Unable to load a multiplayer savegame on a scenario (Ghost player slot)

Age of Empires III: DE III - Report a Bug
1

:play_button: GAME INFORMATION

:backhand_index_pointing_down: These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed.

  • GAME BUILD #: V. 100.15.59076.0 P2
  • GAME PLATFORM: Steam
  • OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 11

:play_button: ISSUE EXPERIENCED

:backhand_index_pointing_down: DESCRIBE THE ISSUE IN DETAIL (below). LIMIT TO ONE BUG PER THREAD.

With two friends, after three hours of playing a scenario, we saved the game.
The next day, we tried to load the savegame. But something block us. The game was waiting for a 4th player at player slot 8 (even though there were only three of us and the scenario only had 7 player slots, the others being filled by AIs). Impossible to continue. We gave up…

:play_button: REPRODUCTION STEPS

:backhand_index_pointing_down: List CLEAR and DETAILED STEPS we can take to reproduce the issue ourselves… Be descriptive!

Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

  1. Play a scenario with 3 players
  2. Save the game
  3. Quit game
  4. Restart and reate a new multiplayer game with the savegame
  5. Invite the same friends
  6. See that the game is waiting for a 4th player. It is impossible to continue or assign an AI to this slot.

:play_button: EXPECTED RESULT

:backhand_index_pointing_down: What was SUPPOSED to happen if the bug you encountered were not present?

Can continue even if you don’t have all the players or don’t show a ghost player slot.

:play_button: IMAGE

:backhand_index_pointing_down: ALWAYS attach a PICTURE (.jpg, .png, .gif) or VIDEO (.mp4, YouTube link) that highlights the problem.

Screen when I try to load the savegame
Player 8 is expected, but there is no player 8 in the initial scenario.

Capture d'écran 2025-06-09 205440
Capture d'écran 2025-06-09 2054401919×1079 156 KB

Screen when a start a new game with the scenario. There is no player 8.

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933110_20250609205425_11920×1080 155 KB

:play_button: GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)

:backhand_index_pointing_down: Attach a SAVE GAME (.aoe3Ysav) or GAME RECORDING (.aoe3Yrec) of the match where you encountered the issue. Link it below if using an external file service.