Look for files with extensions like .es3 , .json , .dat , or .sav . Step 2: Create a Backup (Crucial)
If you play Unity-based PC games, you have likely encountered save files managed by Easy Save 3 (ES3). ES3 is a highly popular asset used by game developers to encrypt, compress, and store player progression data. While encryption keeps save data secure from accidental corruption, it prevents players from easily modifying their files using standard text editors like Notepad.
: A general-purpose ES3 save editor for Unity games will not work on Morrowind's .ESS files. These tools are designed for different file structures and data. Be careful to choose the correct tool for your specific game.
Unity games generally store ES3 save data in the Windows AppData directory. es3 save editor free
If you see random blocks of unreadable characters, the file is . Proceed to Step 3. Step 3: Extract the Encryption Key (If Needed)
Some developers use simple encoding like Base64 to hide ES3 save data. is a free, open-source web tool known as the "Cyber Swiss Army Knife."
Change numbers carefully. Avoid setting values excessively high (like 999999999 ), as this can cause an integer overflow and crash the game. Look for files with extensions like
Before modifying your data, it helps to understand what you are working with. Easy Save 3 stores data using unique keys and values. Developers choose one of three main storage formats: Readable using basic text editors.
: Copy your original .es3 file to a safe folder before touching it.
Many modern games utilize . If you modify a local save file, Steam might detect a mismatch and overwrite your edited file with an older version from the cloud. To fix this, temporarily disable Steam Cloud Sync in the game's properties before editing. The Save File Appears Corrupted While encryption keeps save data secure from accidental
: This is the most common context for ES3 files. The Easy Save 3 (ES3) asset for the Unity game engine is a popular tool for developers to implement save functionality. Unlike older, plain-text save formats, ES3 files are typically encrypted, with data saved in a JSON-like structure. This encryption makes the files unreadable in a standard text editor. To modify them, you need specialized tools to decrypt the data, apply changes, and then re-encrypt it without breaking the save.
They are usually found in: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\[DeveloperName]\[GameName]\ .