protonscr

[BUG] Half-Life: Alyx save file corruption

steamvropen bug
ValveSoftware/SteamVR-for-Linux#406 · opened 2020-11-18 by Kartoffelsaft · updated 2026-01-25 · 5 comments · github
KKartoffelsaft 2020-11-18 github

Describe the bug
All attempts to save my game will lead to the save file having the .bad extension, and those saves will not appear in game.

corruptedSaves.zip

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

  1. Start a new HLA game (chapter does not matter)
  2. Save the game
  3. Either return to the main menu or close the game
  4. Save file listing should appear as though it has been deleted

Expected behavior
Save file should appear and be loadable

System Information (please complete the following information):

Additional context
I originally posted this issue at https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games/issues/3276, but I'm moving it here because this seems to be where linux HLA issues go.

Note: Commenters who are also experiencing this issue are encouraged to include the "System Information" section in their replies.

AAnEthernetCable 2020-12-29 github

This is more likely a bug with Proton rather than SteamVR. I would try leaving a bug report there.

Mmnivoliez 2021-01-27 github

I have the exact same bug using the native linux version, thus invalidating the lead with proton.

Vvexii 2021-01-28 github

@AnEthernetCable what makes you think that? looking at the dump it happened when running the native version.

KKartoffelsaft 2021-04-24 github

It seems like I don't have this issue anymore. I think that the solution is to disable steam cloud synchronization in Half-Life: Alyx > properties > general > Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud for Half-Life: Alyx

DDeltaLima 2026-01-25 github

Hi Folks! If this might be a thing for some of you, I found a solution for myself and stumbled during my research over this issue.
My System is Debian 13 64bit, GNOME
I recently re-installed HL Alyx after a while to play it again, then I was supprised that ingame all my savegames disapperead. :(

Turns out: Runtime for the game defaults to Steam Linux runtime 1.0 (scout). For whatever reason, this looks for the savegames within <GameDirectory>/game/hlvr/SAVE. This folder is empty. The folder <GameDirectory>/game/hlvr/save (notice lower case saves) is not.
So I just removed the upper case folder, sym-linked the lowercase to upper case
ln -s save/ SAVE
and my savegames are available ingame again.

Nothing extracted yet.