How to import save data

Overview

When attempting to copy over somebody else’s save (e.g. when sharing the level progress data with someone), the profile data gets corrupted forcing a game restart, here’s how to fix that.

Introduction

When sharing/importing a FEAR 3 savegame from somebody else’s profile (e.g. if you want the level progress data without going through the whole campaign), simply copying the save files won’t work. Here’s how to fix it.

Procedure

1. Ensure you have all the save files from the profile you want to copy from. FEAR3 saves are located in:
   <Steam installation directory>userdata<Numbers representing your Steam ID>21100local

   In this folder you will find several files:
   a. FEAR3<number>.dsSave where <number> is 0 and/or 1 – This is your level progress save (where you are in a level), however it does not contain the overall unlocks, scores, etc
   b. User.profile <— THIS is what you want to get back pronto, it has unlocks, scores, most settings, etc
   c. VARIANTS.VAR – A file that remains the same for everyone by the looks of it

2. Download a hex editor, I recommend the small and free one called XVI32 (which I am using here), available at [link]
3. To import the save you will need to first create a working save for FEAR 3, so launch the game at least once, then enter a level (e.g. the first level) until a point where you take control of Point Man/Fettel (that’s where it will create the save). Once you take control you can completely exit the game normally.
4. Here comes the main part:
   NOTE: MAKE BACKUPS OF BOTH SAVES BEFORE PROCEEDING

   a. Launch your hex editor and open the freshly created User.profile from the previous step – we’ll call it target save from now
   b. Open another window of your hex editor and open the User.profile of the save you are importing – we’ll call it source save from now
   c. In the window with the source save, in the pane on the right hand side, you will notice the word “Assault” near the top. Highlight the block immediately after the t then press CTRL+B to mark it, then further down you will notice “|ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ”, highlight the block immediately BEFORE the | then press CTRL+B to mark it. It will look like in the screenshot below (I’ve censored my own data with rectangles below), the marked section is in red.
   
   d. In the window with the marks (the one with the source save) go to the Edit menu -> Clipboard -> Copy as hex string
   e. In the window with the target save, highlight the block immediately after the t once again but DO NOT mark it this time.
   f. Now in the same window as step e., click on Edit -> Overwrite string, paste the string you copied in step d. (make sure the window is set to “Hex String”), then click OK.
   g. Save the modified file

5. Now you can take this modified file and overwrite the User.profile in the game’s save directory. Also, copy over the FEAR3<number>.dsSave save files from the source save and overwrite the existing files in the target directory.
6. When you launch the game you should have the video playing in the menu being much further advanced than the one before (the room has more drawings), the scores should match the ones from the source save and the rank will also change. This will not restore insane difficulty (unlocked for finishing the game) though. Just one final step left for that.
7. To restore insane difficulty, either replay the last level or if you have a save in the final battle, resume game then skip the credits.
8. Voila, rebuilt profile, enjoy!