Engine Error Message on Launch

[Srimp Special]

Attempted to fire up Episode One, now I get "Engine Error: No permissions to run Episodic". I originally got onto the menu and updated my graphics settings. Now I cannot run any of the games. Any fixes?

[Local Drug Cook]

yeah me too, i tried deleting the game but that only solved Based Half Life 2. I don't get the episode message anymore but everytime i tried to load episode 1, it loads for 1 second before cancelling. Episode 2 jut gives me a message on how the props are not loading correctly.

[Srimp Special]

I tried deleting my config file which did nothing. I cannot play any game at this moment.

[Local Drug Cook]

try deleting half life 2, that should fix your BASE HALF LIFE 2. For the Episodes, i have no idea too.

[Srimp Special]

Originally posted by Sigma Crusader:

try deleting half life 2, that should fix your BASE HALF LIFE 2. For the Episodes, i have no idea too.

Worked. Thank you!

[stefevr]

same error here, wanted to try out the episodes on my steamdeck but can only run the base

[Srimp Special]

Still getting the message, game wouldn't even launch missions from HL2 Episode 1.

[Allower]

Originally posted by Srimp Special:

Still getting the message, game wouldn't even launch missions from HL2 Episode 1.

Told your OS/Platform

Steam/Half-Life 2 install directory

[76561197963557148]

Same problem here. Changing the line in the config.cfg file in the hl2_complete directory from 'hl2_expansion "episodic"' to 'hl2_expansion "hl2"' will get HL2 running again, but it does NOT fix EP1 and EP2 failing. I haven't found anything to fix the new episodes not launching.

[BoBs]

Same here, finished HL2 yesterday, wanted to run the game today to run Episode 1, but it crashes everytime I launch the game...

[Malko10]

After days of searching I solved the problem by buying the 0.97 € weekend deal of Half-life 2. Now I have a file size of 11.7 GB and all versions work as they should.

[BlueShark]

Hello!
I've the same problem. I bought HL2 a couple of years ago. I reinstalled it today to play Episode 1 and 2 for free. After installation, I was able to start the game to the main menu. I successfully switched to the start screen of HL2: Episode 1. But when I tried to start a new game, it crashed. Since then, it has always crashed when I try to start HL2 again.

[BlueShark]

Here is another thread discussing this topic
https://steamcommunity.com/app/220/discussions/0/6955341348098571527/

[darkiye<uk>]

I have tried reinstalling a couple of times now and this is what happens:
- Install game, launch game (successfully)
- Go to Episode One and try to start game on first mission. Get an error in the console: CModelLoader::Map_IsValid: No such map 'maps/ep1_citadel_00.bsp'
- Exit game
- Start game again, after the Valve intro it crashes. Sometimes the "No permissions to run 'episodic'" dialog comes up, sometimes not, it appears to be random

[danneko]

deleteing all the game files and verying intagerty fixed it for me

[g12345567]

Game seems to be fixed. Verified game files integrity. After that it downloaded an additional 2gb. Episode 1 and 2 game files.

Like many with the same problem. When I originally purchased/registered the game code the licence was only for the base HL2 game. Since they integrated episode 1 and 2 for the 20th anniversary update into the main game many people couldn't play these. Now licence issue/missing episodes 1 and 2 files for half life 2 20th anniversary edition have been fixed.