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Transfer Zoos Between Planet Zoo 2 Modes

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

This guide explains how to transfer or share zoos between Planet Zoo 2’s game modes—Franchise, Sandbox, and Challenge—so you can keep your carefully built habitats and animal collections when switching modes or sharing with friends. You’ll learn what’s transferable, the exact steps for each method, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

What You’ll Need

  • A copy of Planet Zoo 2 (any edition) on PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X|S.
  • For sharing with other players: an active internet connection and a Frontier account (for Franchise mode) or a platform account (for console).
  • For local transfer: enough storage space for save files (usually a few hundred MB per zoo).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Transferring a Zoo from Sandbox to Franchise (or Challenge)

  1. Open Planet Zoo 2 and go to the main menu.
  2. Select “Load Game” and choose the Sandbox zoo you want to transfer.
  3. Once the zoo loads, press Esc (PC) or the Menu button (console) to open the pause menu.
  4. Click on “Save As” (not “Save”). This opens the save options.
  5. In the “Save As” dialog, you’ll see a dropdown or toggle labeled “Game Mode.” Change it from “Sandbox” to “Franchise” (or “Challenge”).
  6. Give the save a new name (e.g., “My Zoo – Franchise”) and confirm. The game will create a new save file in the target mode.
  7. Exit to the main menu and load the new save from the Franchise (or Challenge) tab. Your zoo, including buildings, terrain, and animals, will appear.

Note: Franchise mode requires an internet connection and a Frontier account. If you’re offline, the option will be greyed out.

Method 2: Sharing a Zoo with Another Player (Cross-Platform)

  1. From the main menu, select “Load Game” and highlight the zoo you want to share.
  2. Press the Share button (look for a share icon or the prompt at the bottom of the screen).
  3. Choose “Upload to Workshop” (on PC) or “Share to Community” (on console).
  4. Add a title, description, and tags (e.g., “Sandbox”, “Realistic”). You can also set it to “Public” or “Friends Only”.
  5. Confirm the upload. The game will compress and upload the file.
  6. To download someone else’s zoo, go to the main menu, select “Community” or “Workshop”, search for the zoo, and click “Download”.
  7. Once downloaded, the zoo appears in your “Load Game” list under the same game mode it was shared as.

Note: Cross-platform sharing (e.g., PC to PlayStation) works via the Frontier Workshop. Ensure both players have the same game version and any DLC used in the zoo.

Method 3: Manual File Transfer (PC Only)

  1. Close Planet Zoo 2 completely.
  2. Open your file explorer and navigate to the save folder. Default location: Documents\Frontier Developments\Planet Zoo 2\Saves.
  3. Look for files with the .zoo extension. Each file corresponds to a zoo save.
  4. Copy the .zoo file you want to transfer.
  5. Paste it into the same folder on the other computer (or share it via cloud storage).
  6. Launch Planet Zoo 2 on the target machine. The zoo will appear in your load list.

Note: This method bypasses the in-game mode restrictions, but the zoo will still be tied to the mode it was originally saved as. To change modes, use the “Save As” method.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to use “Save As” instead of “Save” – If you just press “Save”, you’ll overwrite the original save, not create a new one in a different mode.
  • Sharing a zoo that uses DLC you don’t own – If you share a zoo with animals or items from a DLC the recipient doesn’t have, those items will be removed or replaced, and the zoo may fail to load.
  • Assuming all modes are identical – Franchise mode has online economy and trading, so your Sandbox zoo’s money and animal stats may be adjusted. Challenge mode has a scoring system, so your zoo will be evaluated differently.
  • Uploading to the Workshop without checking privacy settings – If you set it to “Private”, only you can see it. Make sure it’s “Public” or “Friends Only” if you want others to download it.

Tips

  • Keep a backup – Before transferring, duplicate your save file (copy and paste in the file explorer, or use “Save As” with a different name). This way, if something goes wrong, you still have the original.
  • Check DLC compatibility – If you’re sharing, list the DLCs used in the description so recipients know what they need.
  • Use the “Save As” method for mode changes – It’s the safest and most reliable way to convert a zoo between modes, as it properly re-initializes the game’s systems.
  • For large zoos, upload may take a while – Be patient; the game compresses files, but a complex zoo can take several minutes.
  • Test the transfer with a small zoo first – If you’re new to transferring, try with a tiny zoo to understand the process before moving your main project.

Troubleshooting

The “Save As” option doesn’t show a mode dropdown

This usually happens if you’re in Franchise mode and trying to switch to Sandbox. Franchise saves are tied to your online profile and cannot be converted to offline modes. To move a Franchise zoo to Sandbox, you’ll need to manually recreate it or download a similar zoo from the Workshop.

Shared zoo won’t download or appears corrupted

First, check your internet connection. If it’s stable, the issue might be DLC mismatch. Ensure you own all DLCs that the zoo uses. If the problem persists, try restarting the game and downloading again. On console, ensure you have enough storage space.

After transferring, animals are missing or stats are wrong

This is expected when moving from Sandbox to Franchise. Franchise mode applies its own economy and animal genetics. Your animals will still be there, but their market value and stats may be recalculated. If animals are missing entirely, check your trade center—they may have been moved there.

Manual file transfer doesn’t show up in game

Make sure you placed the file in the correct folder and that the file name doesn’t contain special characters. Also, ensure the file extension is .zoo. If you’re transferring from a different platform (e.g., from a Mac to a PC), the file format may be incompatible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer a zoo from Franchise to Sandbox?

No, not directly. Franchise saves are online-only and cannot be converted to offline modes. You can, however, recreate the zoo in Sandbox or download a similar one from the Workshop.

Will my zoo’s money and research carry over?

Money and research are mode-specific. When you transfer a Sandbox zoo to Franchise, you’ll start with the default Franchise starting funds, and research will be reset. Your buildings and animals remain, but you’ll need to re-research.

Can I share a zoo between PC and console?

Yes, if you use the in-game Workshop/Community sharing. Cross-platform sharing is supported as long as both players have the same DLCs and game version.

What happens to my zoo if I delete the original save after transferring?

Nothing happens to the transferred copy. The new save is independent. You can safely delete the original if you no longer need it.

Is there a limit to how many zoos I can share?

No, you can share as many as you like. However, your Workshop/Community storage may have a cap (usually 50 items). If you hit the cap, delete old uploads.

Can I transfer a zoo from the beta version to the full release?

Beta saves are not compatible with the full release. You’ll need to start a new zoo after the game updates.

Related

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