[ETA October 21st 2023] Breaking changes coming to MSBT patches

[Raytwo]

Greetings,

Due to the implementation of a new and more convenient method of patching MSBT files starting with version 0.32.0 (releasing 10/07/2023), we will soon be deprecating the older way of patching them.

What is going to break

MSBT binary patches made up to this day, which are unbundled fe_assets_message files with a .msbt extension.

What is replacing it

MSBT patches as astra-msbt script files, with a .txt extension. Everything about the way MSBT binary patches work will still be relevant, but they will now be simpler to produce and edit for mod makers and end users alike.

Should you want to update your mod painlessly, please consult the MSBT page on the wiki for tools to assist you.

Why not support both methods?

Cobalt is a runtime mod loader and therefore has to sit in key locations in the game's code to do its job.

By supporting both methods, we slow down a very important and frequently called function used to read text bundles even more.
While measures have been taken to reduce the impact as much as possible, the impact is still real and there is no benefit to supporting the old method anymore aside from backwards compatibility.

While backwards compatibility is great, Cobalt is still technically not fully released (that's for version 1.0.0) and therefore we're still in an experimental phase where things might be improved down the line with new discoveries such as MSBT script patches.

What will happen to mods that did not upgrade in time?

Their MSBT patches won't be loaded anymore, so you might see empty/invisible text here and there.

Why is it an ETA?

We're giving the community 2 weeks of prior notice to make the transition, but it is possible that the removal takes a few more days if we forget or have other plans to ship alongside it.

Please do not rely on these extra days.

[Raytwo]

Support has been officially deprecated as of version 0.35.0.

Thanks to anybody who shared the word and updated their mods!