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How to make an autopatcher, step by step

From scratch to the executable you hand to players. No special tools needed: an AutoSVF account and PHP hosting for your own client files.

Open the panel

What you need

  • An AutoSVF.ro account (free). The patcher is built in panel → Autopatcher.
  • Web hosting with PHP for your game client files — for example the hosting where your server's website lives. The files stay with you, not with us.
  • The game client you want players to get (the folder with metin2client.bin/.exe, pack, etc.).

The patcher runs on Windows 10 and 11. You keep the client files on your host; we only sign the list and generate the executable.

1. Create the patcher

  1. Go to panel → Autopatcher and press New patcher. Give it your server's name.
  2. Under General: optionally set the game server's IP/domain and port so the patcher shows Online / Offline.
  3. Under Appearance: upload a logo, a background and pick the accent colour.
  4. Under News & buttons: write news, add buttons (website, Discord, donations) and event countdowns.

Press Save anytime. You can change anything later.

2. Prepare your host

The game client files live on your hosting, in a files folder. Next to it you put manifest.php, which builds the file list (name, size, hash). Download it from the panel, under Files & publishing.

The structure on the host looks like this:

/public_html/patch/manifest.php
/public_html/patch/.htaccess
/public_html/patch/files/        ← the game client (metin2client.bin, pack/, …)
  1. Upload the game client into the files folder (via FTP or File Manager).
  2. Upload manifest.php (downloaded from the panel) next to the files folder. Your key is already inside — don't change anything.
  3. Also upload the .htaccess file (example downloadable from the panel) so large files download correctly and can resume.

Why on your host? A Metin2 client is 1–3 GB. The download traffic when players update is on your host, not ours — so you can grow with no limits from us.

3. Link the panel and publish

In the panel, under Files & publishing, fill in:

  • Files URL: https://your-site/patch/files
  • manifest.php URL: https://your-site/patch/manifest.php (no ?key= — the panel adds the key itself)

Press Publish version. The panel reads your list, signs it digitally and serves it to the patcher. Every time you change something in the client, re-publish — players automatically get only the changed files.

The signature matters: even if someone broke into your host, the patcher rejects any file that doesn't match the signed list. Players can't be served modified files.

4. Game and protection

Under Game & protection:

  • Game executable: the file that starts the game (e.g. metin2client.bin).
  • Verify on every launch: quick (size + date) or full (hash).
  • Maintenance and urgent notice: block the Play button or show a message on start.
  • “Launcher-only” protection: the patcher sends a signed token when launching the game and/or an unlock ping to the server. You verify it on your game server however you like — the secrets and URLs are in the Files tab.

5. Give the executable to players

Press Download .exe. You get a <code>-patcher.exe file — put it up for download on your site/Discord. Players open it, it installs or updates the client and launches the game.

Antivirus / SmartScreen: new patchers that aren't signed with a certificate may get a warning from Windows. For a serious launch a code-signing certificate is worth it (separate cost). Write to us for details.

6. Ship an update

  1. Change the files in the files folder on your host (add, replace, delete).
  2. In the panel press Publish version again.
  3. Done. Players automatically get only what changed the next time they open the patcher.

You don't need to hand out a new .exe for content changes: news, buttons, game files — all come over the air. You only give a new .exe if you change the patcher code, and even then it can update itself.

7. Premium

On the free plan the patcher has an AutoSVF banner on top. With Premium (paid via PayPal, from the Premium tab) you remove the banner (or put your own), enable video background and a full skin. When it expires the patcher doesn't stop — it reverts to the free version.

8. Troubleshooting

“The file list is empty” — you didn't upload the files into the files folder, or manifest.php isn't next to it.

“manifest.php returned 403” — the key in the URL doesn't match the one in the file. Check ?key=.

The .exe download doesn't work — the generic executable isn't uploaded on the panel server (admin side). Write to us.

A player gets “can't write the file” — the game is open. Close it and retry.

Anything else? Email contact@autosvf.ro.

Ready to start?

Build the patcher in a few minutes and give it to players today.

Build a patcherAbout the autopatcher