Scrap Mechanic 1.0 Guide | Drilling Thunder & Updates

Scrap Mechanic reached version 1.0 on July 24, 2026, alongside the free Drilling Thunder update. At the July 29 research cutoff, the current confirmed patch is 1.0.2. This hub collects the release overview, update comparison, patch summaries, and compatibility decisions a returning or current player is most likely to need.

Pick the right 1.0 page

• Read the Drilling Thunder overview for the official high-level additions: excavation, underground progression, the expanded world, new bots and parts, Garage, and Schematicbot context.
• Read what changed in 1.0 for a returning-player comparison between Early Access and the full release.
• Read the patch notes summary to confirm the latest reviewed version and whether an issue appears in the official 1.0.1 or 1.0.2 announcements.
• Read the old-save guide before opening an important Creative or Survival world.

What the full release confirms

The official launch material describes a completed Survival story with voiced characters, expanded terrain and locations, additional building parts, more enemy types, achievements, and network and visual changes. Drilling Thunder adds an excavation and mining direction built around Excavation Island, an abandoned mine, plasma drilling, and underground areas.

The same official material introduces Schematicbot as a system that scans discoveries to unlock additional Craftbot parts. It also describes the Garage as a connection between Creative experimentation and Survival. Those statements support an overview, but they do not by themselves establish exact routes, spawn coordinates, recipes, damage values, or unlock probabilities.

Current patch window

Patch 1.0.1 was announced on July 26. The reviewed official summary covers multiplayer recipe issues, steering synchronization, schematic boxes, and some mod-related crashes. Patch 1.0.2 followed on July 29 and restored the Mods button while addressing challenge chest, quest-progress, and crash issues.

These summaries help identify whether an official update mentions a problem. They are not a guarantee that every similar symptom is fixed on every system or world. Check the installed version and use the official announcements for the complete wording.

Saves and mods

Official pre-release guidance says old Creative worlds are expected to work in 1.0. Old Survival worlds require the legacy version, and starting a new Survival world is recommended for the full-release experience. Back up important data before opening or converting anything, especially when Workshop dependencies are involved.

Mods may break across the transition to 1.0. Patch 1.0.2 restoring the Mods button confirms the interface returned; it does not certify each Workshop item. Use the Mods compatibility hub to check versions, dependencies, and reversible troubleshooting steps.

Common questions

Is Drilling Thunder separate paid content? The official release announcement presents it as the free update arriving with 1.0.

Is “Chapter 2” the official page name? Players use overlapping language in searches. This site uses “Scrap Mechanic 1.0” and “Drilling Thunder” for the confirmed release and update, while treating other wording as a query variant.

Should every returning player start a new world? The strongest official recommendation applies to old Survival progress. Creative and Survival compatibility are different decisions, so review the save guide before acting.

Sources and update policy

Release, feature, save, mod, and patch statements come from the Steam store and official Axolot Games announcements checked July 29, 2026. This hub is news-sensitive. Its current-version line and patch links should be reviewed whenever a new official build is announced.