s_PreserveEnts

In multiplayer Source games, all entities are set back to their defaults during a round reset by removing and immediately respawning them, unless their current classnames matches an entry in the s_PreserveEnts whitelist. Whitelisted entities either have special code to handle the reset process or none at all, and the entity is therefore considered not ideal for removal.

Some whitelisted entities may not properly account for round resets and are likely to carry their previous properties over to the next round, such as their origins.

Note:Some games might not have any way to reset the round (even through mp_forcewin or mp_restartgame commands).

Games
Has Whitelist	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (Disassembly)		Yes	Yes	Yes

Source Code

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

hl2mp/hl2mp_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "ai_network", "ai_hint", "hl2mp_gamerules", "team_manager", "player_manager", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_buyzone", "func_illusionary", "infodecal", "info_projecteddecal", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_deathmatch", "info_player_combine", "info_player_rebel", "info_map_parameters", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "info_ladder", "player", "point_viewcontrol", "scene_manager", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "soundent", "trigger_soundscape", "viewmodel", "predicted_viewmodel", "worldspawn", "point_devshot_camera", "", // END Marker };

Portal

portal/portal_mp_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "ai_network", "ai_hint", "hl2mp_gamerules", "team_manager", "player_manager", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_buyzone", "func_illusionary", "infodecal", "info_projecteddecal", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_deathmatch", "info_player_combine", "info_player_rebel", "info_map_parameters", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "info_ladder", "player", "point_viewcontrol", "scene_manager", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "soundent", "trigger_soundscape", "viewmodel", "predicted_viewmodel", "worldspawn", "point_devshot_camera", "", // END Marker };

Portal 2

portal/portal_mp_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "ai_network", "ai_hint", "hl2mp_gamerules", "team_manager", "player_manager", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_buyzone", "func_illusionary", "infodecal", "info_projecteddecal", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_deathmatch", "info_player_combine", "info_player_rebel", "info_map_parameters", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "info_ladder", "player", "point_viewcontrol", "scene_manager", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "soundent", "trigger_soundscape", "viewmodel", "predicted_viewmodel", "worldspawn", "point_devshot_camera", "", // END Marker };

Team Fortress 2

teamplayroundbased_gamerules.cpp

// Classnames of entities that are preserved across round restarts static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "player", "viewmodel", "worldspawn", "soundent", "ai_network", "ai_hint", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sprite", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_wall", "func_illusionary", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "point_commentary_node", "point_viewcontrol", "func_precipitation", "func_team_wall", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "scene_manager", "trigger_soundscape", "commentary_auto", "point_commentary_node", "point_commentary_viewpoint", "bot_roster", "info_populator", "", // END Marker };

tf/tf_gamerules.cpp

// Classnames of entities that are preserved across round restarts static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "tf_gamerules", "tf_team_manager", "tf_player_manager", "tf_team", "tf_objective_resource", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "tf_viewmodel", "tf_logic_training", "tf_logic_training_mode", "tf_powerup_bottle", "tf_mann_vs_machine_stats", "tf_wearable", "tf_wearable_demoshield", "tf_wearable_robot_arm", "tf_wearable_vm", "tf_logic_bonusround", "vote_controller", "monster_resource", "tf_logic_medieval", "tf_logic_cp_timer", "tf_logic_tower_defense", // legacy "tf_logic_mann_vs_machine", "func_upgradestation", "entity_rocket", "entity_carrier", "entity_sign", "entity_saucer", "tf_halloween_gift_pickup", "tf_logic_competitive", "tf_wearable_razorback", "entity_soldier_statue", "", // END Marker };

Counter-Strike: Source

cstrike/cs_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "ai_network", "ai_hint", "cs_gamerules", "cs_team_manager", "cs_player_manager", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_buyzone", "func_illusionary", "func_hostage_rescue", "func_bomb_target", "infodecal", "info_projecteddecal", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_counterterrorist", "info_player_terrorist", "info_map_parameters", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "info_ladder", "player", "point_viewcontrol", "scene_manager", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "soundent", "trigger_soundscape", "viewmodel", "predicted_viewmodel", "worldspawn", "point_devshot_camera", "", // END Marker };

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

cstrike15/cs_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "ai_network", "ai_hint", "cs_gamerules", "cs_team_manager", "cs_player_manager", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "env_tonemap_controller", "env_cascade_light", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_buyzone", "func_illusionary", "func_hostage_rescue", "func_bomb_target", "infodecal", "info_projecteddecal", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_counterterrorist", "info_player_terrorist", "info_enemy_terrorist_spawn", "info_deathmatch_spawn", "info_armsrace_counterterrorist", "info_armsrace_terrorist", "info_map_parameters", "keyframe_rope", "move_rope", "info_ladder", "player", "point_viewcontrol", "point_viewcontrol_multiplayer", "scene_manager", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "soundent", "trigger_soundscape", "viewmodel", "predicted_viewmodel", "worldspawn", "point_devshot_camera", "logic_choreographed_scene", "cfe_player_decal", "info_bomb_target_hint_A", "info_bomb_target_hint_B", "info_hostage_rescue_zone_hint", "generic_actor", "vote_controller", "wearable_item", "point_hiding_spot", "game_coopmission_manager", "chicken", "", // END Marker };

Day of Defeat: Source

dod/dod_gamerules.cpp

static const char *s_PreserveEnts[] = { "player", "viewmodel", "worldspawn", "soundent", "ai_network", "ai_hint", "dod_gamerules", "dod_team_manager", "dod_player_manager", "dod_objective_resource", "env_soundscape", "env_soundscape_proxy", "env_soundscape_triggerable", "env_sprite", "env_sun", "env_wind", "env_fog_controller", "func_brush", "func_wall", "func_illusionary", "info_node", "info_target", "info_node_hint", "info_player_allies", "info_player_axis", "point_viewcontrol", "shadow_control", "sky_camera", "scene_manager", "trigger_soundscape", "info_dod_detect", "dod_team_allies", "dod_team_axis", "point_commentary_node", "dod_round_timer", "func_precipitation", "func_team_wall", "", // END Marker };

Alien Swarm

swarm/asw_gamerules.cpp

CAlienSwarm::CAlienSwarm() { // set which entities should stay around when we restart the mission m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("worldspawn"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("soundent"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("asw_gamerules"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("player"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("asw_player"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("player_manager"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("predicted_viewmodel"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("sdk_team_manager"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("scene_manager"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("event_queue_saveload_proxy"); m_MapResetFilter.AddKeepEntity("ai_network"); }

Code Dumps

To find the S_PreserveEnts whitelist in the Left 4 Dead games in IDA:

1. Search for the ai_network string reference.
2. Bring up all applicable XREFs.
3. Search for the list that includes survivor_bot and logic_versus_random.

Left 4 Dead

; "ai_network", ; "ai_hint", ; "cs_team_manager", ; "terror_gamerules", ; "terror_player_manager", ; "survivor_bot", ; "env_tonemap_controller", ; "env_tonemap_controller_infected", ; "env_tonemap_controller_ghost", ; "vote_controller", ; "env_soundscape", ; "env_soundscape_proxy", ; "env_soundscape_triggerable", ; "env_sun", ; "env_wind", ; "env_fog_controller", ; "func_wall", ; "func_buyzone", ; "func_illusionary", ; "func_hostage_rescue", ; "func_bomb_target", ; "infodecal", ; "info_projecteddecal", ; "info_node", ; "info_target", ; "info_node_hint", ; "info_player_counterterrorist", ; "info_player_terrorist", ; "info_map_parameters", ; "info_map_parameters_versus", ; "info_ladder", ; "func_simpleladder", ; "player", ; "point_viewcontrol", ; "scene_manager", ; "shadow_control", ; "sky_camera", ; "soundent", ; "trigger_soundscape", ; "viewmodel", ; "predicted_viewmodel", ; "worldspawn", ; "point_devshot_camera", ; "info_survivor_position", ; "logic_versus_random",

Left 4 Dead 2

; "ai_network", ; "ai_hint", ; "cs_team_manager", ; "terror_gamerules", ; "terror_player_manager", ; "survivor_bot", ; "env_tonemap_controller", ; "env_tonemap_controller_infected", ; "env_tonemap_controller_ghost", ; "vote_controller", ; "env_soundscape", ; "env_soundscape_proxy", ; "env_soundscape_triggerable", ; "env_sun", ; "env_wind", ; "env_fog_controller", ; "func_wall", ; "infodecal", ; "info_projecteddecal", ; "info_node", ; "info_node_hint", ; "info_map_parameters", ; "info_map_parameters_versus", ; "info_ladder", ; "func_simpleladder", ; "player", ; "point_viewcontrol", ; "scene_manager", ; "shadow_control", ; "sky_camera", ; "soundent", ; "trigger_soundscape", ; "viewmodel", ; "predicted_viewmodel", ; "worldspawn", ; "point_devshot_camera", ; "weapon_scavenge_item_spawn", ; "logic_versus_random",