Want to test out the newest multiplayer features before they officially release, or perhaps you need to roll back to a previous version for better mod compatibility? Switching branches on your RimWorld Together server is super easy and lets you control exactly which version of the software you are running.
Let us get your server swapped over to the branch you need so you can get back to managing your colony!
Important Warning: Before switching branches, we highly recommend navigating to your Backups tab and creating a quick manual backup of your server. Loading a colony on a different version can sometimes corrupt your save, so having a fresh backup keeps your data completely safe!
Step 1: Set the Target Branch
First, we need to tell the panel which version of the game files it should be looking for.
- Log into your MintServers panel and click the Stop button on the Console page to safely shut down your server.
- On the left-hand sidebar, navigate to the Game Settings tab.
- Locate the Versions text box.
- Type in the exact name of the branch you want to use. If you are not sure what the current branches are called, you can find a list of available branch names and release versions on the official RimWorld Together GitHub Releases page! For example, if you want to test the newest features, you might type experimental or unstable. If you want to go back to the standard version, just type public.
- The panel automatically saves these changes as soon as you click outside the text box.
Step 2: Download the Branch Files
Now that the panel knows which branch you want, we have to force it to actually download those specific files to replace your current ones.
- Navigate to the Settings tab on the left-hand sidebar.
- Look for the Reinstall Server button. Do not panic! Clicking this button will not wipe your save files or configurations. It simply tells the server to connect to the download servers and fetch the core files for the branch you just selected.
- Click Reinstall Server and confirm the prompt.
- Wait a few minutes for the installation to finish. You can watch the progress if you quickly switch back to the Console tab.
- Once the console shows the installation is complete, click Start to boot your newly updated server!
Troubleshooting Branch Issues
If your server is crashing immediately after changing branches, it is very likely that your current save file or your installed mods are not compatible with that specific branch version. If you are moving to an experimental branch, it is always best to generate a brand new world save.
If you or your players are getting version mismatch errors when trying to join, make sure everyone has also changed their local game branch on Steam to match the server! If you run into any trouble getting your server to boot after swapping branches, no worries! Just open a support ticket and our team will gladly jump in and fix that together.