Koikatu/Install Guide

This page covers the installation of the game itself and its respective updates. The updates may be referred to as downloadable contents (DLCs) or just updates interchangeably. This does not cover installation of mods or unofficial updates. Please note that these instructions assume you are running Windows 7 64-bit or later with US English set as the locale format. Before installing anything, make sure you have at least 13 GB of free space for the base game and 12 GB of free space for the updates. Install the DirectX End-User Runtime and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 as well, since the game will likely not run without them installed. Assuming all updates are installed, the estimated size of the game should be 22 GB. If you intend to install all available updates, make sure you have at least 22 GB of free space.

Installing the game

Two versions of Koikatsu exist: DVD (physical media) and DL (digital media). The DVD version is a box with two DVD-ROMs containing the installer and its files. The DL version is a download link leading to a self-extracting executable containing the installer and its files. They do not have the same installation steps, although they are somewhat similar. Follow the steps below that matches your version.

DL version

Extract the files in the self-extracting executable to a newly created or existing folder located in the root directory of any storage drive, for example C:\kksetup or D:\kksetup. As a precaution, the folder's name must not contain non-ASCII characters and spaces to prevent any possible errors.

Afterwards, run ILLUSION コイカツ！.msi and keep clicking (N) until the installer prompts for the game's installation path. It is strongly recommended to use the default installation path. If a different installation path is required, make sure the installation path does not contain non-ASCII characters and spaces or goes through folders that have special access permissions.

DVD version

Insert the ILN108-1 DVD-ROM into an optical drive capable of reading single-layer DVD-ROMs, then run the installer when prompted by AutoPlay. If you have the digital copy of the ILN108-1 and ILN108-2 DVD-ROMs as .iso files but don't have an optical drive or DVD-Rs to burn them on, you must use the mount option to mount the .iso files. Please note that you require at least 7.3 GB of free space for the virtual DVD-ROMs to mount successfully.

Afterwards, keep clicking (N) until the installer prompts for the game's installation path. It is strongly recommended to use the default installation path. If a different installation path is required, make sure the installation path does not contain non-ASCII characters and spaces or goes through folders that have special access permissions. Please note that a prompt asking for the ILN108-2 DVD-ROM to be inserted will be displayed mid-way of the installation process. Follow through and eject the ILN108-1 DVD-ROM to insert the ILN108-2 DVD-ROM. The first DVD-ROM will not be required again.

Installing updates

The game's updates are stored in CubeICE self-extracting executables that may not function or extract correctly on Windows systems with a non-Japanese locale format set. To fix this problem, file archivers such as 7-Zip or WinRAR can be used to extract the updates manually by opening the .exe files like a .zip file. This can be done by renaming the .exe to a .zip or opening the archive via the context menu option.

When the update is opened with 7-Zip or WinRAR, there will be a folder in Japanese which must be accessed. Once accessed, there will be either multiple folders in Japanese or a single setup folder with other non-essential files present.

With a single setup folder present in the update .exe

Access the folder and extract the setup folder's contents (not the setup folder itself) to the game's root directory. For example, if the game is located in C:\koikatu, the correct operation would be to extract everything in the setup folder to C:\koikatu. Allow any overwrite/replace operations if prompted.

With multiple folders present in the update .exe

Access the folder and extract the setup folder's contents (not the setup folder itself) to the game's root directory. For example, if the game is located in C:\koikatu, the correct operation would be to extract everything in the setup folder to C:\koikatu. Allow any overwrite/replace operations if prompted. Repeat the steps above for the other folder in Japanese.

If a サンプルデータ folder is present, it is optional and can be skipped as it only contains sample character cards, coordinate/clothing cards, or background images. However, if a setup_as folder is present, you must extract its contents if the After School DLC is installed. If the After School DLC is not installed, it must be skipped.

Update installation order

It is strongly recommended to install the updates in chronological order to prevent errors, except for the Darkness DLC due to the 1st edition's late bug fix. The Darkness DLC has to be installed from the 1st, 2nd, and then to the 3rd edition. Shown below is the update list, starting from the top (oldest update) to the bottom (latest update). Please note that all updates are not cumulative, which means they do not contain the contents of older updates. Skipping an update may result in problems if the update itself relies on an older update to function, which is stated in the README in Japanese. The general recommendation to simply install all updates to prevent errors from occurring.

The Virtual Reality (VR) updates can be skipped if you don't have a VR HMD or don't intend on using VR functionality. All updates can be skipped as well if you don't want to update the base game, as they are not required for the main game to function.

1. (04/22/18) koikatu_souki.exe - Early pre-order bonus, lingerie and military uniform outfit
2. (04/25/18) koikatu_tokuten.exe - Pre-order bonus, maid costume
3. (04/25/18) koikatu_yoyaku.exe - Pre-order bonus, magical girl costume
4. (04/26/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp0427.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack Volume 01 & Chara Studio
5. (04/26/18) koikatu_03vr_0427.exe - VR 0427 Update
6. (05/01/18) koikatu_02plus_cdpb0501_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack Volume 02 & Chara Studio 0501
7. (05/08/18) koikatu_sofmap.exe - Sofmap exclusive pre-order bonus
8. (05/17/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp0518c_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack Volume 03 & Chara Studio 0518
9. (05/24/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp05v25_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack Volume 04 & Chara Studio 0525
10. (06/28/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp0629opc_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack & Chara Studio 0629
11. (07/23/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp0727vsd_all.exe - Additional Personality Pack
12. (10/22/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp1026pfer_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack & Chara Studio 1026
13. (12/10/18) koikatuas_ca_souki.exe - After School DLC pre-order bonus, cabin attendant outfit
14. (12/14/18) koikatu_02plus_cdp1221degbr_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack & Chara Studio 1221
15. (12/20/18) koikatu_as_yoyaku.exe - After School DLC pre-order bonus, Japanese maid costume
16. (12/21/18) ILN110 - After School DLC, DVD version
17. (01/10/19) koikatu_02plus_cdp0111hnybsu_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack & Chara Studio 0111
18. (01/10/19) koikatu_03vr_d0111.exe - VR 0111 Update
19. (01/31/19) koikatu_02plus_cdp0201hbtks_all.exe - Character Design Enhancement Pack & Chara Studio 0201
20. (04/25/19) emocre_yoyaku.exe - Emotion Creators pre-order bonus, Yoyaku DLC for Koikatsu
21. (05/30/19) koikatu_03vr_d0531hg.exe - VR 0531 Update
22. (07/11/19) emocre_dkn_01f.exe - Emotion Creators pre-order bonus, Darkness DLC 1st edition
23. (06/04/19) emocre_dkn_02mo.exe - Emotion Creators pre-order bonus, Darkness DLC 2nd edition
24. (06/20/19) emocre_dkn_03pu.exe - Emotion Creators pre-order bonus, Darkness DLC 3rd edition

Stripped-down versions of the original updates exist, but they should be skipped as they are not any different from their respective original updates apart from having less content.

1. koikatu_02plus_cdpb0501_sub.exe
2. koikatu_02plus_cdp0727vsd2_sub.exe
3. koikatu_02plus_cdp08mp31_sub.exe
4. koikatu_02plus_cdp1221degbr_sub.exe
5. koikatu_02plus_cdp0201hbtks_sub.exe

If all of the updates are installed correctly, the game should display Ver 5.1 at the bottom right corner of the screen.

CharaStudio

CharaStudio is a separate application from the main game that let you create a scene unrelated to the game and get screenshots that you normally can't achieve in the main game. You can pose your characters, create gundams, or whichever that your imagination allows (and the game engine). Screenshot functionality is the same as the main game.

CharaStudio and its respective updates are included with the main game's updates. If it is installed correctly, CharaStudio can be accessed by running CharaStudio.exe, which should be in the game's root directory.

Virtual reality mode

Virtual reality can be accessed by downloading the first VR update, but it is recommended to install all three VR updates along with the main game's updates that they rely on. Please note that not all VR HMDs in existence are officially supported, only the Oculus Rift CV1, HTC Vive Pre, and the HTC Vive are officially supported. Older and newer HMDs such as the Oculus Rift DK2 or HP Reverb G2 may not work correctly.

VR mode and its respective updates are included separately from the main game's updates. If it is installed correctly, VR mode can be accessed by running KoikatuVR.exe, which should be in the game's root directory.