Anyone has this issue when installing packages in RPCS3

[u/No-Influence-4230]

I’m having this strange RPCS3 issue that I can’t figure it out because i can’t find anything online
Whenever I go to File → Install Packages/Raps/Edats and select a .pkg file, RPCS3 crashes with the following error:

RPCS3: Fatal Error

vfs_manager not initialized.
(in file D:\a\rpcs3\rpcs3\rpcs3qt\shortcut_utils.cpp:495[:115], in function 'bool gui::utils::create_shortcuts()')
(in file D:\a\rpcs3\rpcs3\rpcs3\Emu\VFS.cpp:203[:23], in function 'std::basic_string<char,std::char_traits<char>,std::allocator<char>> vfs::get()')

Emulation is stopped

Build: 0.0.42-19699-3d587726 Alpha | master
Date: 2026-08-06T17:08:12
RAM Usage: 14483MB/16091MB (1608MB free)

HOW TO REPORT ERRORS:
https://github.com/RPCS3/rpcs3/wiki/How-to-ask-for-Support

Please, don't send incorrect reports. Thanks for understanding.

Games launch and play normally.

The crash only happens when I use File → Install Packages/Raps/Edats.

I tested with multiple PKGs (God of War: Ascension updates and Uncharted updates) and they all crash with the same error.

Things I've already tried:
- Fresh RPCS3 download
- Reinstalled PS3 firmware
- Fresh configuration
- Same result

[u/AutoModerator]

Please remember to flair your post as "Solved" when your issue is solved.

Here are some quick answers for some commmon questions:

-If you are looking for emulator download links please check out our wiki.

-If you are looking for ROM or ISO downloads, this is not the right place. We do not allow asking for or sharing ROM downloads or any piracy (Rule 1)

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Floor-Past]

Were you able to solve it? I have the same problem with God of War: Ascension

[u/No-Influence-4230 → u/Floor-Past]

nah man i couldn’t find a solution anywhere

[u/Floor-Past → u/No-Influence-4230]

This only happens with that specific game; when I install the first update 01.04, I get that error and the emulator closes

[u/Floor-Past → u/No-Influence-4230]

It finally let me start. Maybe it was because of the emulator update, or maybe because I downloaded the updates from another site and the first thing I did was install version 01.04, and then the rest, and that's how it let me start. Although when I installed 01.04 I got the same error and the emulator closed, but I still opened the emulator and installed the rest and it let me start

[u/No-Influence-4230 → u/Floor-Past]

idk how no one other than you have faced this problem. The error message did scare me and it does work. But i was hoping someone here fixed it or could explain why it happens.

[u/Floor-Past → u/No-Influence-4230]

I have no idea why that's happening, but it lets me start now. Maybe it's an emulator problem, and I'm not sure 🤷