Game database (GVDB) ​

game_package/gamedatabases/gamedatabases.2025.bin stores game values, including teams and tracks.

For mod changes, use database operations.

How values are stored ​

Each record has a numeric key, a type and a text value. Keys come from paths such as tracks.Track_3.numberOfCorners. The file does not store the path names.

Rows have a _metadata_ label. Tables have an _instancecount_ value that tells the game how many rows to read. Adding rows must update that count too.

Tools ​

  • packages/formats/src/gvdb.rs: Rust reader and writer.
  • tools/gamedb.py: Python reader, writer and inspection tool.

Writers must preserve record order for equal sort keys and rewrite the value encoding after edits. An unchanged file should write back with identical bytes.

Test ​

sh
F1_25_DIR="/path/to/F1 25" cargo test -p swofty-formats

This checks real game files when F1_25_DIR is set.