Can I continue an old Expedition?

[thorvindr]

I have save files running expeditions from last year. Can I still load those and complete the old expeditions? So do you just need to start an expedition within its time window, or do you need to complete it within the window?

[Leodium]

Yes Sir ! =)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3107584216

[Lindy Bomber]

If you open that save you will get a pop up that says "expectation is over convert to normal save". You will either have to wait for the me t replay and start over or follow the guide above.

[thorvindr]

I made the OP, then started playing my Expedition save. After maybe ten minutes, I got the pop-up saying "the time for the expedition is over." I forget exactly what game(s), but I know I've played a few things where timed events just need to be started during the event, but can be finished at any time. Pokemon Go comes immediately to mind. Oh, and Star Trek Online does this for certain things too, if memory serves (or at least used to; haven't played seriously in quite a while).

[Lindy Bomber]

If you didn't save before existing you might be able to trick the system. Physically disconnect from the Internet then roll your system clock back to shortly after the last save.

[Geldric™]

Originally posted by thorvindr:

... but I know I've played a few things where timed events just need to be started during the event, but can be finished at any time. ...

As you just found out NMS Expeditions are NOT like that. Regardless of progress, when the time is over, your save immediately converts to a normal save.

----------------------
If you are wanting to play the expedition to earn the rewards I recommend using the above "spammer" and their github page but only play the REDUX expeditions. They have the same rewards as the original (in all but 1 instance) and are easier to complete.

[Captain.Jartyk]

The expeditions in NMS are controlled with the file Season_Data_Cache, which comes in a new version for each new expedition.
That file is in the game save folder

the file looks like this at the beginning.

"SeasonId" : 19,
"StartTimeUTC" : 1693486800,
"EndTimeUTC" : 1697461200,
"Hash" : 1604930370,
"Title" : "GAMEMODE_SEASONAL",
"Subtitle" : "GAMEMODE_SEASONAL_SUBTITLE",
"Description" : "UI_EXPED11_MAIN_DESC",

"SeasonId" is the version, from 1 to 23 (latest)
"StartTimeUTC" = Start time in UTC
"EndTimeUTC" = End time in UTC, <<<<---- this can be changed

By changing the end time to a value in the future, you can fool the game that the expedition is active.
However, you must then run the game offline, because otherwise the changes you made will be deleted when the game connects to HG's server and the expedition will not work.
Then, of course, you also need the correct version of the file, which now exists in 23 different versions, one for each expedition that took place.

UTC time is Unix epoch time, = number of seconds since January 1, 1970.

I use this site for conversion, between UTC and standard time
https://www.epochconverter.com

The current Unix epoch time as I write this is 1704910505.

---
edit.
an example for a date in the future.
e.g. Thursday 1 January 2026 12:00:00
then its Epoch timestamp will be: 1767268800

[SSG Plazmoid]

I'm curious if you are offline and you change the date on your computer to match the time of the expedition how the game would know the expedition is over?

Originally posted by thorvindr:

I made the OP, then started playing my Expedition save. After maybe ten minutes, I got the pop-up saying "the time for the expedition is over." I forget exactly what game(s), but I know I've played a few things where timed events just need to be started during the event, but can be finished at any time. Pokemon Go comes immediately to mind. Oh, and Star Trek Online does this for certain things too, if memory serves (or at least used to; haven't played seriously in quite a while).

[Geldric™]

Originally posted by SSG Plazmoid:

I'm curious if you are offline and you change the date on your computer to match the time of the expedition how the game would know the expedition is over?

It wouldn't and doesn't

That's how you can redo all old expeditions;
1: You must be offline
2: The files you download have a ginormous date range so you don't have to futz around with your date
Example:
Start: 1638972000 = December 8, 2021
End: 2893423600 = September 8, 2061

[smurfy]

Originally posted by Captain.Jartyk:

The expeditions in NMS are controlled with the file Season_Data_Cache, which comes in a new version for each new expedition.
That file is in the game save folder

the file looks like this at the beginning.

"SeasonId" : 19,
"StartTimeUTC" : 1693486800,
"EndTimeUTC" : 1697461200,
"Hash" : 1604930370,
"Title" : "GAMEMODE_SEASONAL",
"Subtitle" : "GAMEMODE_SEASONAL_SUBTITLE",
"Description" : "UI_EXPED11_MAIN_DESC",

"SeasonId" is the version, from 1 to 23 (latest)
"StartTimeUTC" = Start time in UTC
"EndTimeUTC" = End time in UTC, <<<<---- this can be changed

By changing the end time to a value in the future, you can fool the game that the expedition is active.
However, you must then run the game offline, because otherwise the changes you made will be deleted when the game connects to HG's server and the expedition will not work.
Then, of course, you also need the correct version of the file, which now exists in 23 different versions, one for each expedition that took place.

UTC time is Unix epoch time, = number of seconds since January 1, 1970.

I use this site for conversion, between UTC and standard time
https://www.epochconverter.com

The current Unix epoch time as I write this is 1704910505.

^This^ is pretty much all you need IF you only want to extend the time of the last Expedition to be available (in this case Exp 11 Redux).
The JSON file will still be in your systemdrive(C):\Users\{WindowsUsername}\AppData\Roaming\HelloGames\NMS\{UserID}\cache directory and can just be edited with a text editor. Extend the end date and play offline (just put Steam Offline before launching the game).
If you want to play other previous expeditions, you would have needed to back up the JSON file yourself manually (I have all the latest Redux files unmodified because I had other Real Life things to do over the holiday period), or you can download a copy someone else has made available (e.g. the 1st replier here).

[thorvindr]

Does putting Steam in offline mode do the trick, or do I need to disable my Internet connection?

[smurfy]

Originally posted by thorvindr:

Does putting Steam in offline mode do the trick, or do I need to disable my Internet connection?

Just needs Steam set to Offline.
I completed Redux 3 this way last week (a week after it had expired) after returning from a camping trip.

[thorvindr]

Originally posted by smurfy:

Originally posted by thorvindr:

Does putting Steam in offline mode do the trick, or do I need to disable my Internet connection?

Just needs Steam set to Offline.
I completed Redux 3 this way last week (a week after it had expired) after returning from a camping trip.

I'll have to try that.