Character DNA corrupted after update — need help restoring 1.16.0 build

[TonyMorris]

Hi, I really need help recovering a specific version of Crusader Kings 3.
After the recent patch (1.16.1 or possibly 1.16.0.2), my characters’ DNA in an old save got completely broken — all custom-created characters now look wrong, and this has ruined a huge story-based save for me.


I used to play this save on version 1.16.0 (not 1.16.0.2!), and it worked perfectly. But now, even if I select 1.16.0 beta in Steam, it loads the newer version (probably 1.16.0.02), and my characters are visually corrupted.


I desperately need the exact original 1.16.0 version, before any hotfixes or minor updates were pushed.
If anyone has this version downloaded or knows how to get it, please help me. This save is incredibly important to me and I’m stuck.


Thank you in advance!

 

[prismaticmarcus]

It seems likely that opening the save in the newer version broke the save. Have you got another save that you haven't opened that you can try with 1.16.0?

 

[TonyMorris]

It seems likely that opening the save in the newer version broke the save. Have you got another save that you haven't opened that you can try with 1.16.0?

My save was originally made in 1.15, and it transferred perfectly to 1.16.0. Everything worked fine before May 7.
After the update, even if I launch the game in the current version, or in the 1.16.0.2 beta, the DNA of all characters is broken — their appearances are completely wrong.
If I roll back to 1.15, the DNA is fine again — but the game crashes on load.
In-game, it shows that all my saves were created in default 1.16.0, not 1.16.0.2.
So the issue is that I can no longer access the original 1.16.0 build (pre-May 7).
Is there any way to get that exact version back?

I'm sorry if I misunderstand some technical parts — I just really care about this save and would love to get access to it again. I’d truly appreciate any help.

 

[prismaticmarcus]

You didn't answer my question:

Have you got another save that you haven't opened that you can try with 1.16.0?

 

[TonyMorris]

You didn't answer my question:

Have you got another save that you haven't opened that you can try with 1.16.0?

Yes, I have saves that I hadn’t opened before — I tested them, and the result is the same. None of my saves work, even the untouched ones.
The DNA is still broken in all of them.


Only when I launch the game on the 1.15 beta, the DNA is correct — but the game crashes.

 

[746646:The Kid LD]

The same thing happened to me. Except it usually happens after every major expansion. All my created characters lose their DNA when the update comes out. I do use mods like EPE and RICE but I am not sure if the mods are the issue. Does anyone know how to fix this?

 

[solamyas]

The same thing happened to me. Except it usually happens after every major expansion. All my created characters lose their DNA when the update comes out. I do use mods like EPE and RICE but I am not sure if the mods are the issue. Does anyone know how to fix this?

It is both because of mods and major patch. You can't fix it. Either you roll back your game installation to previous patch until your game's end or you are going to start a new game in new patch.

 

[czertik]

The same thing happened to me. Except it usually happens after every major expansion. All my created characters lose their DNA when the update comes out. I do use mods like EPE and RICE but I am not sure if the mods are the issue. Does anyone know how to fix this?

do these mods touch anything relatech to chars ?

 

[solamyas]

do these mods touch anything relatech to chars ?

EPE is a portrait mod so of course his characters are broken after patch

 

[tilly]

dna basically shifts sideways every time the number of ethnicities changes. this is why your characters all look different after certain patches or mod updates, theyve been randomly assigned a new appearance while the game recalculates what ethnicity everyone is. your old dna would still work if you copy/pasted it into the game, it just wont persist in an older save brought forward

1.16.0 and 1.16.02 are not drastically different enough to have caused this. i do not believe 1.16.02 added or removed any ethniticies, for instance. khans of the steppe introduced a few new ethnicities to differentiate steppe cultures instead of having all of them draw from the same template, but i dont see how that would have changed in a hotfix. epe, on the other hand, is CONSTANTLY adding new ethnicities, so if that updated, your old shit is going up in flames - if youre running epe or a similar mod, youre generally advised to make a local backup you can return to if this happens mid-run