How to rollback to 1.6.4 (Restore Unreal Engine 4.2.6)

[Kronark]

Hello friends!

I posted this tutorial a few years back when the 1.1 to 1.2.1 update jumped the engine from 4.2.5 to 4.2.6 and broke most of the lighting. Since the 1.7.0 update has again broken a ton (This was another unreal engine update from 4.2.6 to 4.2.7). I've updated the references to jump from 1.7.0 back to 1.6.4. You can also apparently enroll in the vr branch to roll back to that version but this method will get you back to the 1.6.4 we've had since 2018.

Why would I want to rollback you may ask? Here's the same track / corner on 1.6.4 and 1.7...

1.6.4

https://ibb.co/kHyKYQX

1.7.0

https://ibb.co/jrGRdJd

There are vast differences on a lot of other tracks as well with some of the courses on 1.7.0 being far too dark for my liking.


0) Few notes before begining:

- I highly recommend backing up your save. Steam cloud can do terrible things. Save can be found here generally:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout\redout\Saved\SaveGames

- Your 1.7.0 save file is also likely not backwards compatible so expect to start over (I haven't tested admittedly).
- If you want to play multiplayer or set time trial times it's probably best to stick with 1.7.0. I only recommend rolling back for single player fun.


1) Open the Steam client console. Go to this url in your web browser, it should make a call to steam and give you access to the steam console:

steam://nav/console


2) Enter this command to download v1.6.4:

download_depot 517710 517711 3845694179911428818

For reference 517710 is Redout: Enhanced Edition, 517711 is the public game content branch, 3845694179911428818 is the manifest ID for v1.6.4. You can grab other versions as well. You'll have to look up their manifest IDs at: https://steamdb.info/depot/517711/manifests/


3) Wait for Steam to download the depot. This took me 10-15 minutes. Total download was about 5.5 GB. Just be patient it will notify you when done.


4) After the download is done, Steam will show you where the files were downloaded to. Appeared here for me - C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\content\app_517710\depot_517711


5) Rename the original 1.7.0 redout version folder to keep it safe. I recommend you don't delete it and also back up your save!

Rename - C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout
to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout_1.7.0


6) Copy the new download to where Redout was

Copy and rename C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\content\app_517710\depot_517711
to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout

You should have C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout\redout.exe if setup correctly.


7) You should now be able to launch the old version through Steam. Just remember that your 1.6.4 version will still interact with steam cloud. Keep a backup of your 1.7.0 save away from steam so that you can always copy it back in if you revert. If you wish to go back to 1.7.0 simply restore the folder you renamed to it's original name.

Also be wary of any updates to the game. If you catch them before they apply it's best to restore your 1.7.0 folder, update, then swap back to 1.6.4. If your 1.6.4 folder does get updated, just recopy it from the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\content\app_517710\depot_517711 if you left the original there.

Broken everything and want to go back? Just delete C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Redout and reinstall the latest from steam.

For more fun try 'download_depot 517710 517711 7682546223666499507' for the v1.1 build with original unreal engine 4.2.5 lighting! I still miss the look of some of those tracks with the volcano being the biggest downgrade. The track used to have a red glow with dark blue skies that made for a nice contrast. (Note: v1.1 will disable all the DLC tracks except Europa as they were not released at that time. 1.6.4 should have all DLC.)

[dyne2alex]

bumping for usefulness. At least till devs fix a lot of the issues, although not sure if they will with redout 2 being out in less than two weeks according to steam. Feels like devs wanted to do something nice for the original and get some buzz for 2 at the same time, but unfortunately might just look like they're pushing people to buy 2 by breaking 1 with this timing.

[Kronark]

I don't see the devs reverting to unreal 4.2.6 at this point so I mainly wanted to provide people a way to lock into a version of the game they may have been happy with.

4.2.5 to 4.2.6 in the past broke a lot of the lighting / look of the game. It was a little more palatable at the time because I believe the engine change was important to get console versions of Redout finalised which was understandable. The devs eventually did some lighting touch ups to some of the worst offending changes during the DLC cycle. With Redout being 5 years old and Redout 2 launching in two weeks I don't know if they'll really have the resources to patch up the 4.2.7 lighting beyond maybe some quick passes to environment changes (Like making P-AR219 a little brighter).

Right now Abruzzo and Europa seem like the biggest downgrades to me with P-AR219 just needing some tweaks to brightness. Some other environments are unchanged and Mars might even be slightly improved. Weirdly enough Neptune and Vertex got complete pallet changes and the tracks are completely different colours now.

Also I'm still a fan of Redout and looking forward to Redout 2. I just wish the devs wouldn't sledge hammer in engine updates that break the art direction of their game post launch.

Here some 1.7.0 / 1.6.4 comparisons I did as well:

Europa (Downgrade imo)
https://ibb.co/yhdvJCS

Abruzzo (Downgrade imo)
https://ibb.co/0y0qtVv

Vertex (Pallet swap)
https://ibb.co/54Hchwt

Neptune (Pallet swap)
https://ibb.co/MftJFW4

P-AR219 (Much darker)
https://ibb.co/z2sRtz3

[Drowne]

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

[TheGhostAssassin]

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Omg thank you! It's such a relief to be playing this version again. I really hope the visual changes with 1.7 get reverted or at least this beta branch remains untouched :)

[Skankhunt42]

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Done, thanks.

[Dexaldem]

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Oh, wow! You're just going to bro one out for us like that!? Damn, thanks, man! I find myself respecting your studio and dev team more and more every time I see one of you guys talk be it here on Steam or on Youtube! Thank you so much! ^_^

[FlatChestEnthusiast]

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Why put this behind a password? Like really, just leave it as an open branch. Spent far too many hours trying to fix VR today.

[Dexaldem]

Originally posted by FlatChestEnthusiast:

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Why put this behind a password? Like really, just leave it as an open branch. Spent far too many hours trying to fix VR today.

It's still an option at the very least though, isn't it? If nothing else, that much is certainly something to take away.

[lokiss88]

Worth pointing out that the store page still lists VR support.

While as a long standing player that purchased the game for it's VR support i came looking for information, a new player purchasing today would likely be miffed that their purchase wouldn't work as you've sold it.

[Talon]

Originally posted by Drowne:

The easiest way is to use the beta branch feature using password "redoutvredition". This will unlock a branch called "vredition" which is the previous version ;)

Will do this if the current lighting system isn't reverted. As much as I like the option for disabling kinetic lines when you hit a certain speed threshold, I also much prefer not requiring sunglasses to play this game if I run a color scheme that has white as the dominant color on one of any of the teams' racecraft.

[EASYJABBA]

So I backed up Redout/Save Data/Appdata because I ain't going no-where near that EOS update, no thanks. So the version before the EOS update is located in the beta section? The exe on the backup is 4.17.2.0