Root dir: steamapps\common\Total War Shogun 2\data\
Main file: local_en.pack
Tool: Pack File Manager 5.2.0+
Encoding: UTF-16 LE
Mod extension: .pack (type = Mod)
Load order: zzz_my_english_edit.pack
Total War: Shogun 2 English Language Files
Introduction
Total War: Shogun 2 is a strategy game developed by Creative Assembly and published by Sega. The game is set in feudal Japan and allows players to control one of the major daimyos of the Sengoku period. The game was released in 2011 and received widespread critical acclaim for its engaging gameplay, rich historical context, and immersive experience.
English Language Files Overview
The English language files for Total War: Shogun 2 contain various text and audio assets that enable players to experience the game in English. These files include:
File Locations and Formats
The English language files for Total War: Shogun 2 can be found in the following locations:
The files are in the following formats:
Key Files and Translations
Some key files and their translations include: total war shogun 2 english language files
Language File Structure
The English language files follow a specific structure, which includes:
Modding and Community Support
The Total War: Shogun 2 community has created various mods that modify or extend the game's language files. These mods can be used to:
Conclusion
The English language files for Total War: Shogun 2 are an essential component of the game's localization. Understanding the structure and content of these files can be useful for players, modders, and developers interested in modifying or extending the game's language support. The community-driven modding scene has created a wide range of custom content, demonstrating the game's enduring popularity and versatility.
Managing English language files in Total War: Shogun 2 involves manipulating
files found within the game's installation directory to change text, voices, or create a custom language mix. Core Language File Identification
The primary English localization data is stored in specific archive files within the game's folder: local_en.pack Default Location \Steam\steamapps\common\Total War SHOGUN 2\data Total War: Shogun 2 English Language Files Introduction
: This file contains all English text strings and voice-over data. English Depot : On Steam, English-specific content is associated with Depot 34334 , which is approximately Steam Community How to Acquire English Files
To officially download the English language files, use the built-in Steam tools: Steam Library and right-click on Total War: SHOGUN 2
To change or restore English language files in Total War: Shogun 2
, you can use several methods depending on whether you are using the official Steam version or need to manually manage local pack files. 1. Change Language via Steam (Recommended)
This is the easiest way to ensure all English language files are correctly downloaded and installed. Open Steam Library : Right-click on Total War: SHOGUN 2 Select Properties : Go to the Select English : Choose "English" from the dropdown menu.
: Steam will automatically download the necessary files (typically local_en.pack Verify Files : If the game remains in another language, go to Installed Files Local Files ) in Properties and select Verify integrity of game files Steam Community 2. Manual File Management
If you have multiple language files installed and the game is defaulting to the wrong one, you can manually clean the data folder. Locate Data Folder : Right-click the game in Steam > Browse local files . Open the Identify Language Packs : Language files are named local_XX.pack local_ru.pack for Russian, local_ge.pack for German). Keep English Only : Remove or move all local_xx.pack files out of this folder local_en.pack Steam Community 3. Advanced: Mixing English Audio with Other Text
If you want to keep English voices but use text from another language, you must use a community tool like Pack File Manager Steam Community
Download both language packs through Steam one after the other, backing up the local_XX.pack of your preferred text language first. local_en.pack Pack File Manager Delete the section within that pack. Add > From Pack option to import the section from your other language's file into the local_en.pack File Locations and Formats The English language files
Save the file. This forces the game to use English audio while displaying your chosen text. Steam Community Important File Locations Main Game Files ...\Steam\steamapps\common\Total War SHOGUN 2\data User Scripts/Config %AppData%\The Creative Assembly\Shogun2\scripts\ (You may need to enable "Show Hidden Files" to see this). Steam Community verify your game cache to ensure no files are corrupted after these changes?
If you don't want to manually download files from the internet (smart move), there is a Steam feature designed exactly for this.
Steam will check your installation. If it sees that your language setting is "English" but the localization.pack file is missing or Russian (and doesn't match the manifest), it will automatically queue a download for the correct English files. This is the cleanest way to resolve the issue without risking malware.
| Task | Example Tag |
|------|--------------|
| Change unit name | units_onscreen_name_yari_samurai |
| Rewrite building description | building_description_archery_dojo |
| Edit event message | event_text_battle_won |
| Modify advice or tutorial | advice_tutorial_build_dojo |
As of 2025, Total War: Shogun 2 is considered "feature complete." CA no longer pushes regular updates. However, the Fall of the Samurai standalone expansion shares the same local_en.pack structure. If you own both, ensure you back up both separately – they are not cross-compatible.
The final patch (around 2021) made changes to the localisation.loc table to fix corrupted event messages. Therefore, old mods built with pre-2021 local_en.pack files may show errors. Always use the latest vanilla English files as your base.
For those who want to edit or extract the English language files, you need tools. The .pack format is proprietary to Creative Assembly, but tools like PFM (Pack File Manager) or RPFM (Rusted Pack File Manager) can open it.
Inside local_en.pack, you will find:
To edit English text strings:
