The error message "unable to open bigfile bigfile000 updated" is a critical failure typically associated with games developed on the Foundation engine, such as the Tomb Raider series (2013, Rise , and Shadow ), Deus Ex: Mankind Divided , and Hitman
. This error indicates that the game client cannot access or read the primary archived data files required to launch or load specific levels. Common Causes
File Corruption: Interrupted updates or disk errors can corrupt the bigfile.000 archives.
Permission Conflicts: The game may lack the necessary administrator rights to "open" or modify these large system-level files.
Security Software Interference: Antivirus or firewall programs sometimes flag these large archives as suspicious, blocking the game's access to them.
Disk Space or Hardware Failure: Insufficient drive space or failing sectors on a hard drive can prevent the game from reading the extensive data stored in these files. Recommended Troubleshooting Steps unable to open bigfile bigfile000 updated
Verify Game Integrity: On platforms like Steam Support, right-click the game in your library, go to Properties > Installed Files, and select Verify integrity of game files. This will automatically detect and redownload corrupted bigfile components.
Run as Administrator: Navigate to the game's installation folder (e.g., SteamApps/common/Tomb Raider), right-click the .exe file, and select Run as administrator.
Whitelist in Antivirus: Add the game's installation folder as an exception in your antivirus or Windows Security settings to prevent the software from locking the bigfiles.
Update Graphics Drivers: While seemingly unrelated, engine-level errors can sometimes trigger when an outdated GPU driver fails to interface correctly with game assets.
Check for Disk Errors: Ensure your drive has at least 35–40 GB of free space (depending on the specific title) and run a disk check (chkdsk) to rule out hardware failure. The error message "unable to open bigfile bigfile000
Are you seeing this error with a specific game or after a recent update?
My Game is Not Launching or is Crashing on PC - Forza Support
Repair Gaming services. ... Reinstall the Gaming Services app on your Windows 10/11 device: Select the Search icon on the taskbar, Forza Support
Q: Can I just change the extension from .bigfile000 to .mp4 or .pdf?
A: No. The extension is not the problem. The internal structure (header and data blocks) is misaligned. Changing the extension will corrupt the file further.
Q: Why does it say "updated" when I haven’t touched the file?
A: A background process (anti-virus scan, cloud sync like OneDrive/Dropbox, or Windows Search Indexer) may have tried to read and update the file’s "last accessed" timestamp, which the proprietary software misinterprets as a structural update. Frequently Asked Questions Q: Can I just change
Q: Is this a virus?
A: Unlikely. Some ransomware does rename files to .bigfile000, but that is rare. Run a malware scan to be safe, but this is almost always a software versioning or corruption issue.
If you’ve ruled out the above, consider these final steps:
dd (Linux) or HxD (Windows) can open files byte-by-byte, ignoring format errors.bigfile000_updated likely left a .log or .err file.bigfile000, redo the update process in a controlled environment.Tags: #Troubleshooting #PCGaming #CorruptedFiles #TechSupport
Are you getting an error message stating "Unable to open bigfile.bigfile000" when trying to launch a game (common in titles like Watch Dogs, Assassin's Creed, or The Crew)?
This error usually indicates that the game launcher cannot read the core data archive. This is rarely a hardware failure and is almost always caused by file corruption or permission issues.
Here are the top solutions, ranked from the most likely to the least likely to fix the issue.