Never remove or edit save data as a first step. Update, restart and reproduce the exact failure first; use developer community instructions for any file-level repair.
Quick diagnostic order
- Confirm every player is on Patch 1.0.10.
- Fully restart Steam, not only the game.
- Check whether the Steam relay indicator is red.
- Create a fresh private lobby and invite one person.
- Test a different save only to isolate the cause—do not overwrite the original.
Known problems and current checks
Black screen when joining+
Update both host and guests, restart Steam, then try a fresh lobby. Patch 1.0.4 targeted this issue and later patches increased connection time. Check the main-menu Steam relay indicator.
Red Steam relay text+
Treat this as a Steam connection failure, not an island or save problem. Restart Steam, verify network access, then consult the official community Discord common-bugs channel.
Save fails to load or crashes on equip+
Patch 1.0.9 added save-corruption fixes. Back up the save before removing anything and follow the developer community instructions for broken weapon entries.
Dropped items disappeared+
The Patch 1.0.10 verified snapshot saves up to 64 ground items and prioritizes weapons, tools, quest items and creatures. Items beyond the cap are not guaranteed.
Lobby griefing or unwanted players+
Use a private lobby from Patch 1.0.5, invite trusted players and change the session type from server settings when needed.
Controller icons look wrong+
Patch 1.0.8 corrected PlayStation glyph display. Update, restart and reconnect the controller before launching.
What changed in recent patches?
Patch 1.0.4 targeted black-screen joins, Patch 1.0.5 added private lobbies and anti-griefing changes, Patch 1.0.9 added connection debug plus save fixes, and Patch 1.0.10 began saving up to 64 dropped items between sessions.
If the behavior continues after the relevant patch, capture the version printed in player.log, the exact action before failure and whether you were host or guest. That is much more useful than “it crashed.”