R2ModManPlus Dependency Conflicts  How to Resolve Them

Introduction

Dependency conflicts are one of the most disruptive issues in a modded game setup managed through R2ModManager Plus. They occur when two or more installed mods require different and incompatible versions of the same shared package, or when a required dependency is missing entirely from the active profile.

The result is typically a game that crashes on launch, mods that load without functioning correctly, or a BepInEx console full of error messages pointing at packages that cannot satisfy each other’s version requirements simultaneously.

Quick Facts about R2ModManPlus Dependency Conflicts

• What a dependency conflict is: Two installed mods requiring incompatible versions of the same shared package at the same time
• R2ModManPlus resolves dependencies automatically during installation but cannot force compatibility between conflicting version requirements
• The BepInEx console log is the most reliable source of specific conflict information and should always be checked before attempting fixes
• Who this affects: Any player running multiple mods that share common framework dependencies such as R2API, BepInEx, or other shared libraries
• Missing dependencies and version conflicts are distinct problems with different fixes and should not be treated the same way
• Disabling mods one at a time in the active profile is the most reliable manual method for isolating a conflict source
• Who should read carefully: Players whose game crashes only after adding a specific new mod to an existing working setup
• Profile duplication before making changes preserves a working state and eliminates recovery complexity if fixes introduce new problems
• Critical note: Never manually replace dependency files in the R2ModManager Plus managed directory as this bypasses version tracking and deepens conflicts
• Key insight: Most dependency conflicts in R2ModManPlus are caused by mod authors targeting different versions of shared APIs and are resolved by updating all installed mods simultaneously rather than individually

What Dependency Conflicts Actually Are

The term dependency conflict is used loosely in modding communities to describe several distinct problems that present similarly but require different approaches to resolve.

Understanding the precise nature of the conflict before attempting a fix prevents applying the wrong solution and potentially worsening the situation.

The Three Types of Dependency Problems

Each type has a distinct cause and a distinct resolution path.

Type one: Version conflict

Mod A requires SharedPackage version 3.0.0 or higher. Mod B requires SharedPackage version 2.4.0 specifically and breaks on version 3.0.0. Both cannot be satisfied simultaneously by a single installed version of SharedPackage.

This is a true version conflict. It requires either finding updated versions of one or both mods, or accepting that the two mods cannot coexist in the same profile.

Type two: Missing dependency

A mod lists a required package in its dependency string but that package is not installed in the active profile. R2ModManager Plus should catch this during installation but edge cases exist where dependencies are missed, particularly when mods are imported from shared profile codes or installed from external sources.

This is a missing dependency rather than a conflict. It resolves by installing the absent package.

Type three: Load order conflict

Two mods that do not directly conflict at the version level still interfere with each other because one attempts to modify a resource before the other has finished initializing it. This produces behavior that resembles a dependency conflict but is actually a sequencing problem.

This type is less common and harder to diagnose through the standard conflict resolution workflow. It requires BepInEx log analysis to identify the specific initialization sequence failure.

Why R2ModManPlus Cannot Always Prevent Conflicts

R2ModManPlus resolves dependencies automatically during installation by reading each mod’s manifest and downloading required packages. This prevents missing dependency errors in standard installation scenarios.

However, the manager cannot resolve situations where two installed mods declare incompatible requirements for the same package. No version of a shared package can satisfy both requirements simultaneously.

When this situation exists, R2ModManPlus installs the dependency version required by whichever mod was installed most recently. The earlier installed mod then operates against a version of its dependency that it was not designed for.

This is why updating all mods simultaneously rather than selectively is the most effective first response to dependency conflicts. 

Mod authors update their dependency declarations as shared packages release new versions, and a full update pass often resolves version requirement mismatches without requiring any manual intervention.

What the BepInEx Console Tells You About Conflicts

The BepInEx console is the most direct diagnostic tool available for dependency conflicts. It outputs the complete mod loading sequence including every error, warning, and failed dependency reference produced during the game’s initialization.

Reading it correctly converts what appears to be an opaque crash into a specific, actionable problem statement.

Finding and Reading the BepInEx Log

The BepInEx console window appears automatically when launching the game through R2ModManPlus if BepInEx is installed correctly. If the console does not appear, it can be enabled through the BepInEx configuration file within R2ModManPlus’s config editor.

The console output is also written to a persistent log file located within the BepInEx folder in the game’s managed directory. The file is named LogOutput.log and is overwritten each session.

Key lines to identify in the log output:

• Lines beginning with [Error] indicate a mod that failed to load or encountered a runtime failure
• Lines beginning with [Warning] may indicate version mismatches that did not cause outright failure but produced degraded functionality
• Lines referencing Could not load followed by a package name indicate a missing dependency
• Lines referencing version alongside a mod name and a required version number indicate a version requirement that could not be satisfied
• Lines referencing Exception followed by a stack trace identify the specific code point where a conflict caused a failure

Screenshot or copy the first error block that appears in the log. The first error is almost always the root conflict. Subsequent errors frequently cascade from the first and are symptoms rather than independent causes.

Common Log Error Patterns and What They Mean

Understanding what specific log output patterns indicate eliminates guesswork during diagnosis.

• Skipping [ModName] because a dependency is missing A listed dependency is not installed in the active profile. Install the named missing package through R2ModManPlus
• [ModName] requires [PackageName] v[X.X.X] or higher The installed version of the named package is below the minimum required by this mod. Update the named package
• Unhandled Exception in [ModName] The mod encountered a runtime failure, often caused by calling a method that was changed or removed in an updated dependency version
• Duplicate TypeDefinition Two mods are loading conflicting versions of the same assembly, a true version conflict requiring one mod to be updated or disabled
• Could not resolve dependency [PackageName] The package is listed as a dependency but is completely absent from the profile

How to Resolve Dependency Conflicts Step by Step

Work through the following resolution steps in the order presented. Each step addresses a progressively less common cause, starting with the fastest and most frequently effective fix.

Step One and Two: Update All Mods and Verify Dependencies

Step one: Update every installed mod in the profile

Open R2ModManPlus and navigate to the active profile. Select the Updates section or check each installed mod for available updates. Update all flagged mods simultaneously rather than selectively.

A full update pass resolves the majority of dependency conflicts by aligning all mods to their most current dependency declarations. Mod authors push updates specifically to maintain compatibility with new versions of shared packages.

After updating, relaunch the game through R2ModManPlus and check the BepInEx console for remaining errors before proceeding to further steps.

Step two: Verify all listed dependencies are installed

In the R2ModManPlus profile view, examine each installed mod’s listed dependencies and confirm every named package appears in the installed mod list.

Pay particular attention to:

• Mods imported through a shared profile code where dependency download may have partially failed
• Mods installed from outside Thunderstore that carry dependency declarations pointing to packages not available through the manager
• Framework packages like R2API submodules that are listed as separate installable packages rather than bundled within a single download

Install any missing dependency packages directly through the Thunderstore browser within R2ModManPlus and relaunch to test.

Common Problems and Solutions:

• All mods are current but conflicts persist  The conflict exists between two mods targeting incompatible API versions with no mutually compatible release available. Check each conflicting mod’s Thunderstore page for known incompatibility notices
• Updates are available but the update button produces no action  A network issue or Thunderstore API timeout is preventing the download. Check the internet connection, wait briefly, and retry. If persistent, download the updated versions manually from Thunderstore and install through the local file import option
• Updating one mod broke a previously working mod  The update changed the dependency version in a way that conflicted with the second mod. Roll back the updated mod to its previous version through the version selector in R2ModManPlus
• Dependencies show as installed but the log still reports them missing  The installed version does not meet the minimum version requirement. Update the dependency package specifically rather than treating it as a missing package
• A mod shows no available updates but produces version conflict errors  The mod may be abandoned and its dependency declarations may be outdated relative to current package versions. Check the Thunderstore listing for a maintained fork or alternative

Step Three and Four: Isolation and Profile Recreation

Step three: Isolate the conflict source through selective disabling

If updates did not resolve the conflict, the specific mod or mods causing it need to be identified through systematic disabling.

Follow this isolation sequence:

• Duplicate the active profile before making changes to preserve the current state
• In the duplicate profile, disable all mods except the core framework packages BepInEx and any API packages
• Launch the game and confirm it loads without errors in this minimal state
• Re enable mods in small groups of two or three, relaunching after each addition
• When the conflict reappears, the most recently enabled group contains the conflict source
• Disable that group and re enable its mods one at a time to identify the specific conflicting mod

Isolation Stage	Mods Enabled	Expected Result
Baseline	BepInEx and API packages only	Clean launch with no errors
Group one	Add first batch of content mods	Monitor for conflict errors
Group two	Add second batch of content mods	Monitor for conflict errors
Conflict identified	Last added group causes errors	Isolate within that group
Single mod isolation	Re enable one at a time	Conflict reappears on specific mod
Resolution	Update, replace, or remove conflict mod	Clean launch restored

Step four: Rebuild the profile from scratch

When isolation identifies a mod that cannot be updated or replaced and must coexist with conflicting requirements, rebuilding the profile without that mod is the most reliable path to a stable setup.

Profile rebuild steps:

• Create a new empty profile in R2ModManPlus
• Install mods from the working portion of the original profile one at a time
• Confirm each addition launches cleanly before adding the next
• Omit the identified conflict source mod entirely
• Check the Thunderstore listing for the omitted mod periodically for updates that resolve the incompatibility

How to Prevent Dependency Conflicts Going Forward

Prevention requires a consistent update and installation discipline that keeps the mod list aligned rather than allowing version divergence to accumulate across multiple sessions.

Most dependency conflicts develop gradually as individual mods are updated selectively while others fall behind, creating growing version requirement gaps across the profile.

Update Discipline and Profile Management

Maintaining a consistent update routine prevents the majority of dependency conflicts from developing in the first place.

Recommended habits for conflict prevention:

• Update all mods simultaneously at the start of each play session rather than selectively updating individual mods
• Check for game updates through Steam before launching through R2ModManPlus and update all mods after any game patch
• Create a new testing profile before installing any new mod to evaluate it in isolation before adding it to the stable profile
• Review a new mod’s dependency list on its Thunderstore page before installing to identify potential version requirement conflicts with existing mods
• Remove mods that have not received updates in several months as abandoned mods accumulate version incompatibilities over time
• Keep a record of the last known working profile state by exporting a profile code after each confirmed stable session

Checking Mod Compatibility Before Installation

The Thunderstore listing for each mod contains information that helps predict compatibility before installation.

Key fields to review on a Thunderstore mod listing:

• Last updated date: Mods updated recently are more likely to declare current dependency versions
• Dependency list: Cross reference each listed dependency against the versions currently installed in the target profile
• Description and changelog: Mod authors frequently note known incompatibilities or required companion mods in these sections
• Community rating and download count: Higher engagement mods tend to receive faster compatibility updates after game patches

Frequently Asked Questions

Latest Post:

• R2ModManPlus Theme Customization (UI & Layout)
• How Auto‑Update Plugins & Mod Sync Works
• How to Create Your First Mod Pack With R2ModManPlus
• How to Use R2ModManPlus Profiles for Different Game Modes
• How to Disable/Enable Mods Quickly With R2ModManPlus