The utility of the save file also defines entire categories of speedrunning leaderboards. While "Single-Segment" (SS) runs require the player to beat the game from start to finish in one sitting without stopping, "Segmented" runs elevate the save file to an art form.
For a casual player, a save file is progress. For a speedrunner, it’s a practice state . Using specialized software like the SoulsSpeedruns Save Organizer
The Digital DNA of Glitchhunting: Why Speedrunners Treasure and Torture the "Save File"
Press Windows + R , then copy/paste: %AppData%/SpeedRunnersLog.txt . speedrunners save file
So, runners began to wonder: What if we started later?
In games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion or Fallout: New Vegas , loading a save file can cause the game engine to re-evaluate object positions, allowing players to phase through walls or skip dialogue, a technique often called "Save-Quit Skipping" [2].
Because save files are so easily manipulated, the global speedrun governing bodies (like Speedrun.com) maintain incredibly strict rules regarding their use. This has created distinct categories based entirely on how a save file is handled: The utility of the save file also defines
Through community-developed tools, runners can freeze a game's state into a custom save slot and reload it instantly with a single button press, turning a grueling marathon into a highly efficient laboratory. Save Corruption and Arbitrary Code Execution (ACE)
Speedrunning is divided into many categories. While "Any% Any New Game" requires starting from a completely blank slate, categories embrace the power of pre-existing save files.
The primary goal is . Replaying a 20-minute section just to practice a 10-second boss fight is inefficient. For a speedrunner, it’s a practice state
A speedrunner’s save file is a . It is a save state (or in-game battery save) positioned at the most difficult choke points of a run.
Save files are also the basis for runs, where a runner plays from start to finish in one sitting. However, save files can enable a different approach: segmented runs . In this format, a runner breaks the game into smaller chunks, like individual levels or chapters, and plays each one until satisfied before moving on. This approach is notable for several reasons:
Before a runner can execute a flawless world-record attempt, they must practice difficult tricks thousands of times. In modern emulation and PC gaming, allow players to freeze a game at an exact frame and reload it instantly.
If you’re looking to start your own practice regimen, you first need to find where your game hides the data. Common locations include: