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Deltarune Chapter 1&2

From Deltarune Wiki

DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2, originally released as DELTARUNE Chapter 1, is the demo for Deltarune. It consists of the first two chapters of Deltarune: "The Beginning" and "A Cyber's World".

Save data from the demo can be transferred to the full game, which is further detailed on the official Deltarune website.

In November 2024, during the development of Chapters 3 and 4, the PC version of demo (via Steam Beta and itch.io) was updated to test out a new GameMaker LTS feature that better supports multi-chapter games like Deltarune, which was referred to as the LTS Version of the demo.[1] On May 21, 2025, the Deltarune website's FAQ page was updated to state that the demo will not receive any additional updates.[2]

Release

DELTARUNE Chapter 1

On October 31, 2018, the UnderTale and UndertaleJP Twitter accounts tweeted out links to deltarune.com and deltarune.jp, which contained a download link for a file named SURVEY_PROGRAM—with separate download links for PC and Mac, in English and Japanese (four total versions).[3][4] The SURVEY_PROGRAM is an installer for Deltarune Chapter 1.

On February 28, 2019, the DELTARUNE Chapter 1 demo was released on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 via free digital download.[5][6]

DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2

On September 17, 2021, the DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo was released on Steam and itch.io[7] (the first time either chapter of Deltarune was distributed on these marketplaces).

On September 23, 2021, the DELTARUNE Chapter 1 demo was updated to DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.[8][9] Since this was an update to the original demo, save data was retained in the process.

DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 LTS Version

During the development of Chapters 3 and 4, GameMaker (the game engine used by Deltarune) released a new function called game_change, designed to allow launching separate game files from within a single GameMaker game. This allowed later chapters of Deltarune to be developed without the risk of affecting earlier chapters (meaning that those chapters did not need to be re-tested when working on later chapters), as each chapter is separated from the others. YoYo Games (the developers of GameMaker) added game_change specifically so that it could be used in Deltarune. The PC versions of the Deltarune Chapter 1&2 demo were used to test this new functionality.[1]

On November 25, 2024, the Steam (via Steam Beta) and Itch.io versions of Deltarune Chapter 1&2 were updated to use the new game_change functionality in GameMaker LTS.[10] This version of the demo was referred to as LTS DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2[10][11] or Deltarune Chapter 1&2 LTS Version.[12][13] Three versions of the LTS demo were released: Version 1 on November 25,[10] Version 2 on November 26,[12] and Version 3 on December 6.[13]

The LTS Version mostly does not have gameplay changes relative to previous versions of the demo, as it was used to test the game_change. The save data uses a different structure, so save files created in the LTS version cannot be loaded in older versions of the demo.

LTS Version 3 changes how Shadow Crystals are tracked, so that Jevil's Shadow Crystal can only be retrieved from the base of the cliff in Castle Town in Chapter 2 if Jevil had been defeated in a Chapter 1 SAVE file in the same SAVE file slot — previously, the Shadow Crystal could be obtained regardless of which SAVE file slot Jevil was defeated in. Additionally, a grid was added to the Chapter Select screen showing which SAVE file slots had obtained which Shadow Crystals, among other changes to the Chapter Select screen.

Update on Nintendo Switch

On May 21, 2025, the original DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo was delisted from the Nintendo eShop, so that it could instead be listed as a demo for the paid release of Deltarune.[14] The content of the demos is identical, although the 2025 demo is based on the LTS version so the save data is structured differently,[15] among other changes made in the LTS version (such as the requirements to obtain the LightCandy).

The old demo can still be re-downloaded by users who already have it in their eShop library.[16] On the home screen, the old demo is titled "DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2" while the new demo is titled "DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 Demo", and the new demo has a "DEMO" banner across the lower right corner of the game icon.[17]

Importing Save Data

Chapter 1 to Chapter 1&2

The DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo available from Steam and itch.io and the original DELTARUNE Chapter 1 SURVEY_PROGRAM demo use the same save data location, automatically using save data produced by the other version. This is because all versions of the game use the same "DELTARUNE" folder located in the computer's AppData folder to store save data, so no special process to transfer save data is necessary on PC.

However, while save files created in the SURVEY_PROGRAM are compatible with DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2, save files created in Chapter 1&2 result in a Dog Check error screen when opened in the SURVEY_PROGRAM.[18] This is due to the newer demo having differently structured save files that the SURVEY_PROGRAM fails to read correctly, due to the additional content.

On Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, the DELTARUNE Chapter 1 demo was updated to DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2, with save data being retained.

Chapter 1&2 demo to full game

Deltarune Chapter 1&2 Save Data import.png
The prompt to import save data from DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 in the console versions of DELTARUNE

Save data from the demo can be transferred to the full game.

In the PC version, no special process is required to transfer save files from the demo versions to the full version. The full version simply reads from the same save data folder as the demos.[19]

On Linux (including SteamOS on the Steam Deck), due to the game running via Proton, the save data for the demo version is not accessible to the full version. However, the save data can be manually copied from the demo's directory to the full version's directory to allow the full version to use that save data.[20][21]

In the console versions, when first starting the full version of Deltarune, if save data for the demo is present on the system, the player will be prompted to import the demo's save data into the full game. This prompt will only appear if there is no save data for the full version of Deltarune — if save data for the full version already exists, the only way to import save data from the demo is to delete the full version's save data first.[22] Additionally, since save data is tied to the user account on consoles, the same account must be used for the demo and full version in order to be able to import save data.[23]

Deltarune Chapter 1&2 screenshot Nintendo Switch save data import.png
The prompt to import save data from the demo in the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions of DELTARUNE, with save data for both demos present

The PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of Deltarune can import save files from the PlayStation 4 version of the DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo. The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 versions of Deltarune can import save files from the Nintendo Switch version of the DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo.[24] Starting in version 1.02, when importing demo save data on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2, since there are two versions of the demo on Nintendo Switch, if both the 2021 and 2025 demo are present and have save data, the player is given the choice of which demo's save data to import.[25]

Trophies can only be earned in the full version of the PlayStation versions — importing save data from the demo version will not unlock any trophies even if they would have been earned in the demo's save file. The only way to earn trophies in Chapter 1 and 2 is to play through those chapters in the full version.[26]

SURVEY_PROGRAM official download links:

References

  1. 1 2 Yes, YoYoGames, the creators of our engine, Gamemaker, are adding a special new function to it just for us! This is a new command for GameMaker called "game_change". — QUESTS TO RELEASE CHAPTER 3&4!! (July 30, 2024.) toby.fangamer.com.
  2. ↑ Chapters 1 and 2 make up the full demo. We have no plans to add anything else to it. - deltarune.com/help/
  3. ↑ deltarune.com | http://deltarune.com — October 31, 2018.
  4. ↑ deltarune.jp | http://deltarune.jp — October 31, 2018.
  5. ↑ Nintendo Direct 2.13.2019 on YouTube
  6. ↑ The first chapter of Deltarune, the next game from Undertale creator Toby Fox, is coming to PS4 on Feb. 28 — for free! — February 21, 2019.
  7. ↑ deltarune.com (September 18, 2021)
  8. ↑ Nintendo Direct - 9.23.2021 (26:39) on YouTube
  9. ↑ Surprise! Deltarune Chapter 1&2 is also available on PS4 as a free update to Chapter 1! Get it here: https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP3893-CUSA15235_00-TFSHVCDRPS400084 — September 23, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 We are testing a new command to switch Chapters in Deltarune Chapter 1&2 to see if it's compatible with all computers.

    If you'd like to help, please see the attached images.

    Report any issues (if it doesn't work...) with this Google form.

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfje4X4PX7o11NJuZFN5u6bPMe_ILFx4enzw8zA86dvktWI6w/viewform

    Thanks!     — November 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ LTS DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 — DELTARUNE by tobyfox (December 06, 2024.) itch.io.
  12. 1 2 Thank you to everyone who has tested the game so far!

    We've uploaded Version 2 of the LTS version onto Steam and itch to fix some major issues. Here's all the info (and a few questions!)     — November 26, 2024.
  13. 1 2 DELTARUNE CHAPTER 1 + 2 LTS VERSION

    Another patch has been uploaded to Steam and Itch to fix more issues. Feel free to check it out (if you really want to.)

    It's likely there won't be another version unless GameMaker updates again to change game_change()     — December 09, 2024.
  14. ↑ Small note for Nintendo Switch Users: The DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 demo currently on the Nintendo eShop will be delisted on May 21. The demo isn't going away—it's just moving to the DELTARUNE eShop page which goes live that same day. (1/3) — May 17, 2025.
  15. ↑ The old demo and the new demo use different save data, but either one can be imported into the full version of DELTARUNE on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. The content of the demos is exactly the same, and we are only doing this for technical reasons. (2/3) — May 17, 2025.
  16. ↑ Even after the old demo is delisted, as long as you already have it in your Switch library, you'll be able to redownload it whenever you like. (Not that there's a reason to...) (3/3) — May 17, 2025.
  17. ↑ If you downloaded the demo between Feb. 28, 2019 and May 21, 2025, you have the older demo. It's called "DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2" and the icon looks like this: [...] On the other hand, if you downloaded the demo anytime from May 22, 2025 onward, you have the newer demo. It's called "DELTARUNE Chapter 1&2 Demo" and the icon looks like this: — Help | DELTARUNE (July 08, 2025.) deltarune.com.
  18. ↑ What happens when you load a save file from the SURVEY_PROGRAM into the Steam version of DELTARUNE? on YouTube
  19. ↑ On PC and Mac: If you have demo save data, it should just work on the full version. You don't have to do anything special. — Help | DELTARUNE (June 03, 2025.) deltarune.com.
  20. ↑ In SteamOS, use the Dolphin file browser to copy your save data from

    <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1690940/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/DELTARUNE
    to
    <Steam-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1671210/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/DELTARUNE     — June 04, 2025.
  21. ↑ [Guide] (Linux/Steam Deck) Copying Demo Save to the Upcoming Release
  22. ↑ The import message only appears if you do not have any save data from the full version on your console. So if you just started the game but changed your mind about wanting to import data, the only way to make the import message appear again is by deleting your full version save data and starting up the game again. — Help | DELTARUNE (June 03, 2025.) deltarune.com.
  23. ↑ Important: [...] And since save data is tied to your user account, you need to be using the same account you used when you played the demo. — Help | DELTARUNE (June 03, 2025.) deltarune.com.
  24. ↑ DELTARUNE CHAPTERS 1-4 RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCEMENT. Deltarune Newsletter, April 2025.
  25. ↑ And on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 specifically, as of update 1.02, if you have more than one app's save data on your console (for example, if you have saves from both the older version of the Chapter 1&2 demo as well as the newer version), you will be given a choice of which data to import. — Help | DELTARUNE (July 08, 2025.) deltarune.com.
  26. ↑ Q: If I played the demo on PlayStation 4 and then import my save data to the full game on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, will it automatically unlock trophies that are exclusive to Chapters 1 and 2? | A: Nope. The only way to unlock trophies you can only get in Chapters 1 and 2 is to play through those chapters in the full game. — Help | DELTARUNE (June 03, 2025.) deltarune.com.
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