How to Start Fresh in Scrap Mechanic 1.0
New worlds, yellow quests, the Connect Tool, Mini-Craftbot and what to do when your Early Access save will not load.
Why most players need a new world
Scrap Mechanic 1.0 & Drilling Thunder (July 24, 2026) rebuilt Survival progression, health, quests and the underground layer. Axolot warned that many Early Access saves do not load in the 1.0 client. Symptoms include infinite loading, missing quest markers or broken inventory. Creative worlds sometimes survive, but Survival almost always needs a fresh world to experience Chapter 2, voiced NPCs and ore processing.
If your save still works, test it for ten minutes before committing — yellow quest markers and the Schematicbot menu are the fastest sanity checks.
Step 1 — Create a new Survival world
- Main menu → Play → Survival.
- Choose Easy for your first 1.0 run — raid frequency is lower and bot aggression is gentler.
- Name the world clearly (e.g.
DrillingThunder-2026) so you do not confuse it with legacy saves. - Optional: enable Fan Pack cosmetic content if you own the DLC — it does not change progression but adds builder skins and station decorations.
Full first-hour steps live in getting started. This page focuses on 1.0-specific systems.
Step 2 — Connect Tool and Logbook
After the crash cutscene, pick up the Connect Tool beside your ship. It is the wiring multitool for bearings, controllers and sensors — you will use it in every vehicle and defensive base build.
Open the Logbook from your inventory (default key shown on controls). The Logbook replaced scattered Early Access hints with:
- Yellow markers — main Chapter 2 quest chain toward Mining Island.
- Blue markers — optional tutorials like Your First Vehicle beside the Builder Guide hologram.
- Quest Journal entries — lore from Grow Labs and warehouse schematics.
Follow yellow markers before grinding warehouses — they unlock the Mini-Craftbot, Connect Tool upgrades and elevator access cards in the intended order.
Step 3 — Mini-Craftbot and Builder Guide
The Builder Guide hologram near your crash site projects a ghost tractor. Building within the highlighted zone completes optional blue quests and teaches bearing placement without reading a wiki.
The Mini-Craftbot (Baby Craftbot) unlocks early in the yellow chain. Place it on your first vehicle so you can craft wheels away from the Mechanic Station — critical once you start warehouse runs.
New part reference: new building parts in 1.0.
Step 4 — What changed from Early Access
| System | Early Access | 1.0 Drilling Thunder |
|---|---|---|
| Quests | Sparse hints | Voiced NPCs, Logbook, Chapter 2 arc |
| Saves | Compatible across 0.5–0.6 | Many Survival saves fail to load |
| Mining | Surface wrecks only | Full underground + Plasma Drill |
| Recipes | Static Craftbot list | Schematics gate mid/late game |
| Bosses | Farmbot patrols | Trash Bot on warehouse roofs |
| Weather | Static skies | Rain, storms, desert tornadoes |
Patch details: updates and patch notes.
Recovering an old save (Steam beta rollback)
If you must access a legacy world:
- Steam library → Scrap Mechanic → Properties → Betas.
- Select the last playable Early Access branch (label varies by account history).
- Let Steam downgrade the client and launch the old save.
- Do not open the save in 1.0 again without backing up — migration is one-way for many worlds.
Axolot recommends treating rollback as temporary archival, not long-term play.
Fan Pack DLC (optional)
The Fan Pack is cosmetic DLC released alongside 1.0. It adds station skins, character outfits and decorative blocks. It does not grant Schematics, weapons or underground access. Enable it in world creation if owned; skip it if you prefer vanilla visuals.
Multiplayer fresh starts
Hosted servers should wipe or create a new world after updating to 1.0. Mixed client versions desync raids and break Schematicbot scans. Announce a reset date, then point players to this guide and getting started.
Checklist before leaving the crash site
- Connect Tool in toolbar
- Logbook opened once — yellow marker visible
- Builder Guide hologram viewed
- Mini-Craftbot crafted and tested
- First tractor driven to Mechanic Station
- Beginner roadmap bookmarked for hour two
Common mistakes
- Loading a 2019 save and assuming bugs are “new glitches” — often it is save incompatibility.
- Ignoring yellow quests and rushing warehouses without Spud Gun prep.
- Using pre-1.0 wiki recipes — always verify against live Craftbot and Schematicbot menus.
- Skipping Easy difficulty and hitting wave 3 raids before farm defence is ready.
Watch the community walkthrough for this guide:
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Will Axolot add a save migration tool?
No official migration tool has been announced. Axolot's guidance is to start fresh for Drilling Thunder or use Steam betas to access legacy clients temporarily.
Do I lose Creative Mode builds?
Creative worlds are less affected but should be tested after updating. Back up the world folder before launching 1.0 if you have years of Creative work.
Is the Fan Pack required for Chapter 2?
No. Fan Pack is cosmetic only. The full story, underground and Trash Bot encounter are in the base 1.0 update.