So, we have been playing the game since 2014. It was released in 2013, so is it common for projects like this to stay in Alpha for almost 10 years?
Yeah, it's nice to start over occasionally, but when several ppl have contributed hundreds of hours on an elaborate map, it's nice to be able to go "home" once in a while to appreciate the work, and introduce new players to the work already done.
I've been playing Valheim for years with friends, and our maps persist through major updates, so why can't they make it happen?
We still have a map from The Forest that works with later versions, as well as ones with Empyrion. No maps lost in those games.