Bug: Ren’Py 8.4.1 SDK fails to start — missing encodings / python312.zip

[tysonblade195]

Environment

OS: Windows 11 (x64)

Ren’Py Version: 8.4.1 (downloaded official zip from renpy.org)

Installation Method: Extracted zip into C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk

Python Embedded: 3.12 (bundled)

Problem

Running renpy.exe crashes immediately with the following traceback:

Python path configuration:
PYTHONHOME = (not set)
PYTHONPATH = (not set)
program name = 'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk\renpy.exe'
isolated = 1
environment = 0
user site = 0
safe_path = 1
import site = 1
is in build tree = 0
stdlib dir = '\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix\tmp\install.windows-x86_64\lib\python3.12'
sys._base_executable = 'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk\renpy.exe'
sys.base_prefix = '\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix\tmp\install.windows-x86_64'
sys.base_exec_prefix = 'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk'
sys.platlibdir = 'lib'
sys.executable = 'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk\renpy.exe'
sys.prefix = '\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix\tmp\install.windows-x86_64'
sys.exec_prefix = 'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk'
sys.path = [
'\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix\tmp\install.windows-x86_64\lib\python312.zip',
'\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix\tmp\install.windows-x86_64\lib\python3.12',
'C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk\lib\python3.12\lib-dynload',
]
Failed checking if argv[0] is an import path entry
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'encodings'

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\rishabh\GAMES\renpy-8.4.1-sdk\renpy.py", line 27, in
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'future'

Steps Tried

Fresh download from renpy.org
.

Extracted clean into C:\renpy_clean.

Verified lib\python3.12\encodings exists.

Noticed no python312.zip file is included in the official zip.

Manually repacked the stdlib into python312.zip. Ren’Py launches further, but still fails later (missing proper path setup).

Notes

The logs show Ren’Py is looking for stdlib in a hardcoded Linux build path (\home\tom\ab\renpy-build-fix...) instead of the bundled lib\python3.12.

This looks like a packaging error in the Windows 8.4.1 SDK zip.

Older SDKs (8.3.x) did include python312.zip and worked fine.

Expected

A clean download of Ren’Py 8.4.1 SDK should start without requiring manual python312.zip creation.

Attachments

Full renpy_final_output.txt log is attached.

Directory listing of lib\python3.12 confirms encodings/ exists but no python312.zip was shipped.

renpy_final_output.txt

renpy_final_output.txt

lib_python312_listing.txt

[renpytom]

I don't believe this is an issue with Ren'Py itself, mostly because Ren'Py 8.4.1 has been out for quite a bit of time at this point, and this is the first time it's supported.

Older SDKs (8.3.x) did include python312.zip and worked fine.

This is factually incorrect - 8.3.x used python 3.9, and no version zips up the Python library like that.

My guess as to what's happening here is that lib/python3.12/site.pyc is not being unpacked properly. That doubles as a flag file Ren'Py uses to find the pythonhome of the unpacked distribution, which if missing could cause these problems. You might want to try the .7z.exe rather than the .zip, just because it takes your unzip tool out of the equation.

[tysonblade195]

okk let me do it

[tysonblade195]

man it didnt work this error has been me bugging me from days

I'm sorry, but an uncaught exception occurred.

While running game code:
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 47, in script
init python:
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 47, in script
init python:
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 48, in
_scan_audio_directory()
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 34, in _scan_audio_directory
for fn in renpy.list_files():
AttributeError: module 'renpy' has no attribute 'list_files'

-- Full Traceback ------------------------------------------------------------

Full traceback:
File "C:\Users\lenovo\Desktop\renpy-8.3.0-sdk\renpy\bootstrap.py", line 359, in bootstrap
renpy.main.main()
File "C:\Users\lenovo\Desktop\renpy-8.3.0-sdk\renpy\main.py", line 541, in main
renpy.game.context().run(node)
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 47, in script
init python:
File "lib/python3.9/future/utils/init.py", line 444, in raise_
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 47, in script
init python:
File "C:\Users\lenovo\Desktop\renpy-8.3.0-sdk\renpy\ast.py", line 821, in execute
renpy.python.py_exec_bytecode(self.code.bytecode, self.hide, store=self.store)
File "C:\Users\lenovo\Desktop\renpy-8.3.0-sdk\renpy\python.py", line 1178, in py_exec_bytecode
exec(bytecode, globals, locals)
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 48, in
_scan_audio_directory()
File "renpy/common/00audio.rpy", line 34, in _scan_audio_directory
for fn in renpy.list_files():
AttributeError: module 'renpy' has no attribute 'list_files'

Windows-10-10.0.26100 AMD64
Ren'Py 8.3.0.24082114
Agni's Veil 1.0
Fri Sep 26 21:42:04 2025

[renpytom]

That's not the SDK. Do you get the error with the SDK?

[tysonblade195]

The SDK works fine. I can create and launch empty test projects without issues.
The error only happens with my specific game project.

This means something in my game files is corrupting the _() translation function.
I've already removed import renpy from my code that was causing module shadowing,
but the _() function is still being overwritten with a boolean value.

What's the best way to debug which file in my project is breaking the global _ function?

[Andykl]

The crash would appear near the error line in runtime. If it happens before the game starts, it indicates the problem is in init code.
Common offender is for _, blah in something.

[tysonblade195]

Thanks for the tip about for _, patterns. I searched through all my files but couldn't find any loops like that.

I'm honestly stuck and don't know what else to look for. I removed the import renpy line from one of my system files and took out _p() from options.rpy, but the error keeps happening.

The weird thing is the SDK and empty test projects work fine - it's only my game that crashes with this "bool object is not callable" error on the _() function. The error shows up in Ren'Py's own files like 00updater.rpy and 00speechbubble.rpy before my game even starts.

I've tried disabling different parts of my project but haven't been able to figure out what's causing it. Would it help if I shared my game folder as a zip? Maybe you can spot what I'm missing since I'm not very technical with this stuff.

Really appreciate the help - I've been stuck on this for way too long.

[Andykl]

That's not the issue with the Ren'Py itself. For issues like that we have a Discord server, where you could ask for help, you could tag me directly @andy_kl