Introduction

Has it ever bothered you that there are some beasts you can't rescue from the poachers? They're stuck inside indestructible wooden cages which you just can't open... Well not any more! This is a simple mod that should unlock all beast cages, no matter what. Even the indestructible ones that are locked, but don't have a padlock. It will even unlock the ones with padlocks, though I wouldn't necessarily recommend that because you might mess up a quest. (But the padlock is still attached so if you unlock it that might fix the quest...)

On the subject of quests, I am fairly confident that this mod will fix the infamous "biscuit bug" that prevents some people from completing the "Takes the Biscuit" quest. There are also a couple of treasure dungeons where the cube you need to get inside can become trapped inside a lockless cage if you unlock it but don't immediately complete the quest. I am reliably informed that this mod will fix those too.

If the creature inside the cage doesn't leave after you open the cage, try Accio on it. That often works...

Installation

STEP 1) Install UE4SS.
STEP 2a) Either install the mod automatically via the "Vortex" or "Mod Manager Download" buttons, or
STEP 2b) Do a manual download of the ZIP file then extract the OpenAllCages folder inside it to:
Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\

Usage / Key Bindings

By default the mod is triggered using the following key binding:

• ALT-DELETE = Unlock all nearby beast cages.
  

Please note that DELETE is the little key with DEL or DELETE written on it... NOT the big key top-right of your keyboard with a left arrow or BACKSPACE written on it! This binding can be changed easily by editing the file
Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\OpenAllCages\Scripts\main.lua

It should be obvious how to do it. A list of Key Names and Modifiers (CONTROL / ALT etc) can be found in the UE4SS documentation.

For example, if you want the key to be CTRL-F1 instead of ALT-DEL, change:
to:
Or to use the "1" key on the number pad without a modifier (i.e. without SHIFT, CTRL or ALT) use:
Troubleshooting

If the mod doesn't seem to work, check the UE4SS log file here:
Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\UE4SS.log

Cut & paste any errors from that log file into a POST message to me and I will try to help.

Get rid of the annoying UE4SS console window

Once UE4SS is installed, you will see a grey console window appear whenever you start the game. This is UE4SS doing its thing, but you don't really need to see this stuff. To get rid of it, edit the file Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\UE4SS-settings.ini and change the following three items to zero:

ConsoleEnabled = 0
GuiConsoleEnabled = 0
GuiConsoleVisible = 0

How to temporarily disable the mod

Either:

1) Disable it in Vortex.
2) Edit the file Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\mods.txt
add/edit a line to read: OpenAllCages : 0 and delete the file OpenAllCages\enabled.txt

How to re-enable the mod

Either:

1) Enable it in Vortex.
2) Edit the file Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\mods.txt
and add/edit a line to read: OpenAllCages : 1. You don't need to recreate OpenAllCages\enabled.txt

How to Un-Install

Either:

1) Remove it via Vortex, BUT also CHECK that the following folder is gone afterwards:
2) Delete the folder Steam\steamapps\common\Hogwarts Legacy\Phoenix\Binaries\Win64\Mods\OpenAllCages

Known Issues

• This mod will unlock all nearby beast cages. I don't know how far that extends...
• It's supposed to make a sound when the cage opens. I don't know why it doesn't.
• Don't take the on-screen information as gospel. When it says its unlocked two cages, that may or may not be true.
• Some open and empty cages are still marked as "locked" inside the game, so will be "unlocked" by this mod to no visible effect.