EU4 File – What is .eu4 file and how to open it?
EU4 File Extension
Europa Universalis IV Saved Game – file format by Paradox Interactive
EU4 is a file extension for a saved game file used by Europa Universalis IV, a grand strategy video game developed by Paradox Interactive. The file contains game data, including the player’s progress, map data, and other game settings.
Definition and Purpose
An EU4 file, with the file extension .EU4, is a saved game file utilized by Europa Universalis IV (EU4), a historical grand strategy game developed by Paradox Interactive. The file contains all essential information about a player’s in-game progress, including the state of their nation, alliances, wars, and diplomatic relations. EU4 files allow players to save their game and return to it later, continuing from the point where they left off.
Technical Details
EU4 files are binary files that are not intended to be opened or edited manually. They use a proprietary format developed by Paradox Interactive, and accessing their contents requires the use of dedicated tools or modding software. The file structure is typically complex, with various data blocks referencing different aspects of the game state. These data blocks include information such as country data, unit information, map data, and diplomatic relations. When loading an EU4 file, the game engine interprets and loads the data into memory, reconstructing the in-game scenario as it existed when the game was saved.
Opening EU4 Files in Game
EU4 files are associated with Europa Universalis IV, a grand strategy game developed by Paradox Interactive. To open an EU4 file, you must have the game installed on your computer. Once the game is installed, you can open an EU4 file by double-clicking on it. This will launch the game and load the saved game file.
You can also open an EU4 file from within the game by clicking on the “Load Game” button. This will open a file browser window where you can navigate to and select the EU4 file you want to open. Once you have selected the file, click on the “Open” button to load the saved game.
Opening EU4 Files in Other Software
While EU4 files are primarily associated with Europa Universalis IV, it is possible to open them in other software programs. There are a number of file converter programs available that can convert EU4 files to other formats, such as CSV or TXT. Once you have converted the EU4 file to a different format, you can open it in any software program that supports that format.
For example, you can use the EU4 Save Game Converter to convert EU4 files to CSV format. Once you have converted the file, you can open it in a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets. This can be useful for viewing and analyzing the data in the EU4 file.
File Format and Compatibility
EU4 saves are XML-based files that store the current state of an ongoing Europa Universalis IV game. They contain a comprehensive collection of data, including information about nations, provinces, armies, navies, rulers, and more. EU4 saves are typically not compatible with older versions of the game due to ongoing updates and changes to the game’s mechanics and features.
Location and File Size
EU4 saves are typically stored in the following location:
- Windows: %userprofile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis IV\save games
- MacOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis IV/save games
The size of an EU4 save file depends on the size of the game world and the number of active entities (nations, provinces, etc.). Large saves can reach several megabytes in size.