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Updating Polished Crystal and Save Patching

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Kensuke Sano edited this page Apr 21, 2022 · 3 revisions

Polished Crystal v3.0.0-beta gets frequent updates (hence beta!) that usually work with previous .sav files. However, updating the .gbc may rarely break previous saves. Make sure to always back up your save file before updating to the latest Polished Crystal. If an update breaks your save file, use the save patcher on your backup to make it compatible with the latest version.

Caution: .sav is a save file that comes from the in-game save, not a savestate.

Contents

Save Patcher

Some updates of v3.0.0-beta are major enough that they restructure the data. Polished Crystal provides a save patcher, the .bsp file listed among the latest release, to upgrade a save file. The patcher can upgrade v3.0.0-beta save files since approximately Nov. 2019. (Early/Mid 2019 and earlier is not officially supported but might work at your own risk.)

BSP patchers require a patcher tool: visit the tool webpage provided by the BSP developer. The tool is also available in the BSP directory (tools/bsp) with .js and .htm. The same one is hosted on Prism.

Note: The current .bsp for this game works only with .sav, unlike other patchers.

List of Major Updates Requiring Save Patcher

Upgrading Steps

  1. Save in-game in a Poké Center or the Goldenrod PCC (but NOT at the upper floor) which is a "safe" zone for upgrading.
    • For example, save near the exit.
  2. As a fail-safe, make a backup of your .gbc, .sav, and .rtc and copy them into a backup folder.
  3. Grab the .gbc and .bsp from the latest release.
  4. Open a BSP patcher tool (explained above) and patch your .sav with the .bsp.
    • If the .sav is already compatible, the patcher tool notifies you.
  5. Replace the old .gbc and .sav with the latest .gbc and patched .sav.
  6. Make sure that the .gbc, .sav, and .rtc have the same name.
  7. Play the game and immediately leave the Poké Center to refresh the game data.
  8. Make sure that the Pokémon in your party and boxes in the Poké Center are safe.
    • An update related to Pokémon data requires you to deposit and withdraw all the affected Pokémon to refresh them.
  9. Save in-game.

Trivia

  • The "New Box" update marked the debut of .bsp for Polished.
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