Total War Shogun 2 English Language Files May 2026

Warning: Do not delete this file. Some older modding guides mistakenly claimed that local_en.pack causes conflicts. Deleting it will remove all in-game text. Instead, use a mod manager that loads mod language files above the vanilla pack.

The single most important file for English text is local_en.pack. This is a compressed archive containing all in-game text: building descriptions, unit names, event messages, UI buttons, and tutorial scripts.

Default Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Total War Shogun 2\data\local_en.pack

This method requires you to manually replace the language files. Don't worry; it’s less dangerous than a charge by the Date Masamune.

Step A: Find Your Target Navigate to your Shogun 2 data folder. By default, it is usually located here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Total War SHOGUN 2\data total war shogun 2 english language files

Step B: Identify the Missing Soldier Look for a file named localization.pack. If your game is in Russian, this file contains Russian text. If you delete it or rename it, the game might crash—or it might simply have no text. We need an English version of this file.

Step C: The Supply Line (Downloading the Files) This is where the community saves the day. If you do not have an English localization.pack, you will need to source one.

There is a specific kind of panic that sets in when you boot up a Total War game and realize something is wrong. Maybe you bought a key from a region-locked seller, or perhaps a mod installation went haywire. The splash screen loads, the haunting Taiko drums begin to beat, and then… you see it.

The menu isn’t in English. It’s in Russian, Chinese, or perhaps Czech. Warning: Do not delete this file

Suddenly, your plans for world domination are halted by a language barrier thicker than the walls of Osaka Castle. For many PC gamers, this is a rite of passage. But unlike the actual Sengoku period, you don’t need a team of diplomats to solve this crisis. You just need to navigate the file structure of your PC.

Here is your battle plan for restoring the English language files in Total War: Shogun 2.

Unlike newer Total War games (which use .loc or .package files), Shogun 2 stores its localisation strings in .pack archives.
The main English file is:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Total War Shogun 2\data\local_en.pack

Important: Do not edit local_en.pack directly. Always extract its contents or create a mod pack. Inside, it’s a simple two‑column table: | Table

Cause: Your local_en.pack is missing or overwritten, but the audio files remain. Steam’s language setting may have been changed. Fix: Go to Steam Properties > Language > Switch to any other language, launch the game (it will be wrong), exit, then switch back to English. This forces a full rewrite of the text registry.

After extracting .pack files (using Pack File Manager or RPFM), the English text is found in .loc files, typically at:

db\/localisation_en.loc

Inside, it’s a simple two‑column table:

| Table | Purpose | |--------|---------| | localisation_en.loc | All in-game English text (tags + display strings) | | db / text_db (some mods) | Additional UI/diplomacy text | | ui / strings / | Menu and battle UI strings (less common) |

Format example (TSV):

Tag                                      | Localised String
-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------
`building_name_archery_dojo`            | Archery Dojo
`building_desc_archery_dojo`             | Trains ashigaru bow units.
`unit_name_bow_ashigaru`                 | Bow Ashigaru
`diplomacy_string_offer_alliance`        | Offer Alliance