Stuck on the Loading Screen? Scroll of Taiwu 1.0 Startup Fixes
Scroll of Taiwu 1.0 not reaching the main menu? Here is how to tell a slow first boot from a real bug, plus the verify-files and restart steps that fixed most launch-day startup failures.
Short answer
Several different problems get reported as "stuck on the loading screen" on launch day, and they have different fixes. The first thing to rule out is a slow first boot, which looks frozen but is not. If it truly never reaches the main menu, the most common launch-day cause was a DLC version mismatch, and verifying the game files or restarting Steam fixed it for most players.
Work through the steps below in order before assuming your install is broken.
- Slow first boot can take several minutes — wait once before force-quitting.
- Most launch-day hangs were fixed by verifying files or restarting Steam.
- A dev-console "failed to connect to Unity engine" error points to the same fix.
- If nothing works, gather details and report it as a real bug.
Step 1: is it actually frozen, or just slow?
On launch, the loading screen shows a shifting red/black line with Chinese text cycling through it. That is the normal loading screen, not a broken menu. The first boot can take several minutes depending on your disk speed and how many DLC packs are still installing in the background.
Give it one long wait — roughly five to ten minutes — before you force-quit. Many "stuck" reports were just impatience on a slow first launch, especially on hard drives rather than SSDs.
- Red/black shifting line with cycling Chinese text = the loading screen.
- First boot can take several minutes, especially with DLC installing.
- Wait 5–10 minutes once before deciding it is frozen.
- Slower on HDDs; faster on SSDs.
Step 2: verify files and restart Steam
If it never reaches the main menu, the launch-day culprit for many players was a DLC update delay that left the client loading an older DLC version, which then errored out. The fix is straightforward.
Close the game completely. In Steam, right-click The Scroll of Taiwu: Beyond the Dome, open Properties, go to Installed Files, and choose Verify integrity of game files. Let it finish, then restart the Steam client itself so it pulls the latest version, and launch the game again.
- Fully close the game first.
- Steam → right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
- Restart the Steam client after verification completes.
- Relaunch — this resolved most launch-day DLC-mismatch hangs.
Step 3: the Unity engine connection error
Some players saw a developer console open with a message about failing to connect to the Unity engine, then an infinite load. This is the same family of problem as the DLC mismatch and responds to the same fix: verify files, restart Steam, relaunch.
If you recently changed branches (for example switched to the test branch and back), verifying files is especially worth doing, since mixed build files can cause this.
- "Failed to connect to Unity engine" in a console = same fix as Step 2.
- Verify files, restart Steam, relaunch.
- Recently switched Steam branches? Verify files to clean up mixed builds.
- Make sure you are on Default Public Version for the 1.0 English client.
Step 4: mods and old launchers
The 1.0 update rebuilt core systems, so most Early Access Workshop mods and third-party launchers will break until their authors update them. If you used a mod launcher or save tools in Early Access, disable them and launch the game directly through Steam.
Try a clean vanilla launch before reporting a bug, so you can tell whether the problem is the game or a stale mod.
- Expect most EA-era Workshop mods to break on 1.0.
- Disable mod launchers and save tools; launch via Steam directly.
- Confirm the game starts vanilla before blaming the base build.
- Re-enable mods only after their authors update for 1.0.
Still broken? Report it properly
If the game still will not reach the main menu after verifying files, restarting Steam, and launching vanilla, that is worth reporting as a real bug rather than user error. A good report gets a faster fix.
Include your operating system, GPU, whether you are on Default Public Version (build v0.84.75 / menu 1.0.1), and the exact point where it hangs, ideally with a screenshot. Post it in the Steam discussions or to the developers.
- Note your OS and GPU.
- Confirm you are on Default Public Version (v0.84.75 / menu 1.0.1).
- Describe exactly where it hangs; attach a screenshot if you can.
- Post to Steam discussions or the developers as a bug report.
Related paths
FAQ
Scroll of Taiwu is stuck on the loading screen — how do I fix it?
First, wait 5–10 minutes; the first boot can be slow. If it never reaches the menu, close the game, verify the game files (Steam → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files), restart the Steam client, and relaunch. A launch-day DLC version mismatch caused most of these hangs.
Is the red and black loading line normal?
Yes. The shifting red/black line with cycling Chinese text is the normal loading screen. It can sit there for several minutes on a slow first boot, especially while DLC is still installing.
I get a "failed to connect to Unity engine" error. What do I do?
Use the same fix as a stuck load: verify game files, restart the Steam client, and relaunch. If you recently switched Steam beta branches, verifying files helps clean up mixed build files.
Could mods be causing the crash on 1.0?
Very likely. The 1.0 update rebuilt core systems, so most Early Access Workshop mods and launchers break until updated. Disable them, launch vanilla through Steam, and only re-enable mods once authors update them.
What information should I include in a bug report?
Your OS, GPU, confirmation that you are on Default Public Version (v0.84.75 / menu 1.0.1), the exact point where it hangs, and a screenshot if possible.