"Update 1.0.4 brings major J.O.O.N.A.S. improvements, new suit gear, a better Moon map, much faster saving on big bases, automatic save backups and a long list of multiplayer and bug fixes."
Note: Saves made in 1.0.4 cannot be opened in older versions of the game.
LATEST PATCH Moon Sweepers 1.0.4 Highlights
- Night Vision Goggles ($350)
Purchasable at the supply wall. Press N to cycle Helmet Lamp → Goggles → Off. Night appears as bright daylight without deep cast shadows. Visually rendered on astronaut helmets.
- Overhauled Moon Map
Right-click anywhere to place custom waypoints, focus camera, or trigger teleports. All J.O.O.N.A.S. robots render on the map with active duty states.
- Teleportation Panel
Browse and jump between all discovered stations seamlessly for $50 per transit.
- Expanded Capsule Catcher
Glass housing now visually shows internal dust accumulation, with holding capacity increased to 100 kg.
ROBOTICS J.O.O.N.A.S. 1.0.4 AI Changes
- No More Dock Trips: J.O.O.N.A.S. cleans a sector and launches capsules directly to the nearest Capsule Catcher from anywhere on the Moon, immediately advancing to the next sector.
- 2× Faster Sweeping: Units sweep hexes from the perimeter inward until 100% complete, eliminating redundant circling.
- Persistent Background Work: Units continue full cleaning operations even when no human astronauts are nearby.
- Obstacle Navigation: Automatically paths around foundations and structures, safely skipping blocked geometry.
- HUD Diagnostics: Bin indicator flashes red when full; aiming at the unit displays its live diagnostic readout.
STABILITY Save Protection & Backups
To prevent world corruption on large, heavily cleaned bases:
C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\LocalLow\DragDropGames\MoonSweepers\Backups - Sub-Second Saves: Saving massive bases with tens of thousands of cleaned hexes now takes fractions of a second instead of 30-second freezing.
- Automatic 5-Slot Backups: Saved worlds keep up to 5 full rolling snapshots, taken 1 minute into sessions and every 30 minutes thereafter.
- Crash Recovery: Upon game reboot after a crash, Moon Sweepers scans world saves and automatically repairs damaged sectors from the latest snapshot.
ARCHIVE Patch 1.0.3 (October 24, 2026)
Key foundational features introduced in the prior update:
- Shared Upgrade Matrix: Multiplayer research purchases apply to the entire 16-player crew.
- Host Moderation: Kick and ban options added to the ESC "Your Crew" menu.
- Unified Vehicle Garages: Any garage summons and stores owned vehicles without rebuying.
- Port Snapping: Conveyor splitters and mergers snap directly port-to-port.
ENGINE Technical Workarounds & GPU Options
1. DirectX 11 Default for AMD GPUs
DirectX 11 is now set as the default graphics API to eliminate driver crashes on AMD Radeon graphics cards. If you have an NVIDIA RTX card and prefer DirectX 12, add -force-d3d12 to your Steam Launch Options.
2. Linux & Steam Deck Memory Fix
Steam Deck compatibility is verified with latest Proton builds. If running custom Linux kernels and experiencing memory ballooning in Unity GC:
- Open game directory:
Moon Sweepers/MoonSweepers_Data/boot.config - Change
gc-max-time-slice=3togc-max-time-slice=0. - Save and relaunch via Steam.
FAQ Patch Questions
Where are Moon Sweepers save files and backups stored?
In Patch v1.0.4, automatic local backups are stored at: C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\LocalLow\DragDropGames\MoonSweepers\Backups. Each save slot keeps up to 5 full backups taken 1 minute into every session and then every 30 minutes.
Why does Moon Sweepers crash on AMD graphics cards?
Early builds defaulted to DirectX 12 which caused driver crashes on certain AMD GPUs. Starting in v1.0.4, DirectX 11 is now the default engine runtime. Players wishing to force DX12 can add -force-d3d12 to their Steam launch options.
How do you fix the backward walking / spinning player bug?
Players experiencing automatic backward walking often have an active flight joystick, throttle, or secondary controller plugged in that creates axis input conflicts. Unplug unnecessary gamepads or press C to recalibrate suit orientation.
Can saves made in Patch 1.0.4 be loaded in older versions?
No. World save files created or modified in Patch 1.0.4 use updated binary structures for J.O.O.N.A.S. and terrain synchronization, and cannot be loaded in v1.0.3 or earlier.