Logs & Diagnostics
Welcome to the Lumiose Online diagnostic documentation.
This page explains how to locate and collect diagnostic information when troubleshooting installation failures, launcher errors, game crashes, multiplayer connectivity problems, and other technical issues.
Diagnostic logs help the development team identify where a failure occurred and determine which components may be responsible.
Supported Platforms
Lumiose Online supports four installation methods:
| Platform | Installation Method | Diagnostic Information |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | ZA Recomp (Native) | Launcher, gameplay, update preparation, and crash diagnostics |
| macOS | MonZaMac (Native) | Platform-specific diagnostic information |
| PC | Eden Emulator | Emulator and mod-related diagnostics |
| Nintendo Switch | Atmosphère | Platform-specific diagnostic information |
The availability and location of diagnostic logs depend on the platform, application version, and type of failure.
Windows Standalone Launcher (ZA Recomp)
The Windows standalone launcher can generate diagnostic files during game preparation, update installation, and normal execution.
Some logs are stored in persistent directories, while others are generated in temporary working directories.
Diagnostic Log Reference
| Log File | Purpose | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| play.log | Records game execution and runtime events. | Startup failures, gameplay problems, runtime errors |
| crash.log | Records crash-related diagnostic information when generated. | Application crashes, exceptions, access violations |
| smoke.log | Records diagnostic output from isolated startup or preparation checks. | Isolated startup failures, update preparation problems |
| capture.log | Records diagnostic output associated with preparation or capture operations. | Update preparation and related failures |
Not every installation or failure generates all four files.
play.log
The play.log file records information about game execution.
Depending on the launcher version, it may contain:
- ZA Recomp version information
- Windows version
- CPU and system information
- Game initialization events
- Launcher status messages
- Runtime warnings and errors
Location (Windows standalone launcher):
<ZA Recomp installation folder>\logs\play.log
For example:
D:\Games\Switch\ZA Recomp\logs\play.log
How to locate play.log:
- Open the folder containing lasrecomp.exe.
- Open the logs directory.
- Locate play.log.
- Attach the file when requesting technical support.
When to collect:
- The game fails to launch.
- The game starts but encounters errors.
- Gameplay behaves unexpectedly.
- The launcher displays a runtime error.
When possible, reproduce the issue and collect the log from the affected session.
crash.log
The crash.log file may be generated when the game encounters a crash.
Depending on the failure, it may contain:
- Exception codes
- Faulting memory addresses
- Host backtraces
- Guest function references
- Crash-related diagnostic information
For example, an exception code such as 0xC0000005 indicates an access violation.
An access violation does not, by itself, establish the underlying cause of a crash.
Location:
The exact location has not yet been verified. Check available diagnostic directories and provide the file if generated.
When to collect:
- The game closes unexpectedly.
- The launcher or game crashes during startup.
- The game crashes during gameplay.
- An exception or backtrace is generated.
smoke.log
The smoke.log file contains diagnostic information associated with isolated startup or update preparation checks.
This log may be relevant when the launcher reports errors such as:
- Update preparation failed
- Isolated startup did not finish
- Game preparation or validation failed
Location (Windows standalone launcher):
<ZA Recomp installation folder>\lumiose\update-work\initial-*\smoke.log
The initial- directory contains a variable suffix generated during update preparation.
For example:
D:\ZA-Recomp-windows\ZA Recomp\lumiose\update-work\initial-_ql5vc3z\smoke.log
The exact directory name differs between preparation attempts.
How to locate smoke.log:
- Open the folder containing lasrecomp.exe.
- Navigate to lumiose → update-work.
- Look for a directory beginning with initial-.
- Open that directory.
- Locate smoke.log.
- Copy the file to another location before retrying the failed update.
- Attach the copied log when requesting technical support.
When to collect:
Collect this log when an installation or update preparation operation fails and the file is available.
capture.log
The capture.log file contains diagnostic information associated with preparation or capture operations.
It may be useful when investigating:
- Update preparation failures
- Game preparation errors
- Failures occurring before normal gameplay begins
Location:
The exact location has not yet been verified.
If an update preparation failure occurs, inspect the relevant working directory under:
<ZA Recomp installation folder>\lumiose\update-work\
Look for capture.log if it is present.
When to collect:
Collect this log alongside smoke.log when investigating an update preparation failure, if both files were generated.
Finding Logs with PowerShell
Windows users can search their ZA Recomp installation for diagnostic files using PowerShell.
Open PowerShell and run the following command, replacing the example installation path with the location of your own ZA Recomp installation:
Get-ChildItem -Path "C:\Games\ZA Recomp" -Recurse -File -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue |
Where-Object { $_.Name -in @("play.log", "crash.log", "smoke.log", "capture.log") } |
Select-Object Name, FullName
The command searches the installation directory and its subdirectories for the listed log files.
It does not modify or delete any files.
Which Logs Should I Collect?
Use the following table to identify the most relevant diagnostic files for a reported issue.
| Problem | Recommended Logs |
|---|---|
| Game fails to start | play.log, crash.log if generated |
| Game crashes during gameplay | crash.log, play.log |
| Update preparation fails | smoke.log, capture.log if generated |
| Isolated startup did not finish | smoke.log, capture.log if generated |
| Game import fails | Relevant launcher or import diagnostic output |
| Multiplayer connection fails | play.log and relevant connection error messages |
| Performance problems | play.log, hardware specifications, and graphics settings |
These recommendations apply primarily to the Windows standalone launcher.
Other Platforms
MonZaMac (macOS)
MonZaMac provides a native macOS implementation of Pokémon Legends: Z-A.
Diagnostic information may differ from the Windows launcher.
When reporting a problem, provide:
- macOS version
- Mac model and Apple Silicon chip
- MonZaMac release version
- Exact error messages
- Available application logs or crash reports
Eden Emulator (PC)
Eden uses its own emulation environment and diagnostic facilities.
When reporting a Lumiose Online issue while using Eden, provide:
- Eden version
- Operating system
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A game version
- Lumiose Online mod version
- Exact error messages
- Relevant diagnostic information, if available
Nintendo Switch (Atmosphère)
Nintendo Switch installations use Atmosphère custom firmware.
When reporting an issue, provide:
- Console model
- System firmware version
- Atmosphère version
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A game version
- Lumiose Online mod version
- Exact error messages
- Available diagnostic information
Problems originating from Atmosphère or the console environment may fall outside the scope of Lumiose Online support.
Collecting Diagnostic Logs
When troubleshooting an issue:
- Reproduce the problem, if possible.
- Record the exact error message.
- Locate the relevant diagnostic files.
- If update preparation failed, copy any temporary logs before retrying.
- Close the game or launcher when appropriate.
- Preserve the logs associated with the affected session.
- Review the files for sensitive information.
- Attach the relevant logs when requesting support.
Protecting Sensitive Information
Diagnostic logs may contain system or environment information.
Before sharing them publicly, review the contents for:
- Windows or macOS usernames
- Local file paths
- Public IP addresses
- Authentication tokens or credentials
- Other personally identifiable information
Remove sensitive values where necessary while preserving the surrounding diagnostic information.
Do not post private keys, passwords, or authentication tokens in public support channels.
Reporting an Issue
When requesting technical assistance, provide the following information:
- Platform: Windows standalone, MonZaMac, Eden, or Nintendo Switch
- Operating system: OS name and version
- Game version: Installed Pokémon Legends: Z-A version
- Lumiose Online version: Installed mod or launcher version
- Hardware: CPU, GPU, and RAM, where applicable
- Problem: Description of the failure
- Reproduction steps: Actions required to trigger the problem
- Error message: Exact text or screenshot
- Diagnostic logs: Relevant files associated with the failure
If the problem occurs consistently, explain whether it happens every time or only under certain conditions.
For assistance, visit the official Lumiose Online Discord: