diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 5d10af247c..3f61e21c5e 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -316,9 +316,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "assets_manager"
-version = "0.10.2"
+version = "0.11.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "f00425f4c1f3349b35daf0a73477249f6574fe89f4b9d76aca0b2a1356886b3b"
+checksum = "3725d3fcae7767855256e1f627df67ac8ca675c55fde1bf784d5669d1ddc7261"
 dependencies = [
  "ab_glyph",
  "ahash 0.8.7",
@@ -326,10 +326,11 @@ dependencies = [
  "crossbeam-channel",
  "log",
  "notify",
- "parking_lot 0.12.1",
  "ron 0.8.1",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
+ "sync_file",
+ "tar",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -6208,6 +6209,15 @@ dependencies = [
  "unicode-ident",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "sync_file"
+version = "0.2.7"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a49b72df45d9c2d5fbb13b02c97437a3175d8c9860297297597d3ed715e0f046"
+dependencies = [
+ "wasi 0.11.0+wasi-snapshot-preview1",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "sync_wrapper"
 version = "0.1.2"
@@ -7008,7 +7018,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "lazy_static",
  "ron 0.8.1",
  "serde",
- "tar",
  "tracing",
  "walkdir",
  "wavefront",
diff --git a/client/i18n/src/lib.rs b/client/i18n/src/lib.rs
index 774c94df00..74021a0ff8 100644
--- a/client/i18n/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/i18n/src/lib.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::{borrow::Cow, io};
 
-use assets::{source::DirEntry, AssetExt, AssetGuard, AssetHandle, ReloadWatcher, SharedString};
+use assets::{
+    source::DirEntry, AssetExt, AssetHandle, AssetReadGuard, ReloadWatcher, SharedString,
+};
 use common_assets as assets;
 use common_i18n::{Content, LocalizationArg};
 use tracing::warn;
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ impl assets::Compound for Language {
         let mut bundle = FluentBundle::new_concurrent(vec![lang_id]);
 
         // Here go dragons
-        for id in cache.load_dir::<raw::Resource>(path, true)?.ids() {
+        for id in cache.load_rec_dir::<raw::Resource>(path)?.read().ids() {
             match cache.load(id) {
                 Ok(handle) => {
                     let source: &raw::Resource = &handle.read();
@@ -229,8 +231,8 @@ pub type Localization = LocalizationGuard;
 /// RAII guard returned from [`LocalizationHandle::read()`], resembles
 /// [`AssetGuard`]
 pub struct LocalizationGuard {
-    active: AssetGuard<Language>,
-    fallback: Option<AssetGuard<Language>>,
+    active: AssetReadGuard<Language>,
+    fallback: Option<AssetReadGuard<Language>>,
 }
 
 impl LocalizationGuard {
@@ -592,8 +594,9 @@ struct LocalizationList(Vec<LanguageMetadata>);
 impl assets::Compound for LocalizationList {
     fn load(cache: assets::AnyCache, specifier: &SharedString) -> Result<Self, assets::BoxedError> {
         // List language directories
-        let languages = assets::load_dir::<FindManifests>(specifier, false)
+        let languages = assets::load_rec_dir::<FindManifests>(specifier)
             .unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("Failed to get manifests from {}: {:?}", specifier, e))
+            .read()
             .ids()
             .filter_map(|spec| cache.load::<raw::Manifest>(spec).ok())
             .map(|localization| localization.read().metadata.clone())
diff --git a/common/assets/Cargo.toml b/common/assets/Cargo.toml
index d4a604ec0b..eb1069b4bf 100644
--- a/common/assets/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/assets/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,13 +7,12 @@ version = "0.10.0"
 
 [dependencies]
 lazy_static = { workspace = true }
-assets_manager = {version = "0.10", features = ["bincode", "ron", "json"]}
+assets_manager = { version = "0.11.1", features = ["bincode", "ron", "json"] }
 ron = { workspace = true }
 dot_vox = "5.1"
 wavefront = "0.2" # TODO: Use vertex-colors branch when we have models that have them
 image = { workspace = true }
 tracing = { workspace = true }
-tar = { version = "0.4.37", optional = true }
 hashbrown = { workspace = true }
 
 # asset tweak
@@ -25,4 +24,4 @@ walkdir = "2.3.2"
 [features]
 hot-reloading = ["assets_manager/hot-reloading"]
 asset_tweak = ["dep:serde", "hot-reloading"]
-plugins = ["dep:serde", "dep:tar"]
+plugins = ["dep:serde", "assets_manager/tar"]
diff --git a/common/assets/src/fs.rs b/common/assets/src/fs.rs
index cbb05871f8..26085937e4 100644
--- a/common/assets/src/fs.rs
+++ b/common/assets/src/fs.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::{fs, io};
 
 use assets_manager::{
-    hot_reloading::{DynUpdateSender, EventSender, FsWatcherBuilder},
+    hot_reloading::{EventSender, FsWatcherBuilder},
     source::{DirEntry, FileContent, FileSystem as RawFs, Source},
     BoxedError,
 };
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ impl Source for FileSystem {
 
     fn make_source(&self) -> Option<Box<dyn Source + Send>> { Some(Box::new(self.clone())) }
 
-    fn configure_hot_reloading(&self, events: EventSender) -> Result<DynUpdateSender, BoxedError> {
+    fn configure_hot_reloading(&self, events: EventSender) -> Result<(), BoxedError> {
         let mut builder = FsWatcherBuilder::new()?;
 
         if let Some(dir) = &self.override_dir {
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ impl Source for FileSystem {
         }
         builder.watch(self.default.root().to_owned())?;
 
-        Ok(builder.build(events))
+        builder.build(events);
+        Ok(())
     }
 }
diff --git a/common/assets/src/lib.rs b/common/assets/src/lib.rs
index f6368a20c9..8d25e7a650 100644
--- a/common/assets/src/lib.rs
+++ b/common/assets/src/lib.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ pub use assets_manager::{
 
 mod fs;
 #[cfg(feature = "plugins")] mod plugin_cache;
-#[cfg(feature = "plugins")] mod tar_source;
 mod walk;
 pub use walk::{walk_tree, Walk};
 
@@ -48,9 +47,9 @@ pub fn start_hot_reloading() { ASSETS.enhance_hot_reloading(); }
 #[cfg(feature = "plugins")]
 pub fn register_tar(path: PathBuf) -> std::io::Result<()> { ASSETS.register_tar(path) }
 
-pub type AssetHandle<T> = assets_manager::Handle<'static, T>;
-pub type AssetGuard<T> = assets_manager::AssetGuard<'static, T>;
-pub type AssetDirHandle<T> = assets_manager::DirHandle<'static, T>;
+pub type AssetHandle<T> = &'static assets_manager::Handle<T>;
+pub type AssetReadGuard<T> = assets_manager::AssetReadGuard<'static, T>;
+pub type AssetDirHandle<T> = AssetHandle<assets_manager::RecursiveDirectory<T>>;
 pub type ReloadWatcher = assets_manager::ReloadWatcher<'static>;
 
 /// The Asset trait, which is implemented by all structures that have their data
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ pub trait AssetExt: Sized + Send + Sync + 'static {
     where
         Self: Clone,
     {
-        Self::load(specifier).map(AssetHandle::cloned)
+        Self::load(specifier).map(|h| h.cloned())
     }
 
     fn load_or_insert_with(
@@ -143,7 +142,7 @@ pub trait CacheCombined<'a> {
     fn load_and_combine<A: Compound + Concatenate>(
         self,
         id: &str,
-    ) -> Result<assets_manager::Handle<'a, A>, BoxedError>;
+    ) -> Result<&'a assets_manager::Handle<A>, BoxedError>;
 }
 
 /// Loads directory and all files in it
@@ -154,39 +153,9 @@ pub trait CacheCombined<'a> {
 ///
 /// When loading a directory recursively, directories that can't be read are
 /// ignored.
-pub fn load_dir<T: DirLoadable>(
-    specifier: &str,
-    recursive: bool,
-) -> Result<AssetDirHandle<T>, Error> {
+pub fn load_rec_dir<T: DirLoadable>(specifier: &str) -> Result<AssetDirHandle<T>, Error> {
     let specifier = specifier.strip_suffix(".*").unwrap_or(specifier);
-    ASSETS.load_dir(specifier, recursive)
-}
-
-/// Loads directory and all files in it
-///
-/// # Panics
-/// 1) If can't load directory (filesystem errors)
-/// 2) If file can't be loaded (parsing problem)
-#[track_caller]
-pub fn read_expect_dir<T: DirLoadable + Compound>(
-    specifier: &str,
-    recursive: bool,
-) -> impl Iterator<Item = AssetGuard<T>> {
-    #[track_caller]
-    #[cold]
-    fn expect_failed(err: Error) -> ! {
-        panic!(
-            "Failed loading directory: {} (error={:?})",
-            err.id(),
-            err.reason()
-        )
-    }
-
-    // Avoid using `unwrap_or_else` to avoid breaking `#[track_caller]`
-    match load_dir::<T>(specifier, recursive) {
-        Ok(dir) => dir.ids().map(|entry| T::load_expect(entry).read()),
-        Err(err) => expect_failed(err),
-    }
+    ASSETS.load_rec_dir(specifier)
 }
 
 impl<T: Compound> AssetExt for T {
@@ -203,7 +172,7 @@ impl<'a> CacheCombined<'a> for AnyCache<'a> {
     fn load_and_combine<A: Compound + Concatenate>(
         self,
         specifier: &str,
-    ) -> Result<assets_manager::Handle<'a, A>, BoxedError> {
+    ) -> Result<&'a assets_manager::Handle<A>, BoxedError> {
         #[cfg(feature = "plugins")]
         {
             self.get_cached(specifier).map_or_else(
diff --git a/common/assets/src/plugin_cache.rs b/common/assets/src/plugin_cache.rs
index 0c4ee9eb01..8603d725c5 100644
--- a/common/assets/src/plugin_cache.rs
+++ b/common/assets/src/plugin_cache.rs
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@ use std::{path::PathBuf, sync::RwLock};
 
 use crate::Concatenate;
 
-use super::{fs::FileSystem, tar_source::Tar, ASSETS_PATH};
+use super::{fs::FileSystem, ASSETS_PATH};
 use assets_manager::{
-    hot_reloading::{DynUpdateSender, EventSender},
-    source::{FileContent, Source},
+    hot_reloading::EventSender,
+    source::{FileContent, Source, Tar},
     AnyCache, AssetCache, BoxedError,
 };
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ impl Source for CombinedSource {
     // TODO: Enable hot reloading for plugins
     fn make_source(&self) -> Option<Box<dyn Source + Send>> { self.fs.raw_source().make_source() }
 
-    fn configure_hot_reloading(&self, events: EventSender) -> Result<DynUpdateSender, BoxedError> {
+    fn configure_hot_reloading(&self, events: EventSender) -> Result<(), BoxedError> {
         self.fs.raw_source().configure_hot_reloading(events)
     }
 }
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ impl CombinedCache {
     /// Add a tar archive (a plugin) to the system.
     /// All files in that tar file become potential assets.
     pub fn register_tar(&self, path: PathBuf) -> std::io::Result<()> {
-        let tar_source = Tar::from_path(&path)?;
+        let tar_source = Tar::open(&path)?;
         let cache = AssetCache::with_source(tar_source);
         self.0
             .raw_source()
diff --git a/common/assets/src/tar_source.rs b/common/assets/src/tar_source.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 316cdce63c..0000000000
--- a/common/assets/src/tar_source.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,159 +0,0 @@
-use assets_manager::source::{DirEntry, FileContent, Source};
-use hashbrown::HashMap;
-use tar::EntryType;
-
-use std::{
-    fmt,
-    fs::File,
-    io::{self, Read, Seek, SeekFrom},
-    path::{self, Path, PathBuf},
-};
-
-// Derived from the zip source in the assets_manager crate
-
-#[derive(Clone, Hash, PartialEq, Eq)]
-struct FileDesc(String, String);
-
-impl hashbrown::Equivalent<FileDesc> for (&str, &str) {
-    fn equivalent(&self, key: &FileDesc) -> bool { self.0 == key.0 && self.1 == key.1 }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Debug for FileDesc {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("FileDesc")
-            .field("id", &self.0)
-            .field("ext", &self.1)
-            .finish()
-    }
-}
-
-impl FileDesc {
-    fn as_dir_entry(&self) -> DirEntry { DirEntry::File(&self.0, &self.1) }
-}
-
-/// Register a file of an archive in maps, components in asset ids are separated
-/// by points
-fn register_file(
-    path: &Path,
-    position: u64,
-    length: usize,
-    files: &mut HashMap<FileDesc, (u64, usize)>,
-    dirs: &mut HashMap<String, Vec<FileDesc>>,
-) {
-    // Parse the path and register it.
-    let mut parent_id = String::default();
-    // The closure is used as a cheap `try` block.
-    let unsupported_path = (|| {
-        let parent = path.parent()?;
-        for comp in parent.components() {
-            match comp {
-                path::Component::Normal(s) => {
-                    let segment = s.to_str()?;
-                    // Reject paths with extensions
-                    if segment.contains('.') {
-                        return None;
-                    }
-                    if !parent_id.is_empty() {
-                        parent_id.push('.');
-                    }
-                    parent_id.push_str(segment);
-                },
-                // Reject paths with non-name components
-                _ => return None,
-            }
-        }
-
-        let file_id = parent_id.clone() + "." + path.file_stem()?.to_str()?;
-        // Register the file in the maps.
-        let ext = path.extension().unwrap_or_default().to_str()?.to_owned();
-        let desc = FileDesc(file_id, ext);
-        files.insert(desc.clone(), (position, length));
-        dirs.entry(parent_id).or_default().push(desc);
-
-        Some(())
-    })()
-    .is_none();
-    if unsupported_path {
-        tracing::error!("Unsupported path in tar archive: {path:?}");
-    }
-}
-
-// We avoid the extra dependency of sync_file introduced by Zip here by opening
-// the file for each read
-struct Backend(PathBuf);
-
-impl Backend {
-    fn read(&self, pos: u64, len: usize) -> std::io::Result<Vec<u8>> {
-        File::open(self.0.clone()).and_then(|mut file| {
-            file.seek(SeekFrom::Start(pos)).and_then(|_| {
-                let mut result = vec![0; len];
-                file.read_exact(result.as_mut_slice())
-                    .map(move |_num_bytes| result)
-            })
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-pub struct Tar {
-    files: HashMap<FileDesc, (u64, usize)>,
-    dirs: HashMap<String, Vec<FileDesc>>,
-    backend: Backend,
-}
-
-impl Tar {
-    /// Creates a `Tar` from a file
-    pub fn from_path(path: &Path) -> io::Result<Tar> {
-        let file = File::open(path)?;
-        let mut tar = tar::Archive::new(file);
-        let contents = tar
-            .entries()
-            .map_err(|e| io::Error::new(io::ErrorKind::InvalidData, e))?;
-        let mut files = HashMap::with_capacity(contents.size_hint().0);
-        let mut dirs = HashMap::new();
-        for entry in contents.flatten() {
-            if matches!(entry.header().entry_type(), EntryType::Regular) {
-                register_file(
-                    entry.path().map_err(io::Error::other)?.as_ref(),
-                    entry.raw_file_position(),
-                    entry.size() as usize,
-                    &mut files,
-                    &mut dirs,
-                );
-            }
-        }
-        Ok(Tar {
-            files,
-            dirs,
-            backend: Backend(path.to_path_buf()),
-        })
-    }
-}
-
-impl Source for Tar {
-    fn read(&self, id: &str, ext: &str) -> io::Result<FileContent> {
-        let id = *self.files.get(&(id, ext)).ok_or(io::ErrorKind::NotFound)?;
-        self.backend.read(id.0, id.1).map(FileContent::Buffer)
-    }
-
-    fn read_dir(&self, id: &str, f: &mut dyn FnMut(DirEntry)) -> io::Result<()> {
-        let dir = self.dirs.get(id).ok_or(io::ErrorKind::NotFound)?;
-        dir.iter().map(FileDesc::as_dir_entry).for_each(f);
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn exists(&self, entry: DirEntry) -> bool {
-        match entry {
-            DirEntry::File(id, ext) => self.files.contains_key(&(id, ext)),
-            DirEntry::Directory(id) => self.dirs.contains_key(id),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl fmt::Debug for Tar {
-    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
-        f.debug_struct("Tar")
-            .field("files", &self.files)
-            .field("dirs", &self.dirs)
-            .finish()
-    }
-}
diff --git a/common/src/bin/csv_export/main.rs b/common/src/bin/csv_export/main.rs
index dabe050436..2bca80ff20 100644
--- a/common/src/bin/csv_export/main.rs
+++ b/common/src/bin/csv_export/main.rs
@@ -489,10 +489,10 @@ fn entity_drops(entity_config: &str) -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     }
 
     if entity_config.eq_ignore_ascii_case("all") {
-        let configs = assets::load_dir::<EntityConfig>("common.entity", true)
+        let configs = assets::load_rec_dir::<EntityConfig>("common.entity")
             .expect("Entity files moved somewhere else maybe?")
-            .ids();
-        for config in configs {
+            .read();
+        for config in configs.ids() {
             write_entity_loot(&mut wtr, config)?;
         }
     } else {
diff --git a/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs b/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
index 88108cbd53..72f7b5db5f 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/inventory/item/mod.rs
@@ -975,8 +975,11 @@ impl Item {
     /// asset glob pattern
     pub fn new_from_asset_glob(asset_glob: &str) -> Result<Vec<Self>, Error> {
         let specifier = asset_glob.strip_suffix(".*").unwrap_or(asset_glob);
-        let defs = assets::load_dir::<RawItemDef>(specifier, true)?;
-        defs.ids().map(|id| Item::new_from_asset(id)).collect()
+        let defs = assets::load_rec_dir::<RawItemDef>(specifier)?;
+        defs.read()
+            .ids()
+            .map(|id| Item::new_from_asset(id))
+            .collect()
     }
 
     /// Creates a new instance of an `Item from the provided asset identifier if
@@ -1632,18 +1635,19 @@ pub fn all_item_defs_expect() -> Vec<String> {
 
 /// Returns all item asset specifiers
 pub fn try_all_item_defs() -> Result<Vec<String>, Error> {
-    let defs = assets::load_dir::<RawItemDef>("common.items", true)?;
-    Ok(defs.ids().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect())
+    let defs = assets::load_rec_dir::<RawItemDef>("common.items")?;
+    Ok(defs.read().ids().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect())
 }
 
 /// Designed to return all possible items, including modulars.
 /// And some impossible too, like ItemKind::TagExamples.
 pub fn all_items_expect() -> Vec<Item> {
-    let defs = assets::load_dir::<RawItemDef>("common.items", true)
+    let defs = assets::load_rec_dir::<RawItemDef>("common.items")
         .expect("failed to load item asset directory");
 
     // Grab all items from assets
     let mut asset_items: Vec<Item> = defs
+        .read()
         .ids()
         .map(|id| Item::new_from_asset_expect(id))
         .collect();
diff --git a/common/src/comp/inventory/loadout_builder.rs b/common/src/comp/inventory/loadout_builder.rs
index 6d29df89b9..cea9ca227a 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/inventory/loadout_builder.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/inventory/loadout_builder.rs
@@ -1437,9 +1437,9 @@ mod tests {
     // One for asset itself and second if it serves as a base for other asset.
     #[test]
     fn validate_all_loadout_assets() {
-        let loadouts = assets::load_dir::<LoadoutSpec>("common.loadout", true)
+        let loadouts = assets::load_rec_dir::<LoadoutSpec>("common.loadout")
             .expect("failed to load loadout directory");
-        for loadout_id in loadouts.ids() {
+        for loadout_id in loadouts.read().ids() {
             let loadout =
                 LoadoutSpec::load_cloned(loadout_id).expect("failed to load loadout asset");
             loadout
@@ -1451,10 +1451,10 @@ mod tests {
     // Basically test that our validation tests don't have false-positives
     #[test]
     fn test_valid_assets() {
-        let loadouts = assets::load_dir::<LoadoutSpec>("test.loadout.ok", true)
+        let loadouts = assets::load_rec_dir::<LoadoutSpec>("test.loadout.ok")
             .expect("failed to load loadout directory");
 
-        for loadout_id in loadouts.ids() {
+        for loadout_id in loadouts.read().ids() {
             let loadout =
                 LoadoutSpec::load_cloned(loadout_id).expect("failed to load loadout asset");
             loadout
diff --git a/common/src/comp/inventory/trade_pricing.rs b/common/src/comp/inventory/trade_pricing.rs
index cf6dc1f71e..2f9e1d667a 100644
--- a/common/src/comp/inventory/trade_pricing.rs
+++ b/common/src/comp/inventory/trade_pricing.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use crate::{
     recipe::{default_component_recipe_book, default_recipe_book, RecipeInput},
     trade::Good,
 };
-use assets::AssetGuard;
+use assets::AssetReadGuard;
 use hashbrown::HashMap;
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 use serde::Deserialize;
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ struct RememberedRecipe {
     input: Vec<(ItemDefinitionIdOwned, u32)>,
 }
 
-fn get_scaling(contents: &AssetGuard<TradingPriceFile>, good: Good) -> f32 {
+fn get_scaling(contents: &AssetReadGuard<TradingPriceFile>, good: Good) -> f32 {
     contents
         .good_scaling
         .iter()
diff --git a/common/src/generation.rs b/common/src/generation.rs
index 2f50b2ceb8..baf01b97f6 100644
--- a/common/src/generation.rs
+++ b/common/src/generation.rs
@@ -165,8 +165,8 @@ impl EntityConfig {
 
 /// Return all entity config specifiers
 pub fn try_all_entity_configs() -> Result<Vec<String>, Error> {
-    let configs = assets::load_dir::<EntityConfig>("common.entity", true)?;
-    Ok(configs.ids().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect())
+    let configs = assets::load_rec_dir::<EntityConfig>("common.entity")?;
+    Ok(configs.read().ids().map(|id| id.to_string()).collect())
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
diff --git a/common/src/lottery.rs b/common/src/lottery.rs
index 63ddc9c95d..d7e1098fcb 100644
--- a/common/src/lottery.rs
+++ b/common/src/lottery.rs
@@ -370,6 +370,7 @@ impl Default for LootSpec<String> {
 pub mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use crate::{assets, comp::Item};
+    use assets::AssetExt;
 
     #[cfg(test)]
     pub fn validate_loot_spec(item: &LootSpec<String>) {
@@ -379,8 +380,8 @@ pub mod tests {
                 Item::new_from_asset_expect(item);
             },
             LootSpec::LootTable(loot_table) => {
-                let loot_table = Lottery::<LootSpec<String>>::load_expect_cloned(loot_table);
-                validate_table_contents(loot_table);
+                let loot_table = Lottery::<LootSpec<String>>::load_expect(loot_table).read();
+                validate_table_contents(&loot_table);
             },
             LootSpec::Nothing => {},
             LootSpec::ModularWeapon {
@@ -428,7 +429,7 @@ pub mod tests {
         }
     }
 
-    fn validate_table_contents(table: Lottery<LootSpec<String>>) {
+    fn validate_table_contents(table: &Lottery<LootSpec<String>>) {
         for (_, item) in table.iter() {
             validate_loot_spec(item);
         }
@@ -436,10 +437,11 @@ pub mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_loot_tables() {
-        let loot_tables =
-            assets::read_expect_dir::<Lottery<LootSpec<String>>>("common.loot_tables", true);
-        for loot_table in loot_tables {
-            validate_table_contents(loot_table.clone());
+        let loot_tables = assets::load_rec_dir::<Lottery<LootSpec<String>>>("common.loot_tables")
+            .expect("load loot_tables");
+        for loot_table in loot_tables.read().ids() {
+            let loot_table = Lottery::<LootSpec<String>>::load_expect(loot_table);
+            validate_table_contents(&loot_table.read());
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/common/src/skillset_builder.rs b/common/src/skillset_builder.rs
index d330f2c834..114f00f33c 100644
--- a/common/src/skillset_builder.rs
+++ b/common/src/skillset_builder.rs
@@ -160,8 +160,11 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn test_all_skillset_assets() {
-        let skillsets = assets::read_expect_dir::<SkillSetTree>("common.skillset", true);
-        for skillset in skillsets {
+        let skillsets =
+            assets::load_rec_dir::<SkillSetTree>("common.skillset").expect("load skillsets");
+        for skillset in skillsets.read().ids() {
+            let skillset = SkillSetTree::load_expect(skillset).read();
+
             drop({
                 let mut skillset_builder = SkillSetBuilder::default();
                 let nodes = &*skillset.0;
diff --git a/voxygen/Cargo.toml b/voxygen/Cargo.toml
index a1137cb1df..9463e9d783 100644
--- a/voxygen/Cargo.toml
+++ b/voxygen/Cargo.toml
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ server = { package = "veloren-server", path = "../server", optional = true, defa
 clap = { workspace = true }
 
 # Utility
-assets_manager = {version = "0.10", features = ["ab_glyph"]}
+assets_manager = {version = "0.11", features = ["ab_glyph"]}
 backtrace = "0.3.40"
 chrono = { workspace = true }
 chumsky = "0.9"
diff --git a/world/src/layer/shrub.rs b/world/src/layer/shrub.rs
index d37ba37e49..e823281a7a 100644
--- a/world/src/layer/shrub.rs
+++ b/world/src/layer/shrub.rs
@@ -74,10 +74,10 @@ pub fn apply_shrubs_to(canvas: &mut Canvas, _dynamic_rng: &mut impl Rng) {
         let units = UnitChooser::new(shrub.seed).get(shrub.seed).into();
 
         let shrubs = match shrub.kind {
-            ForestKind::Mangrove => &*JUNGLE_SHRUBS,
-            ForestKind::Acacia | ForestKind::Baobab => &*SAVANNAH_SHRUBS,
-            ForestKind::Oak | ForestKind::Chestnut => &*TEMPERATE_SHRUBS,
-            ForestKind::Pine => &*TAIGA_SHRUBS,
+            ForestKind::Mangrove => *JUNGLE_SHRUBS,
+            ForestKind::Acacia | ForestKind::Baobab => *SAVANNAH_SHRUBS,
+            ForestKind::Oak | ForestKind::Chestnut => *TEMPERATE_SHRUBS,
+            ForestKind::Pine => *TAIGA_SHRUBS,
             _ => continue, // TODO: Add more shrub varieties
         }
         .read();