What Is Fixed in Widelands 1.3.1 and Can You Play Online With Older Versions?

Updated

Widelands 1.3.1 is a stable point release that fixes a severe multiplayer desync found in Widelands 1.3. You cannot combine versions 1.3 and 1.3.1 in a network game, so everyone in a multiplayer session needs to run the same version. If you play online, upgrading to 1.3.1 is the straightforward way to avoid the desync problem.

What 1.3.1 fixes

The release notes state one headline fix: a severe multiplayer desync that existed in Widelands 1.3. A desync means players' game states drift apart, so the match no longer behaves consistently for everyone. Because this affected multiplayer specifically, the fix matters most if you play with others rather than only in singleplayer campaigns.

Widelands 1.3.1 is described as a stable point release, so it is a maintenance update on the 1.3 line rather than a new feature branch.

Version compatibility for online play

The key constraint is explicit in the announcement: it is not possible to combine versions 1.3 and 1.3.1 in a network game. In practice:

  • All players in a multiplayer match must use the same version.
  • A 1.3.1 host cannot expect a 1.3 client to join successfully, and vice versa.
  • If your group is still on 1.3, either everyone upgrades to 1.3.1 or everyone stays on 1.3 — mixing will not work.

Downloads available for 1.3.1

The release lists these packages:

Platform Packages
Windows Installer for Intel 64-bit, Intel 32-bit, ARM 64-bit
macOS 64-bit packages for macOS ≥ 12, Intel and ARM
Linux 64-bit AppImage
Source .zip and .tar.gz

Checksums and signatures are provided for all downloads, along with a list of all downloads.

What to do if you hit problems after upgrading

If the website itself looks different after a server-side change, the project's own guidance is to press CTRL+F5 to refresh the browser cache. That note came from a separate server upgrade announcement, but it is the same kind of cache issue you may see around release and site updates.

For multiplayer, the practical checklist is:

  1. Confirm every player's version number matches.
  2. If anyone is on 1.3, have them install 1.3.1 from the official download list.
  3. Retry the network game once all clients report the same version.

If a match still fails to stay in sync after everyone is on 1.3.1, the forums are the community's place to discuss strategies and troubleshoot — the site describes itself as the home of the Widelands community and invites players to visit the forums.