Does Verifying Game Files Remove Mods on Epic Games?
The short, direct answer is: generally no, verifying game files on the Epic Games Launcher does not remove your mods. However, the situation isn’t always that simple, and understanding the nuances is crucial for any gamer who enjoys modifying their games. While the Epic Games verification tool is designed to ensure your official game files are intact and up-to-date, it typically doesn’t interact with the files that fall outside of the original game’s install directory or file manifest.
Understanding Game File Verification
Before diving deeper, it’s essential to grasp what the “Verify” feature does. When you initiate a file verification, the Epic Games Launcher compares the files installed on your computer with a known list of original, unmodded files. This manifest acts as a blueprint of the correct game installation. If the verification process finds any discrepancies—files that are missing, corrupted, or different from the original—it downloads and replaces them.
The primary goal is to restore your game to a stable, functioning state. This is incredibly useful for resolving issues like crashes, missing textures, or game launch failures that can be caused by file corruption.
Why Mods Are Usually Safe
Mods, by their nature, are additions or alterations to the base game files. They often reside in separate folders, or they modify existing files in a way that the Epic Games Launcher doesn’t consider as part of its standard verification process. Here’s why verification rarely affects them:
- Out-of-Scope: The Epic Games verification tool is focused on the core game files, those that are included in the official manifest. Mods generally fall outside of this scope. The launcher isn’t programmed to recognize or manage files that aren’t part of the original game package.
- Separate Installation: Many mods are installed into dedicated mod folders within the game directory or elsewhere on your system. These folders aren’t typically included in the verification checks. Because of this, the launcher will not interact with them.
- Mod Manager Integration: Some mods are installed using mod managers, which operate independently from the Epic Games Launcher. Therefore, their modification does not show up as a discrepancy during verification.
When Mods Might Be Affected
While mods are generally safe during verification, there are a few exceptions when verifying the game files might accidentally or indirectly affect your installed modifications:
- Direct File Modification: If a mod overwrites or directly alters core game files, the verification process might revert those changes. It’s rare, but some older or less sophisticated mods might operate this way. In this scenario, when the core files are changed, the verification process will replace them with the original files, thus removing those mod changes.
- Mod File Placement: Some mods might be placed within the same directory as the official game files. If this is the case, then when Epic is checking for the files that have changed they will see the mods and restore them to the original files.
- Indirect Conflicts: Verifying a game might restore game files that a particular mod was designed to change. While the mod itself is not deleted, it could result in the game becoming unstable. In this case, you might need to reinstall or reactivate the mod to restore compatibility.
Best Practices for Mod Users
To minimize the chances of encountering problems with your mods during game file verification, follow these guidelines:
- Use a Mod Manager: If available, use a mod manager designed for your game. This tool is often essential for organizing, installing, enabling/disabling, and resolving mod-related conflicts.
- Check Mod Documentation: Always read the installation instructions provided with a mod. This helps you understand how the mod is installed and any potential risks when verifying files. If a mod modifies core game files directly, take extra precaution.
- Back Up Your Game Directory: Before verifying, consider backing up your entire game directory. This can provide a quick restore point if something goes wrong with mods you’ve installed.
- Be Cautious About Manual Installation: Manual mod installation can increase the chance of mods being removed. Use mod managers when possible.
- Reinstall Mods if Needed: After verifying files, if you notice any issues or your mods are not behaving correctly, be ready to reinstall them.
- Test Your Mods: If you are installing a lot of mods at once, try to test the game after each one. This will help you identify if a mod is broken before you install another one.
- Revert to the original game if testing an essential mod: If you are testing a mod that is essential to the game make a backup of the original folder so you can revert back if it does not work correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions that arise about game file verification and mods:
1. Will verifying game files delete save data?
No. Verifying the integrity of your game files primarily focuses on the core installation files and does not directly affect saved game data. Save data is usually stored in separate locations and remains untouched.
2. How long does verifying game files take?
The time it takes to verify game files depends on several factors including the size of the game, the speed of your computer's processor and hard drive, and the speed of your internet connection. It can range from a few minutes to several hours.
3. Why does verifying game files take so long?
The verification process requires downloading files as needed, a process that takes time depending on your internet connection. The size of the game and the performance of your system also affect how long the process will take.
4. Does verifying game files fix all game issues?
While verifying files addresses many common game problems such as corruption or missing files, it won’t fix all issues, such as software errors or issues not related to the game files.
5. Can I verify game files while playing the game?
No. The Epic Games launcher requires all game processes to be shut down before you can start verifying files. This is important to prevent conflict and ensure the integrity of the verification process.
6. Does the Epic Games launcher verify mods?
No, the Epic Games launcher primarily focuses on official game files and does not recognize or verify mod files. It focuses on the core files from the initial download.
7. How do I remove mods if verifying doesn’t delete them?
The way you remove mods depends on how they were installed. If you used a mod manager, use it to uninstall the mods. If they were installed manually, you might need to delete mod files from your game directory or the locations where mods were installed.
8. What are the common errors or glitches that require file verification?
These include game crashes, missing textures or graphical errors, game launch failures, and performance issues. These often indicate corrupted or missing game files.
9. Can verifying game files damage my game?
Verifying game files will not damage your game, although it can potentially change modded game files back to their original states if mods modify core game files.
10. Should I always verify game files if I have a game issue?
Verifying game files is a good first step when encountering game issues. It's one of the quickest and simplest ways to eliminate corruption or missing file issues.
11. Does verifying files on Epic games replace changed .ini files?
Yes, If a mod changes .ini files, the game verification will change them back to their original states. Therefore, you may need to reinstall any mod that changes these files.
12. Can verifying game files conflict with other game processes?
Verifying game files requires a game to be completely shut down, therefore there should be no other game processes running at that time to conflict with it.
13. How do I stop the Epic Games from verifying game files?
The only way to stop Epic from verifying files is to stop the process. When you restart the launcher the verification process will begin again.
14. Is verifying game files similar across other launchers?
While the core purpose of verifying game files remains the same on other launchers, there might be subtle differences in how each platform handles the process. For instance, how they handle the core and external files.
15. Can verifying game files cause conflicts with in-game overlay tools?
It's rare, but conflicts can occur. If you're having problems, disabling overlay tools temporarily can help isolate the issue. It's better to do this after verifying files.
Conclusion
While verifying your game files on the Epic Games Launcher is a useful tool for maintaining game stability and addressing common issues, it’s generally harmless to your mods. By understanding how the verification process works and following some best practices, you can enjoy modding your games without the constant worry of losing your modifications during verifications. As always, keeping mods organized, checking their documentation, and backing up game files are crucial steps to take to ensure smooth game operation.