# \[Return of Rome\] Custom key-value brokes the game

**URL:** <https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486>\
**Category:** II - Report a Bug\
**Created:** [October 12, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486 "2026-10-12T13:04:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/photonriders/32/28190_2.png) [@PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PhotonRiders)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:04pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486/1 "2026-10-12T13:04:38Z")

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### ▶ GAME INFORMATION

👇 _These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed._

- **GAME BUILD AoE2 DE Return of Rome** 101.103.54800.0 (#185872) 25464265
- **GAME PLATFORM:** Steam
- **OPERATING SYSTEM:** Windows 11

### ▶ ISSUE EXPERIENCED

👇 _If a key-value-modded-strings-utf8.txt_ or _key-value-pompeii-strings-utf8_ or any .txt (except is empty) is added to resources\language/strings or resources\language/strings/key-value folder, the game return in error while starting a game (I’m ussing MX/Latam Spanish but fails with any language).

### ▶ FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

👇 _How often does the issue occur? CHOSE ONE; DELETE THE REST!_

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

### ▶ REPRODUCTION STEPS

👇 _List CLEAR and DETAILED STEPS we can take to reproduce the issue ourselves… Be descriptive!_

Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

1. Create a local mod

2. create a local language strings in _mods\local\MyMod\modes\Pompeii\resources\mx\strings\_ Even a comment cause the fail, other file formats or an empty .txt let the mod run.

3. Start a skirmish with the datamod loaded: the game says that couldn’t load the dataset (wich otherwise can)

### ▶ EXPECTED RESULT

👇 _Custom texts ingame_

### ▶ IMAGE

👇 _ALWAYS attach a PICTURE (.jpg, .png, .gif) or VIDEO (.mp4, YouTube link) that highlights the problem._

 ![Sin título](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/2/a/2ab29c25a89a027ca206371e134cf02adf27dc40.png)

### ▶ 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 service._

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ekarlath/32/146833_2.png) [@Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Ekarlath)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:48pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486/2 "2026-10-12T13:48:24Z")

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Did you try using the “modded” file version ?  
Check in the vanilla EN language key-value volder, copy the file into your mod one and modify strings on this one instead of modifying the normal string file. However I’m not 100% sure it’s working for RoR, so you’ll have to try it.

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**Author:** ![PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/photonriders/32/28190_2.png) [@PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PhotonRiders)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486/3 "2026-10-12T16:55:10Z")

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Hello! yes, any .txt is reyected inside the folder; both -modded- and no modded, vanilla and Ror, English or Spanish, even a file named “A”. The only exception is if the file is empty, but even a // for comment cause the bug. Thank you for your answer!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/ekarlath/32/146833_2.png) [@Ekarlath](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Ekarlath)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486/4 "2026-10-12T18:45:55Z")

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And without any custom txt string file it’s launching without errors ?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/photonriders/32/28190_2.png) [@PhotonRiders](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/PhotonRiders)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/return-of-rome-custom-key-value-brokes-the-game/290486/5 "2026-10-13T03:38:25Z")

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yes, the modded .dat file works as espected