Ridiculous Region Locking (Solved)

[Roundlay]

So it appears that Bethesda (Valve?) is agressively restricting Wolfenstein based on region.

I'm unable to launch the game (recieved vmtr page file error) without setting the Steam client language to match my region language (I live in Tokyo but use the Steam client in English) and then redownloading the game. Of course, this removes all English text and audio and the ability to toggle between languages in the process...

Really!?

I've contacted Steam support regarding a refund as store page states that the title includes multiple languages, but given Valve's reputation for being staunchly against refunding games, I'm not hopeful.

So, heads up to anybody living in Japan: it is no longer possible to retrieve non-Japanese language files by verifying the game cache and downloading the game from a non-Japanese Steam client introduces a crash-on-boot fatal error.

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Update 3/7/2014

Bethesda have pushed out an update which resolves the issues detailed in this discussion.

Whilst the issue itself and the solution involved might've turned out to be pretty trivial, I figured I should put into words how impressed I am with Bethesda's customer support, and in particular how sympathetic and eager they were to help, because positive feedback so often takes a backseat to dumping on things.

Thanks for being awesome, Bethesda!

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Update 2/7/2014

Developers are actively investigating the issue.

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Update 1/7/2014

The "workaround" below allows you to start the game from a non-Japanese Steam client, in addition to updating the in-game menus with non-Japanese text, however all dialogue audio is stripped from the game in the process.

Here's a workaround that has worked for some people as detailed by Bethesda support:

Trying to play the game in English in Japan does result in the error that you're describing; this is the result of conflicting files with the different languages in Steam. Thankfully, there is a workaround available! Please follow the below steps exactly (it is imperative that each step is taken to get the game to run in English in that region):

1. Install the game in Japanese (Steam language/region set to Japan).
2. Go to your Wolfenstein.The.New.Order folder in the Steam folder and select the "virtualtextures" folder.
3. Copy/Move the folder to a different location on the same drive.
4. Delete the whole game from Steam (but not the copied folder).
5. Switch Steam back to English and reinstall the game.
This will install the game with the black/white screen issue that makes it crash.
6. Verify the integrity of the game from the Steam menu (https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335).
7. Copy back the "virtualtextures" folder contents to the Wolfenstein.The.New.Order Steam folder, selecting not to overwrite the already existing files. This will put back in the required files and resolve the conflicting language files.
8. Run the game, it should be in English.[/strike]

[bwobbo]

You must be joking....really? I'm in Osaka, been waiting for this game and now I can't play the damned thing? Just tried to do start-up, I just get a black screen that evetually gives me a CTD...please let us know if you're able to get a refund or if they come up with some fix for this...

[Armandeus]

I have the same problem, and it makes me VERY ANGRY.
However, after changing the game language to Japanese I know the names of the files I need to make the game work in English. Now, how to find those files...

[Roundlay]

Originally posted by bwobbo:

You must be joking....really? I'm in Osaka, been waiting for this game and now I can't play the damned thing? Just tried to do start-up, I just get a black screen that evetually gives me a CTD...please let us know if you're able to get a refund or if they come up with some fix for this...

Sounds like your experience mirrors mine. Infuriating stuff. I'll let you know if Valve decides to refund the purchase.

Originally posted by Armandeus:

I have the same problem, and it makes me VERY ANGRY.
However, after changing the game language to Japanese I know the names of the files I need to make the game work in English. Now, how to find those files...

I believe the folder titled "virtualtextures" is the one you want. User sidewinder128 described how he was able to force steam to replace the relevant Japanese files with their English counterparts here, however it appears that Bethesda or Valve updated the game and in the process made it impossible to redownload these files in this way. At least anecdotally, the method he describes here didn't work for me after multiple attempts.

[burbuh]

This is the most frustrating experience I've ever had with a new game. I'm in Kyushu, and after realizing that the error in localization was causing my crashes, I tried the fix above. It no longer properly verifies game cache, but you can change the language in the properties menu. However now my dialogue audio doesn't work, and subtitles are broken.

[IvorySamoanXX]

This is pretty lame stuff from Beth... they need to recitfy it for you guys ASAP.

[El Diego]

I hope they find a way to fix it for you guys, this is not fair for you.

[Dinerenblanc]

It's been 3 days and Steam still hasn't replied to my ticket about a game that disappeared from my library. Good luck.

[Metal Izanagi]

Wow, it sounds like Bethesda is finding new ways to screw customers over with this. Wonder what their problem is.

[Armandeus]

The files you need are not just those in virtualtextures. All the files in the bink folder get erased as well.

[Roundlay]

Originally posted by Armandeus:

The files you need are not just those in virtualtextures. All the files in the bink folder get erased as well.

I just reinstalled it in an attempt to brute force some English into the game, but this makes me think that there's no work arounds here... Going to take me a while to reason out why Bethesda would do something like this. Anyway, thanks for pointing this out!

[Armandeus]

I just checked the store page again, and the "languages available" list shows English, Japanese, as well as several other languages. If Bethesda is going to lock me out of using English, why does the store page show English language as available to me? This is false advertising.

[Armandeus]

I submitted this to Bethesda support. Maybe you who are experiencing the same problem might want to submit it too, so they know it isn't just one person complaining. Feel free to copy and paste.
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I live in Japan, and I bought Wolfenstein the New Order (PC) through Steam after it was released in my region.

I installed the game and found that I was only allowed to play the game in Japanese. If I change the Steam setting for the game to English, Steam deletes all the bink audio/video and half of the texture files in the game directory, making the game unplayable.

The "supported languages" list shown to me on the Steam store page for this game shows both English and Japanese (among other languages) as available.

I was not warned in any way that the game would aggressively lock me out of playing in English before or after making my purchase.

I request that you honor your Steam advertisement of English as being available by ceasing to prevent players such as myself from playing the game in English for whatever unadvertised reason you may have.

Please restore my good faith in your company by granting my request.

Thank you.

[Roundlay]

Originally posted by Armandeus:

I just checked the store page again, and the "languages available" list shows English, Japanese, as well as several other languages. If Bethesda is going to lock me out of using English, why does the store page show English language as available to me? This is false advertising.

Yep, this is more or less what I touched on in my refund request. I don't know what's worse: this, or charging $20-30 for a "Japanese language pack", a la Tomb Raider.

Going to follow your lead and send Bethesda a similar message now.

[Armandeus]

I don't want a refund. I want to play the game in English.

Thanks for participating!

[Minuano]

Well, I live in Sendai and was just about to buy this game. This is a tremendous disappointment but thanks for the heads up.