From 788eb98352abfb024ff83e5c8085f99248537602 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: AyeZeeBB <nxmbx123@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 22:47:02 -0500
Subject: [PATCH] Mods: a chunk no list describes gets an owner hash and meta
 in the merged bundle, instead of an empty record the game reads through null

merge_chunk_metadata gave such a chunk a record with no fields. The game's reader (0x41af080) takes
a record without "h64" as a "g" record and, with no "g" either, reads its guid through null
(Skate.exe+0x15b2c34: computerK-Fingerboard adds its grip texture to a game deck bundle whose list
has no record for it). The record is now an owner hash no resource has, with an empty meta, which
the game passes over.
---
 .../Vfs/Test/chunk_metadata_merge_tests.cpp   | 11 ++++++++++
 Engine/Vfs/mod_merge_combine.cpp              | 20 ++++++++++++++++++-
 2 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/Engine/Vfs/Test/chunk_metadata_merge_tests.cpp b/Engine/Vfs/Test/chunk_metadata_merge_tests.cpp
index 9bed834a..4c6b5836 100644
--- a/Engine/Vfs/Test/chunk_metadata_merge_tests.cpp
+++ b/Engine/Vfs/Test/chunk_metadata_merge_tests.cpp
@@ -170,6 +170,17 @@ int main() {
     check(read_list(merge_chunk_metadata(lists, unknown, gameList, shipped)) ==
               std::vector<Record>{mesh, Record{}, textureA, other, textureB, mesh, Record{}},
           "a chunk no list describes gets a record that says nothing, and the others stay in step");
+    // The game reads a record without "h64" as a "g" record, and one with neither through null.
+    {
+        const auto written = merge_chunk_metadata(lists, unknown, gameList, shipped);
+        const std::span<const unsigned char> bytes(reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(written.data()), written.size());
+        const auto root = db::read(bytes, "chunk metadata", nullptr);
+        check(std::ranges::all_of(root.children, [](const db::Node& row) {
+                  const auto* owner = row.field("h64");
+                  return owner && owner->payload().size() == 8 && row.field("meta");
+              }),
+              "every record has the owner hash and meta the game reads");
+    }
 
     // A bundle the game has no list for (it has no chunks there, or does not ship the bundle): every
     // chunk is a mod's, with the record of the copy it came in. Maps each add their loading screen
diff --git a/Engine/Vfs/mod_merge_combine.cpp b/Engine/Vfs/mod_merge_combine.cpp
index a9a5dcbf..bbd915a2 100644
--- a/Engine/Vfs/mod_merge_combine.cpp
+++ b/Engine/Vfs/mod_merge_combine.cpp
@@ -336,15 +336,33 @@ std::vector<std::byte> merge_chunk_metadata(std::span<const std::vector<std::byt
     for (std::size_t copy = 0; !shape && copy < read.size(); ++copy)
         if (read[copy]) shape = &*read[copy];
     if (!shape) return {};   // no copy has a list at all
-    // A chunk no list describes still takes up its place, with a record that says nothing.
+    // A chunk no list describes still takes up its place, with a record that says nothing: an owner
+    // hash no resource has, and no meta. The game's reader (0x41af080) takes a record without "h64"
+    // as a "g" record and, with no "g" either, reads its guid through null (Skate.exe+0x15b2c34: a
+    // mod's grip texture added to a game deck bundle whose list has no record for it; 2026-10-25).
     native_db::Node blank;
     blank.type = 2;
+    blank.terminated = true;
     for (std::size_t index = 0; index < records.size(); ++index)
         if (described[index]) {
             blank = records[index];
             blank.children.clear();
             break;
         }
+    {
+        native_db::Node owner;
+        owner.type = 9;
+        owner.named = true;
+        owner.name = "h64";
+        owner.owned.assign(8, 0);
+        native_db::Node meta;
+        meta.type = 2;
+        meta.named = true;
+        meta.name = "meta";
+        meta.terminated = true;
+        blank.children.push_back(std::move(owner));
+        blank.children.push_back(std::move(meta));
+    }
     for (std::size_t index = 0; index < records.size(); ++index)
         if (!described[index]) records[index] = blank;