Move a Dragonwilds World to a Dedicated Server

Is this possible at all?

Yes. A world you have played locally or in co-op can be moved onto a dedicated server, keeping your builds, progress and terrain. What does not come along are the characters: RuneScape Dragonwilds stores world and character in two separate folders, and only the world belongs on the server.

That is where most transfers go wrong. Once you know there are two files, the rest takes about ten minutes.

Step 1: Find the world file

Dragonwilds keeps its saves in the local AppData directory. Press Windows + R, paste this and confirm:

%localappdata%\RSDragonwilds\Saved\SaveGames

You will find one .sav file per world. The file name matches the world name you chose when creating it.

The neighbouring SaveCharacters folder holds your characters. You do not need it for the transfer — leave it alone and your local character stays playable.

Step 2: Back it up first

Copy the .sav somewhere else before you upload anything. It costs ten seconds and it is your only safety net if the transfer goes wrong — a corrupted world cannot be repaired, only replaced.

Step 3: Stop the server

Stop the server in the panel before swapping files. A running server holds the current world in memory and writes it back at the next save point, which would immediately overwrite the file you just uploaded.

Step 4: Upload the world

Open the file manager in the panel (or connect via SFTP) and go to:

RSDragonwilds/Saved/Savegames/

Drop the .sav file in there. If a world with the same name already exists, rename the old one first — overwriting cannot be undone.

Step 5: Set the world name in the configuration

The server does not simply load whatever file it finds; it loads the world named in DedicatedServer.ini. Enter exactly the file name there, without the .sav extension, as described in the setup guide.

Typos here are the single most common reason for a server starting with an empty world: if it cannot find the name you gave it, it quietly creates a new one. Your file is not lost — it simply is not being loaded.

Step 6: Start and verify

Start the server and join. You should be standing where you last left off, with every build intact.

If a fresh world loads instead, stop the server, compare the name in DedicatedServer.ini against the file name in the folder, and start again.

What happens to your characters

Because character data lives separately from the world, you start on the server with new characters — the world knows your buildings, not your character progress. For most groups that is acceptable, since the effort sits in the world itself. Plan for it before you move.

After the 1.0 release on 15 September 2026

Studios routinely change world formats at a 1.0 launch. Before lifting an early-access world onto a 1.0 server:

1. Back up the .sav somewhere no update can touch it.
2. Start the server once with a fresh world to confirm the new version runs cleanly.
3. Only then move the old world across.

We will update this guide once the 1.0 behaviour is known.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a server world back to my PC?

Yes, it works both ways. Download the .sav from RSDragonwilds/Saved/Savegames/ and place it locally in %localappdata%\RSDragonwilds\Saved\SaveGames. It will then show up in your world selection.

How many players fit on a transferred world?

The same as any other: Dragonwilds supports up to six players at once. The world itself imposes no limit.

Do I have to rename the world file?

No, as long as the name in DedicatedServer.ini matches it exactly. Usually it is easier to leave the file alone and adjust the configuration.

How much RAM does a grown world need?

Requirements rise with the size of the world. A server runs from 4 GB, but for grown worlds with lots of building you should plan for more — details in the RAM guide.