[m5.24.0 - General] Tutorial does not progress when starting new game.

[Melee]

• Description:  Tutorial doesn't progress.
• What Happened:  Updated to 5.24.0 and attempted to start a new game. Tutorial didn't progress past 00:00:41. Game menu allowed tutorial to be skipped and a return to main menu to exit.  Restarted game and tried again. Tutorial still wouldn't progress. Then manually deleted X2 installation folder and reinstalled via GOG Galaxy. Tutorial still doesn't progress past time 00:00:38-00:00:45. Deleted Settings\*.json and restarted game - tutorial still won't progress. First tutorial dialog doesn't appear.

[Kouki]

5 hours ago, Melee said:

• Description:  Tutorial doesn't progress.
• What Happened:  Updated to 5.24.0 and attempted to start a new game. Tutorial didn't progress past 00:00:41. Game menu allowed tutorial to be skipped and a return to main menu to exit.  Restarted game and tried again. Tutorial still wouldn't progress. Then manually deleted X2 installation folder and reinstalled via GOG Galaxy. Tutorial still doesn't progress past time 00:00:38-00:00:45. Deleted Settings\*.json and restarted game - tutorial still won't progress. First tutorial dialog doesn't appear.

Thanks - yeah it does look like the tutorial is broken. We'll get it fixed

[Chris]

6 hours ago, Melee said:

• Description:  Tutorial doesn't progress.
• What Happened:  Updated to 5.24.0 and attempted to start a new game. Tutorial didn't progress past 00:00:41. Game menu allowed tutorial to be skipped and a return to main menu to exit.  Restarted game and tried again. Tutorial still wouldn't progress. Then manually deleted X2 installation folder and reinstalled via GOG Galaxy. Tutorial still doesn't progress past time 00:00:38-00:00:45. Deleted Settings\*.json and restarted game - tutorial still won't progress. First tutorial dialog doesn't appear.

We're really struggling to reproduce this issue unfortunately. Koki was able to reproduce it reliably on the Experimental branch only for a bit, but none of the rest of us could - and now after switching branch to default and back again, he can't reproduce it again either.

Bit frustrating as this is clearly an issue, but we don't have that many leads. There's a character conversation that occurs just before that point - are you doing anything unusual with it? I assume you skip it by pressing Esc?

[gG-Unknown]

5 hours ago, Chris said:

We're really struggling to reproduce this issue unfortunately.

I tried twice, no success either.

But I have noticed, two things :

1. Tutorial is really nice now, I enjoyed playing it. Perhaps rename it to "Prelude" or "First battle" or something catchy. Word Tutorial translates as Skip for many people.

2. Melee mechanic: "Supress-then-hit" is missing in tutorial. It is quite unique and fun, but can be easily unnoticed. Could you add it ?

Edited April 10 by gG-Unknown

[Melee]

No I was letting everything progress vanilla on it's own from startup.  I tried Soldier and Commander difficulties. I've been Alt-F4'n to exit but the ESC game menu works and the doomsday tooltip works.

What would a character conversion be impacted by hardware-wise. I'm playing on older hardware.

Edited April 10 by Melee

[Chris]

2 hours ago, Melee said:

No I was letting everything progress vanilla on it's own from startup.  I tried Soldier and Commander difficulties. I've been Alt-F4'n to exit but the ESC game menu works and the doomsday tooltip works.

What would a character conversion be impacted by hardware-wise. I'm playing on older hardware.

And you can reproduce it every time? Does it happen both on Experimental and the normal branches?

Yes, it's potentially something that's linked to hardware. Koki's PC isn't as powerful as the PCs of the other people on the team that tested it. But then I just fired the game up on my very slow laptop and I couldn't reproduce it there either, so it's probably not purely linked to PC performance.

[Melee]

Yes, everytime.  CPU is i7-2600K with default clocking. GPU MSI AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT w/driver v24.12.1. There is a GPU driver update available. I'll update that to see if it has any effect.  I can also try a Steam install.

[Melee]

So,

Updating GPU to v25.3.1 driver had no effect.

Clean install GOG 5.24.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Update to GOG 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install GOG 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install GOG 5.24.0 Stable - No tutorial if launched from shortcut to "C:\Games\GOG\Xenonauts 2\Xenonauts2.exe" starting in "C:\Games\GOG\Xenonauts 2".  Tutorial if launched from 'Play' button within GOG galaxy.

 

Clean install Steam 5.24.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install Steam 5.24.0 Stable - Tutorial.

Clean install Steam 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

 

The no tutorial in experimental versions seems to occur when starting game and then immediately creating new campaign once main menu loads. If I then skip out of the non-progressing tutorial and go back to main menu and create a new campaign, the tutorial works.

Edited April 10 by Melee

[Chris]

18 hours ago, Melee said:

So,

Updating GPU to v25.3.1 driver had no effect.

Clean install GOG 5.24.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Update to GOG 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install GOG 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install GOG 5.24.0 Stable - No tutorial if launched from shortcut to "C:\Games\GOG\Xenonauts 2\Xenonauts2.exe" starting in "C:\Games\GOG\Xenonauts 2".  Tutorial if launched from 'Play' button within GOG galaxy.

 

Clean install Steam 5.24.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

Clean install Steam 5.24.0 Stable - Tutorial.

Clean install Steam 5.25.0 Experimental - No Tutorial.

 

The no tutorial in experimental versions seems to occur when starting game and then immediately creating new campaign once main menu loads. If I then skip out of the non-progressing tutorial and go back to main menu and create a new campaign, the tutorial works.

Thanks, this is really useful information given we can't repro it ourselves. I'm guessing the difference between Stable and Experimental is because Experimental builds have worse performance.

Are your findings with the 5.24.0 Stable on GOG reproducible? Or is is just semi-random on the Stable builds where you get the bug sometimes but not others? I'm a bit sceptical that launching through GOG Galaxy would make any difference.

One thing that would be really valuable if you have time is to revert to a few of the older Experimental versions in GOG and see if you get the same problem? At least then we might have some idea of when the bug was introduced? Was it in 5.12.0? Should be able to zero in on it fairly quickly if you half the version numbers each time.

[Melee]

On GOG, Experimental goes back to v5.22.2, Legacy to v18.2, Release to v4.27.0.

[Chris]

2 hours ago, Melee said:

On GOG, Experimental goes back to v5.22.2, Legacy to v18.2, Release to v4.27.0.

Ah, so it does. I thought it stored all previous versions.

I've added a new branch called "testing" you can access with the password "goldhawk" that has three builds on it: 5.7.0 / 5.12.0 / 5.20.0 

[Melee]

All three builds on testing branch exhibit issue.

[Melee]

What processor and windows version does the old laptop you tried it on have?

[Melee]

I uninstalled 5.7.0 within GOG Galaxy and manually deleted the Xenonauts 2 folder. I then used Galaxy to install 5.25.1 and the tutorial works. Would the screen res fix affect the tutorial?

Edited April 12 by Melee

[Melee]

Updating to 5.25.2 Experimental is back to no tutorial.

Edited April 12 by Melee

[Melee]

Test Methodology:

A. Uninstall 5.25.2 Experimental within GOG Galaxy and close Galaxy.

B. Manually delete Xenonauts 2 folder and *.JSONs in My Games\Xenonauts 2\Settings.

C. Install 5.25.1 Release/Stable within GOG Galaxy and close Galaxy.

D. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

E. Step 'D' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial appears 5 times (Yay!)

F. Start GOG Galaxy and revert to 5.24.0 Release/Stable and close Galaxy.

G. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

H. Step 'G' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

I. Start GOG Galaxy and update to 5.25.2 Release/Stable and close Galaxy.

J. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

K. Step 'J' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

L. Start GOG Galaxy and update to 5.25.2 experimental and close Galaxy.

M. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

N. Step 'M' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appear 5 times (BOO!)

O. Start Steam and install Legacy 5.15.0 Experimental and leave Steam running.

P. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

Q. Step 'P' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appear 5 times (BOO!)

R. Install Steam Legacy 4.27.0 Stable.

S. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

T. Step 'S' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

U. Install Steam 5.25.2 Experimental.

V. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

W. Step 'V' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appears 5 times (BOO!)

 

Conclusions:

Tutorial dialog appears in stable builds but not experimental builds. Previous shortcut/GOG results with 5.24.0 stable did not repeat.

It would be helpful if game's Main Menu version text indicated Experimental or Stable and GOG version text Release was consistent with https://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums/index.php?/forum/7-xenonauts-2-releases-patch-notes/ Stable descriptions.

I would be curious if tutorial dialog appears in 4.27.0 Experimental and this experimental/stable behavior was introduced in early m5.x.y as I don't recall encountering this last campaign of 5.0.0 Experimental.

Edited April 13 by Melee

[Chris]

22 hours ago, Melee said:

Test Methodology:

A. Uninstall 5.25.2 Experimental within GOG Galaxy and close Galaxy.

B. Manually delete Xenonauts 2 folder and *.JSONs in My Games\Xenonauts 2\Settings.

C. Install 5.25.1 Release/Stable within GOG Galaxy and close Galaxy.

D. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

E. Step 'D' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial appears 5 times (Yay!)

F. Start GOG Galaxy and revert to 5.24.0 Release/Stable and close Galaxy.

G. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

H. Step 'G' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

I. Start GOG Galaxy and update to 5.25.2 Release/Stable and close Galaxy.

J. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

K. Step 'J' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

L. Start GOG Galaxy and update to 5.25.2 experimental and close Galaxy.

M. Start Xenonauts 2 from desktop shortcut. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

N. Step 'M' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appear 5 times (BOO!)

O. Start Steam and install Legacy 5.15.0 Experimental and leave Steam running.

P. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

Q. Step 'P' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appear 5 times (BOO!)

R. Install Steam Legacy 4.27.0 Stable.

S. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

T. Step 'S' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog appears 5 times (Yay!)

U. Install Steam 5.25.2 Experimental.

V. Start Xenonauts 2 from 'Play' button within Steam. Select 'New Game' once Main Menu loads. Select 'Begin Campaign'. Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears. Alt-F4 to exit game.

W. Step 'V' repeated 5 times.  Tutorial dialog fails to appears 5 times (BOO!)

 

Conclusions:

Tutorial dialog appears in stable builds but not experimental builds. Previous shortcut/GOG results with 5.24.0 stable did not repeat.

It would be helpful if game's Main Menu version text indicated Experimental or Stable and GOG version text Release was consistent with https://www.goldhawkinteractive.com/forums/index.php?/forum/7-xenonauts-2-releases-patch-notes/ Stable descriptions.

I would be curious if tutorial dialog appears in 4.27.0 Experimental and this experimental/stable behavior was introduced in early m5.x.y as I don't recall encountering this last campaign of 5.0.0 Experimental.

Thanks, that's very helpful. I've put version 5.0.0 and version 4.27.0 experimental up on the testing branch - I'd also be curious to know if this issue existed in Milestone 4, or whether it was introduced with Milestone 5.

BTW, you can tell if a build is an Experimental build or not by whether it has the text "development" in the bottom right hand of the screen. If it does, it's an experimental build.

Just to be clear, when you say "Allow cinematic to run and strategy layer to load until 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog appears" do you genuinely mean that the first tutorial popup that says "welcome to Xenonauts 2" doesn't appear for you? Because in our testing that appears at 00:00:28, so we were assuming you were talking about not getting the Radar Range popup or the stuff to do with Geoscape Anomalies etc. Could you just clarify exactly where it fails?

[Melee]

The first 'Welcome to Xenonauts 2' tutorial dialog does not appear and the game clock is stopped typically in the range of 00:00:39-00:00:41 for me but it can vary. The game isn't hung as the game menu works and the Doomsday Counter tooltip popup works.

[Melee]

   

 

4.27.0 has tutorial.

5.0.0 does not.

Video of each from old camera.

Edited April 14 by Melee

[Chris]

On 4/14/2025 at 1:24 AM, Melee said:

 

4.27.0 Experimental 01.AVI 160.25 MB · 3 downloads   5.0.0 Experimental 01.AVI 192.57 MB · 3 downloads  

 

4.27.0 has tutorial.

5.0.0 does not.

Video of each from old camera.

Thanks. I'll be pushing an updated version of the game to the Experimental branch later today. Once I do, it'd be great if you could test that and post up the logs when you have - we've added a bunch of extra logging that might help us debug where the issue is occurring.

[Melee]

5.26.0 - No tutorial. I let it run for a few seconds after tutorial geoscape loaded, then Alt-F4'd.

output.log

Edited April 15 by Melee

[Chris]

On 4/15/2025 at 8:18 PM, Melee said:

5.26.0 - No tutorial. I let it run for a few seconds after tutorial geoscape loaded, then Alt-F4'd.

output.log 1.07 MB · 2 downloads

We've had a look at the logs and the cause isn't really obvious. As we're not really sure where to start with the a fix, we've decided not to spend any more time on trying to fix it - if it doesn't appear in the Release branches, and only appears on slow machines, it's quite a low priority bug.

Thanks for all your testing on this bug, we appreciate it a lot.

[Melee]

I concur - I'm tired of the opening cinematic.