Arkona

Install a game update

I'll show you how to identify the version you already have, install updates in the right order and handle the two most common formats: an installer or files to copy into the game folder.

Before you start

An update usually contains only the files that changed. It therefore needs the game to be installed already, sometimes at one exact version. The update's notes or NFO normally state the required starting version and the version obtained afterward.

  1. Close the game and its launcher completely. If possible, back up your saves and any configuration or modified files you want to keep.
  2. Read the update's NFO or accompanying instructions before moving any files. Note the required version and the target version.
  3. Confirm the location of the actual game folder: it is the folder containing the game's main executable, not a shortcut or the folder where the update was downloaded.

Order and compatibility

Prefer updates from the same team or release channel as your base installation. An update from another team can work, but only when its stated starting version and file layout match your installation exactly.

Updates are not always cumulative. If you have version 1.0 and want version 1.2, install 1.0 → 1.1 first, then 1.1 → 1.2. Skip an intermediate update only when the notes explicitly say that the newer package is cumulative or supports your current version.

Method 1 · Installer

  1. Extract the complete ZIP or RAR into a separate folder. Do not run an installer from inside the archive.
  2. Open the extracted Update folder when one is present, then run the .exe named in the instructions.
  3. When the installer asks for a path, select the existing game folder containing its executable. Check the path carefully before starting the patch.
  4. Start the update and wait for its completion message. Do not close the installer or launch the game while files are being modified.

Method 2 · Files to copy

  1. Extract the update into a temporary folder and inspect its contents. The first folders should normally mirror those found at the root of the installed game.
  2. Copy the update's contents into the game folder, preserving the folder structure. Choose Merge and Replace only when the instructions say to overwrite the old files.
  3. Wait until every file has been copied before starting the game. Keep the downloaded archive until you have confirmed that the update works.

Check the result

  1. Start the game and check the displayed version in its main menu, settings, launcher or executable properties when available.
  2. If the update fails, first recheck the selected folder, the required starting version and whether an intermediate update was missed. A patch intended for another edition or platform may also be incompatible.
  3. If files were partially replaced, restore your backup or reinstall a clean copy of the expected starting version before trying again. Do not stack repeated attempts on a half-updated installation.