The RPG title Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin has become one of this month’s Steam best-sellers and has topped the Japanese Switch chart since its launch on July 9. However, there is one issue currently plaguing people’s enjoyment of Monster Hunter Stories 2‘s successful debut, which is the Corrupted Data error. This message will pop up randomly when you’re trying to host or enter any Multiplayer Quest, blocking your access to the co-op or PVP quests for that particular save file.

Monster Hunter Stories 2 – What Caused the “Corrupted Data” Issue?

Over on Reddit, Steam forums, and other discussion places, numerous players reported that the Corrupted Data issue is happening for both Switch and PC copy of Monster Hunter Stories 2. And so far, no one knows what actually causes the corruption. Nobody knows whether the corruption occurs when the save file is created or happens during a playthrough. You only find out when you try to play a multiplayer quest but are greeted by a “Corrupt data has been found” message instead. Like the one screen captured by Reddit user TermperHoof seen here.

Right now, people are assuming that there are two reasons why this could happen:

  • Failed demo save transfer. But several people who bought the game without playing the demo have encountered the Corrupted Data message as well.
  • Performing the demo Anjanath glitch. Again, people who have never touched the demo also reported they still encountered the error message in the full game.

Meanwhile, Capcom’s official stance on this problem is that your data become corrupted from cheating and/or hacking, and the company might not have to respond to requests/questions regarding any save file issue.

That means you might think that the only way is to part with your 15+ hours save file, starts fresh, rush to unlock multiplayer again, and hope the file is safe. Well, that might not be the case anymore.

– Please understand that Capcom will not respond to issues or malfunctions resulting from acts such as the falsification of save data or other methods of play besides the one intended

Is There a Way to Fix the Multiplayer Corrupted Data Problem?

Thankfully, it seems you don’t have to part with your saved data — although you do have to part with something else—money, in this case. Well, at least until Capcom acknowledges the issue and sends out a hotfix or patch. Twitter user @coolaise_21 and Reddit user AnBlaster claimed that buying and using a Character Edit voucher will somehow fix the problem. Simply redownloading the game might also work. But right now, the player base hasn’t 100% confirmed that this trick will fully fix your Monster Hunter Stories 2 corrupted save data.

Character Edit voucher itself is a paid DLC that lets you change the whole appearance of your Rider and only costs $2.99. With that in mind, even if it turns out that this trick doesn’t work on your file, it doesn’t cost that much, and you can use it sometime later when you’re starting to get bored with how your Rider looks.

Editing your character using a Character Edit Ticket/Coupon/Voucher and saving

This worked for a friend of mine (on Steam PC) and one other case here on reddit. Another user reported that redownloading the game also worked.

Oi!To those that are having this the error in #MHStories2 " Corrupt Data has been found " that prevents you from playing in multiplayer,

Try out using a character edit voucher for just two dollars.

Idk how and why but it worked for metnx to a Redditor lol. https://t.co/DSLmsPu4SM

— C00laise ( Commissions Open ) (@coolaise21) July 15, 2021