Last Epoch Save Manager

A command-line utility for Windows designed to manage "Last Epoch" save files. This script provides a workaround for a common bug when launching with mods; while offering adequate save backup and restore features.

The Problem

The game "Last Epoch" can fail to launch with mods if a Saves folder is already present in its AppData\LocalLow\Eleventh Hour Games\Last Epoch directory. This forces players into a tedious and error-prone manual process: moving the save folder before launching the game, and then restoring it after the game is launched in order to resume player progress.

The Solution

This script automates the entire workflow. It provides a simple, menu-driven interface to safely back up your saves, prepare the directory for a clean game launch, and then reliably restore your most recent save data when you are ready to play.

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Key Features

• Automated Workflow: Handles the entire backup -> launch -> restore process with a single selection.
• Safe, Timestamped Backups: Creates a new, timestamped backup (e.g., 2025-08-25_08-31-55) every time. You'll never lose an old save file.
• Intelligent Restore Logic: The script is smart enough to remove the new, empty Saves folder created by the game before restoring your backup, preventing a common issue where saves are restored into a nested sub-folder.
• Robust File Operations: Uses robocopy for all file operations, which is more reliable and resilient than older commands like xcopy.
• Locale-Independent Timestamps: Generates timestamps using wmic to ensure they are always formatted correctly, regardless of your Windows regional date and time settings.
• Flexible Menu System: Gives you full control over the process:
  • Run the full, automated process.
  • Perform only a backup.
  • Restore the latest backup manually.
  • Quickly open the saves folder in Windows Explorer.
• Error Handling: Provides clear feedback if a backup or restore operation fails, and checks for the existence of necessary folders.
• Easy Configuration: All user-specific paths are centralized at the top of the script for easy editing.

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How It Works: The Technical Details

The script's logic is designed to be safe and to directly address the game's launch bug.

1. Backup (:backup_saves):

   • A timestamped folder is created in the Backups directory.
   • robocopy is used to create a perfect mirror of your current Saves folder inside the new timestamped folder.
   • Crucially, after a successful backup, the original Saves folder is completely removed. This is the key step that allows the game to launch without issue.

2. Launch (:launch_games):

   • The script launches Last Epoch.exe with the --offline argument.
   • It then pauses and waits for you to confirm if the game is launched successfully. The script does not proceed until you return to the command window and press a key.

3. Restore (:restore_saves):

   • The script automatically finds the most recent backup by sorting the backup folders by date.
   • When "Last Epoch" launches without a Saves folder, it creates a new, empty one. To prevent errors, the script deletes this new empty folder before restoring your data.
   • robocopy is then used to copy your most recent backup back to the original Saves location, fully restoring your progress.

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Configuration

Before first use, you must configure the paths in the script. Open Last Epoch.cmd in a text editor and modify the variables in the Configuration section.

REM --- Configuration ---
REM Set the paths below to match your system.
set "SAVES_PARENT_DIR=C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\LocalLow\Eleventh Hour Games\Last Epoch"
set "GAME_EXE_PATH=C:\Path\To\Your\Game\Last Epoch.exe"
set "PLANNER_EXE_PATH=C:\Path\To\Your\Planner\Last Epoch Planner.exe"

• SAVES_PARENT_DIR: The path to the Last Epoch folder in your AppData\LocalLow (fast travel there with Win+R and then %localappdata%low). Remember to replace YOUR_USERNAME with your actual Windows username.
• GAME_EXE_PATH: The full path to the Last Epoch.exe file.
• PLANNER_EXE_PATH: (Optional) The full path to the Last Epoch Planner.exe. If you don't use the planner, the script will simply skip launching it.

How to Use

1. Save the script as Last Epoch.cmd in a convenient location.
2. Edit the Configuration section as described above.
3. Double-click the Last Epoch.cmd file to run it.
4. A menu will appear. Choose an option by typing the corresponding number.

Menu Options

• [1] Full Process (Backup / Launch / Restore): The standard, all-in-one option.
• [2] Backup Saves Only: Creates a timestamped backup without launching the game or deleting the original Saves folder.
• [3] Restore Latest Backup Only: Restores the most recent backup, overwriting any current Saves folder.
• [4] Open Saves & Backups Folder: Opens the parent directory in Windows Explorer.
• [5] Exit: Closes the script.

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Changelog

v2.2 (2025-08-26) - Implement backup count and latest backup timestamp display in the Last Epoch save manager's main menu. Clarify instructions in the game launch section for better user guidance.

v2.1 (2025-08-25) - FIRST COMMIT TO GITHUB This update added a "Backup Only" option for more flexibility and improved the menu flow. It also fixed critical bugs related to locale-specific timestamps and special character handling in the menu display, making the script significantly more robust.

v2.0 (2025-08-24) - This major version introduced a true timestamped backup system to prevent overwriting old saves and a multi-option menu for better control. It also modernized the script by replacing xcopy with the more reliable robocopy, improved the save restore logic, and centralized configuration paths for easier setup.

v1.0 (2025-08-23)- This was the initial draft written with Gemini-2.5-flash, providing basic functionality to rename the save folder before launching the game and restore it afterward.

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Troubleshooting

• "The system cannot find the path specified.": This almost always means one of the paths in the Configuration section is incorrect. Double-check them carefully.
• "Backup failed! Robocopy returned errorlevel...": This can indicate a permissions issue. Try running the script as an Administrator (right-click -> "Run as administrator").
• "No backups were found": This means the Backups folder is empty. You must run the backup process at least once to be able to restore.

TO DO LIST

• Make script history persist even after moving into a next stage
• Show numbers of backups and last back up datetime on launch
• Let user choose which version to restore instead of forcing to restore the latest
• An option to delete older backups