Revert to Previous Game Version

A Special Troubleshooting Guide

Important Note

This manual serves as a troubleshooting guide exclusively.

Consider rolling back a game to a previous version only as a last resort.

Please note that it is not applicable for multiplayer functionality.

To maintain compatibility with your savegames, refrain from creating any new saves using the latest version of the game before using this guide.

I recommend you make backups of your savegame files.

Kindly refrain from utilizing this guide with hotfix/beta versions of the game.

Utilize the previous version of the game exclusively in Steam Offline Mode.

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Savegame Files Location

Cloud: https://store.steampowered.com/account/remotestorageapp/?appid=1669000

Local: ..\Steam\userdata\YOURID\1669000\remote
(replace YOURID with your personal actual Steam ID number)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2976796532
My Steam folder is located on a special SSD dedicated to games only. If you kept the default settings during installation of Steam, you might find yours at your OS storage drive within

C:\Program Files (x86)\

It would be something like this

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\YOURID\1669000\remote

Additional savegame files leftovers which might cause "ghost savegame files" can be found here

%systemdrive%\users\%username%\AppData\Local\Temp

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Related guide

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2975516317

Download Previous Version

1. Login with SteamDB

Allow your Steam account to be linked with SteamDB[steamdb.info] ( https://steamdb.info ) for this process. That way you do not need to enter your credentials separately and your account stays safe. You can also unlink afterwards.



The link is needed to allow yourself downloading the so called "depot" files - archived Steam files on the Steam servers. You logging in is equal to you telling Steam you own the game so you are allowed to download those files. Consider it a legal confirmation of ownership of your license.

2. Find the version you are looking for

Look for Depot - App ID 1669000 (from Steam Store link)



Identify the correct package - here 1669001



At the time this guide was written, the latest version got released at 11.05.2023 - so our previous version is from 04.05.2023 -> ManifestID 9204736578788895102

3. Access the Steam Console

You either put this line of code in your Steam's client's browser's address bar, or in your standard browser's address bar and it will redirect you correctly to the special Steam Console tab.

steam://nav/console

4. Download previous version of the game

Enter this command into the console

download_depot 1669000 1669001 9204736578788895102

That will download the version 78130 from 04.05.2023



Important Notes
The download will not be shown in the download bar. Once finished there will be a console message. The download cannot be paused by normal means, but it will continue when you lose your internet connection. However, it will be aborted if you close your Steam client. You would have to restart the download from the beginning in such case.

What do the numbers mean?

The command means loosely translated "download files from game 1669000
(Age of Wonders 4) from files storage 1669001 in the version saved as 9204736578788895102.

5. Backup your current version (optional)

A simple copy & paste of your local game files to somewhere else will do.

6. Apply old version of the game

Delete the content of your game's folder.

The finished download of the old version you can find in

..\Steam\steamapps\content\app_1669000\depot_1669001

My Steam folder is located on a special SSD dedicated to games only. If you kept the default settings during installation of Steam, you might find yours at your OS storage drive within

C:\Program Files (x86)\

It would be something like this

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\content\app_1669000\depot_1669001

Copy & paste the content of the depot download to the empty original game files folder.

7. Delete PlatformSettings0.cfg

..\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Age of Wonders 4\Config\PlatformSettings0.cfg

8. Launch the game using AOW4.exe

If you did everything correct, the game will start in the version you desired.
Remember that this only works in Steam Offline Mode and you cannot play multiplayer.

This guide may only be used for troubleshooting matters.