Can't play Episode 3

[krubble]

I have finished episode 2 over 2 years ago, and just now came back to play Episode 3. But how do you start Episode 3. All I see is "Start a New Game" and a warning that says that all previous saves will be lost if I do that. I don't dare to click on the link as I don't want to start from scratch (I spent over 70 ours on both episodes!!!). There's no "Load game" option, and there's no way any of the episodes. Why????

[IFIYGD]

Click Wintremute, and a list of the Episodes should be shown. Click Episode 3.
You aren't playing as Will in Episode 3. So starting a new game, Episode 3 will not effect Episode 1 or 2 saves. Though, if you only played the original Episodes 1 & 2, and not the redux Episodes released in December 2018, those saves are already gone, they were not compatible with the new re-worked Story Mode. So your old Wintermute Episodes 1 & 2 are gone anyway.

Hinterland notified us of this, multiple times before they released the Redux Episodes. The one just before Redux was released is here:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/305620/announcements/detail/2793819141016160672
More of the Announcments about it can be found on the New Tab here on Steam, ir in the News and Announcements section on the online forums.

Redux really changed Episodes 1 & 2, and, IMHO are worth playing, from the start, so you get used to the new mechanics and systems. But, if you don't want to, just click Episode 3, and go, and get used to the way things now work as you go, playing as Astrid.

[krubble]

When I click on Wintermute I get the option of "Start New Game" and below that a warning that says "all previous saves will be deleted". There's no list of Episodes, and that's what concerns me. I do not want to replay Episode 1 & 2. I want to start Episode 3.

[IFIYGD]

You do not need to replay Ep 1 & 2, or play the Redux versions of them if you do not want to. You can choose to start right at Ep 3.
https://steamcommunity.com/games/305620/announcements/detail/1576749150332534788

Main menu- click Wintermute.
Choose "New".
Choose the Episode you want to play.
If I choose "New" for Episode 3, after already starting it, or Episode 1 or 2 (that I already played through on Steam), the autosaves for the Episode I choose to play will be overwritten, if I have any left (that I did not already delete myself.)

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1954754188

I have saves in Episode 3 (already played it twice on XBox One, have not finished it on Steam yet...), so I do not want to choose "New" to continue, I will use "Load game" and choose from saves there.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1954753977

You have no Episode 3 saves to be overwritten, so... choose "New" and select Episode 3 from the list. and if you played Episodes 1 & 2 over 2 years ago, when it originally released, before the Redux Episodes came out in December of 2018... you have no saves left anyway. Which is explained in the Announcement I posted a link to in my previous post. They were wiped when the Redux update came out. The game cannot overwrite files that do no exist.

[krubble]

Ok, thanks, that helps a lot. Looks like the Episodes will be listed after clicking on "New". I wished they had fixed that because this confused so many players two years ago. I work as a UX Designer, and this is just bad UX. they should list the Episodes before "New", and they should explain the original vs. Redux on the same screen, as most old-timers would not know any of it. Thanks again for your help. I now know that clicking on "New" will allow me to pick Episode 3.

[IFIYGD]

Originally posted by krubble:

Ok, thanks, that helps a lot. Looks like the Episodes will be listed after clicking on "New". I wished they had fixed that because this confused so many players two years ago. I work as a UX Designer, and this is just bad UX. they should list the Episodes before "New", and they should explain the original vs. Redux on the same screen, as most old-timers would not know any of it. Thanks again for your help. I now know that clicking on "New" will allow me to pick Episode 3.

Then you need to send that idea to them on the Wish List subforum, or using the "Contact Us" form on the website. I don't work for Hinterland, telling me here isn't going to do anything, lol.
But yeah, it is not terribly clear, and I can see how it could be confusing. But as far as explaining original vs Redux on the main screen? Why? They have communicated these things on multiple channels, multiple times. Here on Steam in Pinned threads, in the News Announcements, on the online forums in much the same way, on all of their social media channels, in their email newsletters... it's not like there is a shortage of information out there to be had with every update, event, or hotfix patch they do. And, lol, I am an "old-timer", though I didn't back the Kickstarter or buy the game when it first came out with only ML, and only Sandbox Mode. But I followed it for a little over a year, using all of the methods I listed above.The info is out there, if you want to find it.
Or ask here on the forums, like you did. *Most* of us here do not bite. Much.

[krubble]

I did not tell you, but just made a comment. This has been an issue over two years ago, but apparently they did not care to fix it. It should be on the the main screen because not everyone reads the threads or sees them. I have not been playing this game since 2017 so I was unaware of anything new happening, that's why. I was playing a lot of other games, thus not following TLD news. But thanks to this thread I knew it was save to "Start a New Game", and I'm now enjoying Episode 3.