How To Fix ‘Serialization Error Action Needed’ in Ready or Not

Ready or Not, while sounding deceptively innocent, delivers a hardcore SWAT experience far from child's play. However, even seasoned tactical operators can encounter technical hiccups. This guide tackles the frustrating "Serialization Error Action Needed" in Ready or Not.

How to Fix the "Serialization Error Action Needed" in Ready or Not

The dreaded "Serialization Error Action Needed" in Ready or Not, often accompanied by "Corrupt data found, please verify your installation," points to an Unreal Engine issue. Let's explore the solutions.

1. Verify Your Game Files

The game itself suggests the first step: verifying your installation. Ensure Steam isn't in offline mode.

1. Open your Steam Library and locate Ready or Not.
2. Right-click, select Properties, then Installed Files.
3. Click "Verify Integrity of Game Files."

Steam will scan for missing or corrupted files and automatically redownload them. Try launching Ready or Not again. If successful, problem solved! If not, read on.

2. Remove Mods

Outdated or incompatible mods, especially those not updated for Unreal Engine 5, are a common culprit behind this error. Here's how to remove them:

1. Open your Steam Library, locate Ready or Not, and click "Manage," then "Browse Local Files."
2. Navigate to the ReadyorNot folder, then Content, then Paks.
3. Delete the mod.io folder.

This will remove your mods, allowing you to test if they were the problem. The game should now launch, but you'll need to reinstall your mods selectively, as explained below.

Related: Ready or Not: DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 – Which is Better?

3. Reinstall Mods Selectively

Reinstall your mods one by one, checking their update dates. Mods updated after July 2024 (when Ready or Not transitioned to UE5) have a higher chance of compatibility.

Visit Nexus Mods, Mod.io, or your preferred modding site. Check each mod's update date. If it's post-July 2024, install it and test the game. If the error returns, the last installed mod is the culprit; skip it. Pre-UE5 mods are unlikely to work.

4. Last Resort: Reinstall the Game

If all else fails, a clean reinstall of Ready or Not might be necessary. This is a more drastic step, but it can resolve underlying issues. It's also worth considering potential hard drive corruption, though mod conflicts are the most common cause of this error.

Ready or Not is available now for PC.