• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

PDQAg

Recruit
17 Badges
Jun 8, 2022
6
1
  • Stellaris: Humanoids Species Pack
  • Stellaris: Nemesis
  • Stellaris: Necroids
  • Stellaris: Federations
  • Stellaris: Lithoids
  • Stellaris: Ancient Relics
  • Stellaris: Megacorp
  • Stellaris: Distant Stars
  • Stellaris: Apocalypse
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Stellaris: Synthetic Dawn
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Stellaris: Digital Anniversary Edition
  • Stellaris
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition
When loading an Iron Man save, the progress bar gets to about 90% saying "Preparing Game" and then just sits there indefinitely. I see a few threads with users having similar problems here and on Reddit, but I have not seen a solution other than start over. I have done that 4 times now due to this bug/error. Unlike several of those other threads, I do not get a popup for explorer.exe or anything else. If this has been solved and somehow I missed it, please direct me to that.

I have been trying for a specific achievement (Dark Forest) with Iron Man mode on. I can load other older saves that did not have this error just fine, but once this error happens, the save is lost. I have never had this problem before trying to get this achievement and I'm sitting at more than 2500 hours of game time.

Windows 10, Steam

Game version: V3.10.4 (e9b6)

DLC: All, including Astral Planes

Mods: Limited to visual Iron Man compatible mods:
- Light Borders + Swapped Colors + Star Pins
- Pinwheel Galaxy with Golden Nebulas
- Quadrant Fixed
- Tier Numbers: Tech

I have also tried loading each of these saves without those mods on after the error occurs, but by then I'm sure it is too late. I have never had problems with these mods on any other older save.

Other things I have tried:
Restart PC/Steam
Set the game to run in windowed mode instead of fullscreen
Verify the game cache

The game itself loads perfectly, and I can keep starting new games. However after losing so many to this same error again and again, I am getting frustrated, and would like to find a solution. I think I've spent between 120-150 hours trying to get the Dark Forest achievement between all the lost save games (and 1-2 attempts that didn't quite work out).

I have attached my last 3 saves that all had this problem, plus my error log. If there is anything else needed, please let me know.
 

Attachments

  • 20240217211534_1.jpg
    20240217211534_1.jpg
    334,6 KB · Views: 0
  • error.log
    12,8 KB · Views: 0
  • ironman.sav
    5,2 MB · Views: 0
  • ironman.sav
    7,7 MB · Views: 0
  • ironman.sav
    2,4 MB · Views: 0
There are several mod errors in that log. You are 100% sure ALL mods were disabled with this galaxy, right from the start? Loading even once with any mods enabled can ruin the save.

If that's not the situation, I guess this has to be a game bug, although why you get it on every attempt and others presumably do not, I don't know. I can see that some (although not many!) users have that achievement so it is possible.

All you can do then in make a new thread in Bug Reports, and attach the affected saves there. try them as you see new game patches come out.

Sorry for that problem, whatever the cause!
 
Thanks AndrewT. While I cannot be certain the few mods are not the issue, I have had them for years without any problems and they are up to date. I know things can change when the game is updated, so I hope it is not them. Maybe it is a very specific error occurring with my particular species build/galaxy settings since it always happens in the late game.