BA2 Archive Version Patcher
The BA2 Archive Version Patch downgrades the next generation of BA2 Archive head versions from versions 7 and 8 to version 1. This allows next-gen saves to be loaded from older tools and game versions.
About this mod Machine translation
The BA2 Archive Version Patch downgrades the next generation of BA2 Archive head versions from versions 7 and 8 to version 1. This allows next-gen saves to be loaded from older tools and game versions.
Original address:
Updated version 2.2 Chinese version address on November 2:
Updated on October 29, 2025:
Version 2.2
Added version selection dropdown allowing patching between versions 1, 7 and 8.
Apparently I forgot to include the German translation last time. Add now.
Updated on July 31st:
Version 2.1
- Current working directory independent (per @evildarkarchon)
- Added console mode. Specify the file or folder location to patch with the -i command.
- Added German translation (translated by @praecipitator)
The next-gen update changes the version numbers of BA2 archives from version 1 to versions 7 and 8, with no apparent actual changes to the file structure. The BA2 archive release patch downgrades the version number to version 1. This allows next-gen save formats to be loaded by older tools and game versions. It can patch individual files or all archives in a directory with just a few clicks.
If anyone really cares, source code translation can be done via translate.json.
Install
Just unzip it to wherever you installed the modding tools.
Run the BA archive version patch application that you want to use. You can select Select Archive to patch a single archive, or Select Directory to patch all archives in a directory. Click Patch to patch.
Pro Tip: If using Mod Organizer 2 and want to patch all BA2 files currently in your game, add as executable (just like F4SE and BS Studio) and run it through MO2, then browse to and select the directory where the game mods are installed.
Note that no backups are taken, so if you want to restore the original files, you may need to make a manual backup in advance. Since this only changes one byte, I don't think it's necessary to create a backup.
>>View my other mods<<
Install & use Install: follow the bundled instructions
- Unzip the archive from playbuff and read the bundled readme / instructions first.
- There is no universal mod manager for this game: some mods replace game files directly, some go into a game-specific Mods folder, and some need a game-specific community loader or tool first — follow the bundled readme.
- Place the files exactly as the readme says; mods with listed dependencies need those installed too.
- Launch the game to confirm it loaded; some games require enabling mods in settings or an in-game mod menu.
Install locations vary a lot between games and mods — the bundled readme is the most reliable guide.