical developer reply.Check Continue state
Confirm the displayed run or timestamp looks current.Re-enter if the session mattered
For a major milestone, load once and verify the expected colony or mission state.Then close the game
Exit only after the current build has demonstrated recovery.

What we still need

A current Early Access direct-play test across Return to Main Menu, Return to Desktop, crash recovery, and expedition transitions. Until then, the page keeps the uncertainty visible.