XCOM EW offline play (Completing Installation...)

[dayman75]

Hi Everyone :smile:

This is my first post here and I'm hoping someone can help me solve a problem of mine with my XCOM:EW installation.

 

I re-installed XCOM:EW (through Steam, not physical copy) on my computer after one year without playing it, and after installing it I wished to mod it a little bit. Mainly to remove the AI aim, crit and defense bonuses on Classic and Impossible so that I can play those difficulties without "popping a blood vessel".

 

After installing the game, every single time I try to run it, Steam says that it's completing installation. EVERY. TIME. After 5/10 seconds that window disappears and the launcher starts up, followed by the game proper. The problem is that playing with Steam online nullifies any mods I make to the game, even if I try to avoid Steam from "phoning home" (either with PatcherGUI or by editing the hosts file on the System32 folder). I make these changes by using Resource Hacker on the XComEW.exe file, but the file is always reverted to its original state.

Of course this problem would disappear if I played with Steam in Offline mode (as I did in the past when I had the game installed), but I can't play the game in Offline mode, because everytime I try to do so Steam comes up with that stupid "Completing Installation... %" message (although it's already installed) and tries to connect to the Steam Servers. It obviously fails, as it's in Offline Mode and returns the error message stating that Steam servers are too busy (error code 3).

 

Is there any way to solve this problem? I tried:

 

- Removing every file on the Steam folder, except for "Steam.exe" and the folder "steamapps" and letting Steam update.

- Reinstalling Steam

- Reinstalling XCOM

- Verifying XCOM Game Files

- Clearing Steam Download Cache

- Repair Steam Library Folders

- Limit XCOM:EW auto-updates by selecting "Update only when game launches" and setting a specific hour interval for game updates

TLDR/Long story short: I can't play in offline mode due to that stupid "Completing Installation" message and I can't play online because Steam always finds a way to check the modifications I make, and it removes them. Any way to solver this

 

I would be eternally grateful if a kind soul would help me fix this situation. Thank you everyone :smile:

 

Note: If any more useful information is required of me to fix this, then feel free to ask :smile:

Edit: Wording

Edited June 16, 2017 by dayman75

[Thursdaythe12th]

Having the exact same problem. Only occurred yesterday. The day before you could play offline or online without the completing installation messages appearing.

 

I've noticed that both exe files are freshly downloaded each time. Making them read only crashes the start because it can't update them. Unfortunately this means offline play isn't allowed.

 

Also tried everything worth no luck. Only thing I can think of is an updated drm policy within the last 24 hours or so. Take 2 had the gta modding resource openIV legally taken down a few days ago.

 

If that's the case then exe modding, and all mods for xcom now won't work.

 

Long war was good while it lasted.

 

Any other solutions?

[dubiousintent]

It's not clear if you are aware that there are two parts to Steam: the "Steam Client", which is what connects to their server and validates you own the game, and the game launcher itself. The game is finalized. No more updates are anticipated as the developers effort moved on to XCOM2. So the only "update message" is going to be related to the "Steam Client", unless you launch the game through the Client, causing it to "auto update" the game because your modded EXE will not match the one on the server.

 

You will need to connect online to the server so the Client updates. This often results in resetting the Client options to defaults. So, you then go to the "Library" tab of the Steam Overlay, < right-click > on the game and select "Properties".

* In the "General" tab: Ensure the "Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game" is unchecked.

* In the "Updates" tab: The "automatic updates" setting only seem to have "Always keep this game up to date". Unfortunately it seems we can't switch XCOM to anything else, but this should not be a problem with an older game as long as we can stay "offline". Don't know if that is the case with EW, but if not you want to disable it or change to something like "only update this game when I launch it" and then never launch it from the Client.

* Select the top menu "Steam" menu.

* Ensure that "settings | Account" tab does not have the "Don't save account credentials on this computer" checked. (That's a double negative, but the result is you want account credentials saved on your computer so you can go "offline".)

* Back to the main "Steam" menu and switch to playing in "offline mode". This should reboot the Client.

 

You have to launch the Client, even in "offline mode", so it can check your "owner credentials". However, you do not want to launch the game through the Client (that will cause the "auto-update"). You can close the Client window, but must leave it in the "system tray". Use a desktop icon to launch the game instead.

 

When you have the EXE file updated for whatever reason, you need to be sure to test EU/EW (twice) to the main menu prior to installing any mods. The second run up to the menu is necessary so updates that are pulled from the "phone home" server are applied. Only after that do you want to review the "Checklist" in the wiki "Basic Guide to installing mods" article and implement the tweaks described there.

 

-Dubious-

Edited June 16, 2017 by dubiousintent

[2854misterdent]

How to run modded XCom EU without Steam deleting the changes [sOLVED]

 

I know this post is old now, but I just wanted to thank dubiousintent for his detailed description of how to run a modded XCom EU game.

 

I hadn't played since 2014 and fancied a bit of XCom gaming, but I wanted to mod the exe with Resource Hacker, so my soldiers had Unlimited Ammo and a few other tweaks. Like many other people reported, every time I ran the game, Steam downloaded a vanilla version of the exe so my mods obviously got erased in the process.

 

This guide by dubiousintent should be considered as the "definitive" explanation of how to successfully run a modded XCom EU. Following his instructions carefully, step by step, I am pleased to report my mods are now fully functional.

 

I hadn't read anywhere else about loading the vanilla game twice, with Steam online, as a starting point, before going on to mod the exe file. Playing the game with the Steam Client offline is also vital. The other important step, is to launch the game by creating a desktop shortcut to the actual game exe file and not using the Steam Client Launcher that Steam creates when you install the game.

 

Thanks again dubiousintent, I'm now happily shooting aliens without having to reload every two turns!

Edited January 31, 2019 by 2854misterdent