[Regression] FINAL FANTASY XIII [MRTC00003] (#13534)

[Darkhost1999]

This specific issue was resolved in RPCS3 v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea
Because a different regression occurred later on with the same issue symptoms a new ticket was opened #14909

original issue?

Quick summary

This issue exists when creating new cache not when using pre-existing

Details

Final Fantasy XIII fails to make it ingame following the llvm 16 update when generating a new cache. However, when using a cache that has existed since before that build the game boots fine and plays as expected without issue. So the only concern is for those who either cleared their caches later down the line or are brand new to RPCS3 and have not been using the emulator for very long.
The crash is seen as closing all of RPCS3 to the desktop or just hanging and needing to be force stopped by task manager or restarting one's pc.
I first noticed this issue being discussed within the first couple days of the PR being merged and since regressions were still being fixed I actually was under the impression it did get fixed. But alas this one has slipped through so I am opening this issue for it.

Build with regression

RPCS3 v0.0.27-14846-fb88e1c1

Attach two log files

RPCS3 v0.0.27-14845-7081b89e.log - Works
RPCS3 v0.0.27-14846-fb88e1c1.log - New cache crashes
RPCS3 v0.0.27-14846-fb88e1c1.log - Old cache works

Current build is same way as 14846 is where new cache crashes with same issues and the old cache works.

Attach capture files for visual issues

Not visual

System configuration

Ryzen 5 3600 zenver 2
Gtx 1660 Super
16 gigs of ram
windows 11 insider beta

Other details

As said a few times and said again. This issue is only present when creating a new cache and not when just linking pre existing cache.

[whitezombie2000]

I can confirm this with RPCS3 Version: 0.0.27-14986-db7f84f9 that I downloaded today. I am using Vulkan with the default settings. The only options I turned on were under the GPU menu Additional Settings, VSync, Multithreaded RSX, and Asynchronous Texture Streaming. I am not using the 60fps patch. I cleared out all caches for the game, launched the game, it starts to compile the PPU modules, and just exits back to the desktop.

Specs
Lenovo Legion 5
Windows 11 Pro 22H2 OS Build 22621.1702
AMD Ryzen 5 5600H
GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Driver version 531.68
32GB DDR4-3200

Log File
RPCS3.log

[GitArUs]

Already fixed or it is Windows only issue, or hardware related. Works fine on Linux (v0.0.27-15048-29f67448), i9-9900K, RTX 3060, all caches cleared.

[Darkhost1999]

It's more probable the issue is related to the llvm-cpu stuff than OS. Where your cpu isn't using zenver2 it compiles and uses a whole different cache.

[whitezombie2000]

Still an issue on the latest build. As a workaround I downloaded an older version when I knew it was working, rpcs3-v0.0.27-14788-1d7a0066. I launched the game on the older build and let it build the PPU files in the cache\MRTC00003\ folder. I took the 119 obj.gz files it created and copied them to the cache\MRTC00003\ folder on the newer build. Then the game would launch fine on the newer build.

[whitezombie2000]

I downloaded the latest build today and the workaround no longer works. I tried copying the 119 obj.gz files over and it just crashes back to the desktop with the old cache.

[Darkhost1999]

Do you have a log for that?
And you shouldn't need to copy anything over. Just simply use the old build to compile cache and then update.
You can remove cache with right click -> clear ppu cache and you can downgrade rpcs3 by simply dragging the old rpcs3.exe from it's archive ontop of the new one and not updating when prompted during boot.

[whitezombie2000]

It's creating a whole new cache and does not even appear to be using the old cache files, seems to ignore them. The old cache has 119 files with names like v5-kusa-ZSeF6QLQxMq9tRc5A3tj82-00005G-znver3.obj.gz. The new cache is building v6-kusa-eXWu65wVdZWX937rvyCT4C-00005G-znver3.obj.gz files and crashes when it gets to around 84 of them built. I understand your method but I keep the builds in separate folders. Even if I make a folder copy of the working old build, build the cache, update it, the behavior is the same.

RPCS3.log

[Darkhost1999]

Ah yea the version bump for ppu cache.
Yea, the workaround will no longer work with the latest builds of rpcs3. We can hope for a fix, though soon.

[Darkhost1999]

#14090
RPCS3.log
Master using cache generated in PR works.
RPCS3.log.gz
Meanwhile Master is frozen

RPCS3.log
looks safe to me to say this issue is resolved in PR

[whitezombie2000]

Cool! I just tried RPCS3 v0.0.28-15240-aff871f1 Alpha | master and yeah it still crashed. I don't know how to access the pull request builds. Hopefully it gets added to the master soon! Great news!

[Darkhost1999]

RPCS3.log
Guess the fix was pulled outta the PR.
Crash to desktop on RPCS3 v0.0.28-15259-554b27a8 Alpha | master

[AniLeo]

What about the current master?

[Darkhost1999]

RPCS3.log
Closes to desktop

[Darkness13393]

Same here, [MRTC00003] freezes on the first screen (square enix screen) with no way to stop it without going the pkill route.
Game doesnt run with llvm ppu and spu, changing it to interpeter for both boots it and freezes on the aforementioned screen.

FreeBSD 13.2, latest build on ports 0.0.28.15318

[Darkhost1999]

Interesting. I wasn't having issues with using Interpreter personally. I can try again though and see if something new came up.

[Darkness13393]

Maybe it doesn't like the intel igpu (uhd 750)?, i tried another game that didn't even boot (kicked me after ppu compilation).
Setting it (the 2 games) to OpenGL Segfaults? but that doesnt make any sense considering i have alot of ram.

PCSX2 works flawlessly on OpenGL, i dont know what issue is?

Maybe a discrete gpu would make it work?

[Jonathan44062]

I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but now the game closes from nowhere
RPCS3.log

2023-07-14.16-45-27.mp4

[Darkhost1999]

Yea it's been doing that as the original complaint. But it's happening much sooner like before any ppus are compiled or loaded vs half way through.

[ThunderChunkier]

Having the same issue.

[Darkness13393]

I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but now the game closes from nowhere RPCS3.log
2023-07-14.16-45-27.mp4

On my system, running via terminal reports a Trace/BPT trap, with the same behavior as yours.

[D4rkZ0mb1e]

I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but now the game closes from nowhere RPCS3.log

2023-07-14.16-45-27.mp4

bro, i just change PPU DECODER from RECOMPILER (LLVM) to INTERPRETER (static) and works here

im using RPCS3 0.0.28 15404 (latest build today)
MRTC00003 GAME ID

[D4rkZ0mb1e]

Having the same issue.

bro, i just change PPU DECODER from RECOMPILER (LLVM) to INTERPRETER (static) and works here

im using RPCS3 0.0.28 15404 (latest build today)
MRTC00003 GAME ID

[Darkhost1999]

Yea that's the reported issue is final fantasy regressed when using LLVM.

[christofferson]

Mostly just a +1, but in case the additional info helps I'm on Steam Deck running version 0.0.28-1-dabb2cc9 Alpha | master | local_build (according to the about screen) and seeing a similar issue. In my case, it seems to simply stall out while compiling PPU modules at 118/119 - I ended up leaving it for over an hour just on the off chance it would eventually finish and no luck.

Not seeing any crashes or anything, and I can close out of RPCS3 just fine without resorting to manually terminating the process (although it does sometimes take a minute, as the first time I try to re-launch I get an error that it's already running) and, interestingly, if I try to boot FFXIII again it loads the cache and skips past compilation. However, it then consistently stalls out at 90/119 during linking which leads me to suspect the compiled modules were somehow invalid.

[Darkhost1999]

Working on RPCS3 v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea

RPCS3.log

[whitezombie2000]

Yep, it's working here too with LLVM!

[Darkhost1999]

There's still 1 more issue with this. With file -> all titles -> create PPU cache FFXII crashes to the desktop whenever it is its turn to compile
RPCS3.log

[whitezombie2000]

So I just updated to the latest build v0.0.29-15544-3d2229ca and I am back to the original issue. I cleared out the cache, started the game, let it compile PPU modules, and it crashed back to the desktop.

RPCS3.log

I re-download the last version that worked for me, v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea, and it worked fine. Just like before, the info I pasted above, if I copy the cache files built from v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea, then it will load fine with v0.0.29-15544-3d2229ca.

[whitezombie2000]

I updated to build 0.0.29-15550 7144E92C and the cache is building without crashing. Working again...for now! 😄

[Darkhost1999]

I was just using a build self compiled because it's not shipping from the CI and check for updates today.
Final fantasy xiii wasn't compiling from file -> all titles -> create PPU/SPU cache.
Instead it closes to desktop at about 80 ppu modules compiled.
But booting the game from the games list is working just fine. It's only precompile that's closing to desktop.

[whitezombie2000]

Yes, I tried that method too on the last few builds, file -> all titles -> create PPU/SPU cache, and it crashes.

[Darkhost1999]

Renaming final fantasy to add Z - to the beginning of the name enabled batch compiling to compile it last. And the game succeeds to compile. Although keeping the name as is fails to compile.

[whitezombie2000]

I just updated to the latest build v0.0.29-15620-f398f11 and I am back to the original issue with LLVM. I cleared out the cache, started the game, let it compile PPU modules, and it crashed back to the desktop. I had to grab the compiled files from the last version that worked, v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea, and copy them over to get the game to launch.

I cleared out all the cache, tried File -> All Titles -> Create PPU/SPU Cache, and it crashes. From the Game List I renamed the Name title to Z - FINAL FANTASY XIII and it crashed. I assume that was what you were renaming, I wasn't exactly sure of the exact spelling, or if that even mattered. I also tried ZFINAL FANTASY XIII it cashed.

[whitezombie2000]

@Darkhost1999 Just curious why you closed this? It still crashes for me and I have to copy the cache from an older working build. Is it working for you? Thanks!

[ItsLaguna]

@Darkhost1999 Just curious why you closed this? It still crashes for me and I have to copy the cache from an older working build. Is it working for you? Thanks!

@whitezombie2000 See #14734
Enable Accurate SPU DMA

[Darkhost1999]

Working on RPCS3 v0.0.29-15463-edf4f7ea

RPCS3.log

This specific issue was resolved and needed a new ticket with the new regression.
But since then the game has been on and off working. I personally haven't recreated a new ticket for every time this game regresses.
At this present moment LLVM is working fine on 0.0.29-15799

[steeler-fanatic]

I'm having this issue with FF XIII currently with Apple Silicon (Mac Mini M2). Hangs when compiling. Using latest stable release. I ripped and compiled 30 games and this is the only one with an issue.

[SiirRandall]

Crashing to the desktop when launching the game both on Windows 11 and macOS. It looks like the same issues above, but if you need a new log file, I can provide it.

[Darkhost1999]

Crashing to the desktop when launching the game both on Windows 11 and macOS. It looks like the same issues above, but if you need a new log file, I can provide it.

It was a new regression for a different version of RPCS3.
#14909
In the comments of the other issue that is still open there was a time when the issue got resolved. Singling out only 2 commits as the potential cause of the crash to desktop. Luckily those commits are rather small. So hopefully what causes the crash to desktop is discovered. Yet if a resolution was found it isn't posted yet.