Solution for initializing Network crash -> your savegame is not lost

[Praise d Sun]

If your game crashes at "Initializing Network" it is caused by your character wearing the Guild Night Set overlay with your hair and eyebrows set to 0. Sounds stupid but thats the reason.

Knowing this, i've managed to repair my brothers save with the following steps:

1. Make a backup of your save file located in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\YOURPERSONALSTEAMID\2246340

2. Right click the game in your libary, go to properties and set auto updates to "only update when I start the game"

3. Download the old version of the game:
- Press Windows + R
- type the command:

steam://open/console

- in the steam console, type the command:

download_depot 2246340 2246341 4787324512724903587 

- this will download the older version and may take a while, leave the console open as there is no progress bar.
- When it is done, a message will appear telling you the location of the files

4. Move your current game files to a different location

5. Move the newly downloaded files to the game location

6. Start the game via the "MonsterHunterWilds.exe", the save file should now load correctly

7. Enter the game with your character, unequip all layered armor, go to edit appearance and set your hair and eyebrows to a different one than "0"

8. Save the appearance and your game. Then exit the game.

9. Swap the game versions again (Step 5/6)

10. Enable auto updates again if you want

11. Start the game and enjoy

[Praise d Sun]

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Well, it is hard for them to acknowledge the issue, since officially they already progressed towards the new version of the game while only a small number of people are actually affected by the look of it.

Speaking of which, did you send your findings and solution to [e-mail] ?

I had an open support ticket and told them what caused the issue and how I fixed it.

Hopefully they can fix it because anyone could potentially brick their save even now, by equiping the layered armor while having hair and eyebrows set to "0". Seems like it already happened twice in this very thread...

[アンジェル]

Originally posted by Praise d Sun:

Originally posted by アンジェル:

Well, it is hard for them to acknowledge the issue, since officially they already progressed towards the new version of the game while only a small number of people are actually affected by the look of it.

Speaking of which, did you send your findings and solution to [e-mail] ?

I had an open support ticket and told them what caused the issue and how I fixed it.

Hopefully they can fix it because anyone could potentially brick their save even now, by equiping the layered armor while having hair and eyebrows set to "0". Seems like it already happened twice in this very thread...

I recommend using an easy backup script to make simple backups whenever you start the game
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3459020087
That put aside, I praise your solution once more. Without it more people would just have had to discard their savegames, and you certainly saved half a dozens already by sharing your findings and solution.

I have already recommended in other threads I came across people with similar sounding issues whether the issue you described apply to them, and yeah - some were helped that way by your solution.

[Ghijarro]

THX VERY MUCH

[奶臻]

I am same with you all😢the old version couldnt open my save
I sent ticket to capcom after i gave all the information, they hadnt respond for two day now
If we crash becuz the layout i think they will fix it with a update patch which is 23/4 if they not adding an additional one…

[Nemo]

I've also got a support ticket going on. All very disheartening especially with how niche this issue seems to be. Can't believe I'd get punished for being bald like this smh smh

[Tako]

Would i be able to just edit the actual save file? and if i could how do i tell which save file is what and what would i be looking for to change

[TUNG TUNG TUNG SAHUR]

Originally posted by Praise d Sun:

If your game crashes at "Initializing Network" it is caused by your character wearing the Guild Night Set overlay with your hair and eyebrows set to 0. Sounds stupid but thats the reason.

Knowing this, i've managed to repair my brothers save with the following steps:

1. Make a backup of your save file located in:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\YOURPERSONALSTEAMID\2246340

2. Right click the game in your libary, go to properties and set auto updates to "only update when I start the game"

3. Download the old version of the game:
- Press Windows + R
- type the command:

steam://open/console

- in the steam console, type the command:

download_depot 2246340 2246341 4787324512724903587 

- this will download the older version and may take a while, leave the console open as there is no progress bar.
- When it is done, a message will appear telling you the location of the files

4. Move your current game files to a different location

5. Move the newly downloaded files to the game location

6. Start the game via the "MonsterHunterWilds.exe", the save file should now load correctly

7. Enter the game with your character, unequip all layered armor, go to edit appearance and set your hair and eyebrows to a different one than "0"

8. Save the appearance and your game. Then exit the game.

9. Swap the game versions again (Step 5/6)

10. Enable auto updates again if you want

11. Start the game and enjoy :mhwgood:

you just the best wtf how did you do to found this you jus save me