[BUG] Text localization mods (.txt) not loading in "Return of Rome" DLC AOE2 DE

PangeaV1 · July 1, 2026, 12:41am

GAME INFORMATION

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GAME BUILD #: 179158
GAME PLATFORM: Steam
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 11

ISSUE EXPERIENCED

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There is a persistent issue regarding how the Return of Rome expansion handles localization files. While I have correctly configured my mod using the key-value-modded-strings-utf8.txt file located in \modes\Pompeii\resources\es\strings\key-value\, the game fails to maintain these changes.

When I download and install this text mod via the official repository, it applies successfully during the initial session. However, these changes are not persistent; upon restarting the game, the engine reverts to the default official strings. Even though the mod remains marked as ‘Enabled’ in the Mod Manager, the game ignores the custom file. Currently, the only way to make the mod functional is to re-download it, and even then, the changes are lost as soon as the game application is closed.

FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

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100% of the time / matches I play (ALWAYS)

REPRODUCTION STEPS

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Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

Mod Preparation:
- I create a key-value-modded-strings-utf8.txt file containing my custom string modifications.
- I place this file in the following directory structure: \modes\Pompeii\resources\es\strings\key-value\.
- I compress this folder structure into a .zip file and upload it to the official Age of Empires website mod portal.
- I upload this mod to the official Age of Empires website.
Initial Activation:
- I launch Age of Empires II: DE and open the in-game Mod Manager.
- I find and subscribe to my uploaded mod.
- I ensure the mod is set to “Enabled.”
- Upon entering the Return of Rome (Pompeii) expansion, I can verify that my custom text changes are applied correctly.
The Bug (Persistence Failure):
- I close the game completely.
- I relaunch the game and navigate back to the Return of Rome expansion.
- Result: Even though the mod is still listed as “Enabled” in the Mod Manager, the game engine completely ignores the key-value-modded-strings-utf8.txt file. All text is reverted to the default official strings. The mod only functions again if I re-download it, and it stops working immediately upon the next restart.

EXPECTED RESULT

^{What was SUPPOSED to happen if the bug you encountered were not prese nt?}

Persistent Loading: Once subscribed and enabled in the Mod Manager, the mod should remain active across multiple game sessions.
Correct Priority: The game engine should consistently prioritize the key-value-modded-strings-utf8.txt file located in the mod’s directory (\modes\Pompeii\...) over the official base game files, regardless of how many times the application is restarted.
Seamless Integration: The modifications should remain applied automatically upon launching the Return of Rome expansion, without requiring any manual re-downloading or re-activation by the user.

IMAGE

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N/A - This is a technical engine issue regarding file loading, not a visual display bug.

GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)

^{Attach a SAVE GAME (.aoe2spgame) or GAME RECORDING (.aoe2record) of the match where you encountered the issue. Link it below if using an external file ser *vice.

*

N/A - This is a file-loading/localization issue independent of match.}