My attempt at fixing BDO Market issue for the good of everyone

[KAMIKADzE]

Brace yourselves, it's quite a lengthy story, but I'll try to make it as short as possible, while making it complete and understandable for the average user.

For me it all started after 2026.02.26 Maintenance, I've updated my BDO Patch(by the way, that was the reason, why there was only 1 patch update at that time), logged into the game and found out that awesome error: "Failed to read Market info. Please try again."
And so...if you already know what kind of man I am, then to no surprise of yours I went straight to the game's log files, and found nothing useful there (there were actually few useful lines, from not directly related issue and not in the game log, but hold your horses, it'll be later in the story). So what do you do, if you don't know the cause of error? - right, you try most obvious things and /whatever you think the support team will ask you, if you'll have to contact them (to save the time for yourself and them), and so I went and: changed Channels, Characters, IPs, time (accurate, future, past, other time zones), redownloaded service.ini, rechecked files, tried deleting cache and settings and even reinstalling the game (although, to be fair - I saved my time and copypasted Paz folder, which is basically the biggest part of the game). From doing all of that I only figured out that they use new key for installation (expect updated JP client auto-detection in Launcher v0.8e, it already is), that meant(for me) that I have to contact support team, and so I did.
So I've described the issue (with screenshots, in original language of course) and in a shorter form, than this story already is, basically it looked something like that (slightly redacted and excluding pictures):

Failed to read Market info. Please try again.

This problem started since 02.26 update. Never had this problem before.

Cannot access Market from menu (new and old).
Can view Market from Warehouse, but cannot Deposit/Withdraw.
Can access Market via shortcut, can view, but cannot make any changes.
Can see overall items, but cannot see ranges and/or buy/sell.
Prices are also loading on items.

I can use Market through the website, but not being able to Deposit/Withdraw is a huge problem.
EU/NA had similar problem recently, you can try asking your colleagues, unfortunately they haven't stated publicly how they fixed it.

(Described what I've tried so far, see above^)

No other issues with the game, just this problem with Marketplace.

This is the only "somewhat accurate quote"(I've written it in Japanese) that I'll be providing, in order to not make this post enormously long, and of course I won't be providing any responses (that's just not what I do).
To no surprise of anyone, we have went fully into "have you tried turning if off and on again"(not exactly, but you get the point) mode. Basically I and support team went into completely opposite ways (me trying to fix the issue and them trying to dig as much info on me as they possibly could), to not make this overly long - I've provided what I've thought could be of relevant information to them (game log, IP connection tests to all of their servers and relevant ports, and my Windows version, because I already knew that it has something to do with that). We are on the 2nd day in the timeline, by the way. Since they were of no help, I decided to check things myself (a bit risky, don't do that) by "viewing" the traffic between the game and servers, and so I found out that the game tries to connect to the server using TLS v1.0, and the server is responding with (Handshake Failure over Protocol Version), and so, at the end of my reply I've politely asked them to ask the devs if they've changed anything related to the TLS encryption in the game or server (I even mentioned that someone from the future sent me the info about TLSv1.0 Handshake Failure, with the relevant error codes).
While waiting for their reply, I've went to their Marketplace server (game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com) and checked the certificate, which turned out to be domain-wide for jp.playblackdesert.com, and to no surprise:

TLS 1.3 Yes
TLS 1.2 Yes
TLS 1.1 No
TLS 1.0 No
SSL 3 No
SSL 2 No
Valid from Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 UTC

There we have the cause of the issue, same thing with EU/NA, they just had their certificate changed a bit earlier, while KR is still unaware, because game-trade.kr.playblackdesert.com:

TLS 1.3 Yes
TLS 1.2 Yes
TLS 1.1 Yes
TLS 1.0 Yes
SSL 3 No
SSL 2 No

So why the issue is exactly with Marketplace, if we're dealing with domain-wide certificate? Well, it also affects BlackDesertPatcher(kind-of, more on that later):

Code: Select all

OS VERSION(Launcher):Windows 7 Ultimate Edition SP1 64-bit
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledSSLVerify:0
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledFollowLocation:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledALPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledNPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _sslVersion:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _httpVersion:4
[GlobalCurlConfig] _dnsCacheTimeoutSeconds:300
[PERS] The protocol needs to be changed.
[PERS] ENABLED(use HTTP Mode)(Launcher)
[LAUNCHER] Change CDN URL : http://jpo-o-dn.playblackdesert.com/UploadData/
[LAUNCHER] CURL VERSION: 7.76.1(libcurl/7.76.1 Schannel)
[LAUNCHER] LAUNCHER SSL SUPPORT
[LAUNCHER] ENABLED(use HTTP Mode)(PAPatchLauncher)

Translating that^ to the human language: patcher changes protocol to plain http due to Windows version (there's no harm in everyone knowing that you download BDO from BDO website anyway), which is basically the only relevant piece of information that support team could dig out of everything they could find on my PC, but they should have known that already in the first place (and I'll remind you, that I've already provided them game log, which contains info on the OS and even specifically mentioned in the post that I use Windows 7, in advance, so while data digging could have given them a hint, it's not exactly it).
Can't be bothered to check datetime in support ticket (takes time to login), but we're somewhere at day 3 or so (was kinda busy at the time, so I've spent more time replying to the ticket, than on figuring out the cause), I'm checking their reply and...a "data diging post with their PERS and bat files"(basically trying to get more info: Game's cache, settings, config, all logs, pings, DxDiag, etc.), by the way I've already pointed to them out before, that their PERS is trying to get outdated info (like "coherent_ui 32 Copy Not Found" and "bin" folder Not Found, that were removed from the game long time ago, and that it fails to get "coherent_ui 64" files, it also failed to test connections, but that was due to Windows 7, that I've also pointed out), that I've already tried (before the initial first post) wiping cache/settings and even reinstalling the game (all inis, etc.), and so the only relevant information of logs I've already provided, and even more than that, so I politely explained all of that and provided the newly found information on top and even said that they can fix their curl request by adding "--tlsv1.2"(means to use TLS protocols not lower than TLSv1.2) or adding TLSv1.0 to certificate(which is obviously not the way to go, but still) and that I'll have to wait for them to fix it (technically they could also not specify TLS version and if I'm not wrong curl7.76.1 should default to acceptable TLS version, or even like upgrade curl version).
On the bright side - I already have a tool to Encrypt/Decrypt data collected by PERS, and know all of its inns and outs, so expect this new addition in v0.8e - you have the right to know what they collect from you, I'm even considering adding the upload functionality (someone might troll them and result in the change of things).
While waiting for their response I decided that it's finally time for me to check why the f Windows version matters (even though that I was very busy, and the Spring Pearls event on top of that, and believe me it's not that easy to check). To not make this story even longer, let's go straight to the point - they check OS version to decide which protocol to use, ignoring Windows settings for protocol version (and why would even Windows settings matter, since they use curl anyway, which is completely independent and the newest version supports what? - Windows Vista, but even if they wouldn't use curl - I have both TLSv1.2 and TLSv1.3 installed on my system, so it all actually makes no sense). So which versions are blessed with connectivity to the Marketplace? Well, if your OSVersion >= 9600 (Windows 8.1), and here we return to our story about BlackDesertPatcher (very useful for confirmation, in case you don't believe in my "investigation" skills):

Code: Select all

[PERS] SystemInformation : 19045
OS VERSION(Launcher):Windows 10(22H2) Ultimate Edition 64-bit
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledSSLVerify:0
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledFollowLocation:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledALPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledNPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _sslVersion:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _httpVersion:4
[GlobalCurlConfig] _dnsCacheTimeoutSeconds:300
[PERS] No need to change protocols.
[LAUNCHER] CURL VERSION: 7.76.1(libcurl/7.76.1 Schannel)
[LAUNCHER] LAUNCHER SSL SUPPORT
[PERS] SystemInformation : Windows 10(22H2) Ultimate Edition 64-bit
Start patchPatcher()
Start refreshPatcherVersionInfo
REQ_URL(PA_CurlFileDownloader.cpp PACurlFileDownloader::download_real):https://jpo-o-dn.playblackdesert.com/UploadData/patcher_version

Code: Select all

[PERS] SystemInformation : 9600
OS VERSION(Launcher):Windows 8.1 Ultimate Edition 64-bit
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledSSLVerify:0
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledFollowLocation:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledALPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _enabledNPN:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _sslVersion:1
[GlobalCurlConfig] _httpVersion:4
[GlobalCurlConfig] _dnsCacheTimeoutSeconds:300
[PERS] No need to change protocols.
[LAUNCHER] CURL VERSION: 7.76.1(libcurl/7.76.1 Schannel)
[LAUNCHER] LAUNCHER SSL SUPPORT
[PERS] SystemInformation : Windows 8.1 Ultimate Edition 64-bit
Start patchPatcher()
Start refreshPatcherVersionInfo
REQ_URL(PA_CurlFileDownloader.cpp PACurlFileDownloader::download_real):https://jpo-o-dn.playblackdesert.com/UploadData/patcher_version

Solved, right? Just make your Windows 7 appear as a higher Windows version! Easy as that. Well...not exactly, technically it's possible by rewriting/editing your kernel, and there is even one abandoned example on the whole internet, which already sounds good, anyway, without editing your kernel (and possibly bricking your Windows along the way) there's really only 1 way to "fake" Windows version - by injection (the thing I already did above^), but that wouldn't work very well on the game itself with a running anti-cheat, wouldn't it? Well...obviously it will not work, but you're free to prove me wrong. And so there are basically 2 options left, that I could think of, apart of rewriting/editing your kernel of course - editing BlackDesert executable, to ignore Windows version in decision of what protocol to use, and a huge red flag for possible , or fiddle with network connections, with a yellow flag for possible , and at this point I'm like - hopefully they'll just fix the thing at which I already pointed as precisely as I could (obviously I'm not telling them that I know where and what exactly they check, but technically I could fix it myself, for a price of free, if they would just let me to, it's actually a lot easier than what I did above^), I basically did their job, all that's left to do is just to spend a few minutes to fix it. Guess what happens next? It's a pity that their names are not displayed in a conversation, so I'm not 100% sure that it's another person, but from the construction of the text it seems like it was, so let's pretend that I guessed correctly, someone higher in the chain comes in, throws me a link to the Download page (where it says that the game now supports Windows 10+, and I knew that, and actually thought that this would come up even before they tried to dig as much info on me as they could, but since it didn't, even when I pointed out Windows version myself and that it was the cause of some unrelated issues - I was actually like 50/50 that they might even fix it) and politely says to f off. I haven't even bothered to reply.
So at this point (it's like day 4 or 5) I'm aware that they're not going to fix it, and by the way, if you still remember what I wrote above^ - they actually support Windows 8.1+, not Windows 10+, but /whatever (it's all just a made-up restriction anyway). I was still very busy, and by the way I still am to an extent (a lot of work and family stuff), slowly sorting things out, so I left it at that, like maybe they'll reconsider (they actually reconsidered what they wrote, and even multiple times, they've probably spent as much time writing posts, considering that I'm bad at Japanese text and it takes me way more time), but since I'm writing this post it should be obvious that they did not, even to this day.
Few days later, I'm back at it, my options are editing BlackDesert executable and fiddling with packets (or I could install Windows 11, nope ), so I chose the lesser evil and decided that upgrading TLS connection is the way to go. With the path taken, acknowledging the risk, I've ventured in one of my worst fields (those are networking and drivers) . Not wanting to code the networking stuff, like no, just let me fix your game...anyway, I set my path on finding the available software solution, and from first sight it didn't look like there were many, and when I tried, most of them weren't what they claimed they were, but long story short - I managed to get it all working, and it's not the easiest thing to set up, but it works, and I didn't have to code the networking stuff , so let me explain to you how it works and what do you need to do, in case they decide to softlock your Windows 10 in the future, or you're locked out of your 7 at the moment. From what I've found out, there is at least 1 paid (not cheap) software that does all of what we need and way more, but I'm not sure that it does, as there's no evaluation, or the way to check it, so if you're not that rich to try it out - you'll need 2 pieces of software:
BlackDesert (TLSv1.0) <-> Proxification Software <-> Proxy Server <-> Black Desert Server (TLSv1.2/1.3 Microsoft Azure, in case of JP server)
You don't need any skills in "viewing" your traffic(network connections/packets), all the relevant information can be obtained from service.ini in your BlackDesert folder (just open it with any text-editing software), we're interested in gameTradeMarketUrl, which is game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com in this case, https there means that it uses port 443. We also need the information from certificate, the easies way of obtaining that is:

1. Go in your browser to https://game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com (might not work for IPs outside of JP)
2. Click on the lock icon -> connection -> more information, find the button to view certificate (security tab in firefox-based browsers) and click on it.
3. Copypasta all of the information to text file or scroll to where the download of certificate is, click on it and save to your PC.

So now that we have all of the required information, we just have to configure our Proxification Software and Proxy Server, let's start with the later:

1. Any proxy server, that can have separate, configurable connections with client and server (server has to be over HTTPS) will work. Sounds simple, but too many of them claim what they can't do.
2. In options set your Server IP and Port for inbound connections (whichever you like, this is what we will use in our Proxification Software).
3. Now configure inbound protocol. It has to support TLSv1.0 (supporting other versions won't harm, but v1.0 is a must in our case), as for the type - it doesn't matter, but your Proxification Software should support it (Socks, Https, etc.), it's probably easier to find Proxification Software that supports your Server's type.
4. Now for the difficult part - inbound certificate. Some Proxy Servers can mimic outbound server's certificate, some not, and some can partially. What we're trying to achieve is basically a copy of certificate we obtained from trade server, the only thing that differs will be the issuer (either your Proxy Server, or you, if your Proxy Server cannot). The easiest way is of course to use Proxy Server that can mimic, but even if yours can not, it's not that hard to create a single certificate replica, but for the sake of reducing this already gigantic wall of text - I'll spare you of that, just google how to create certificate and just use all of the found info from trade server certificate.
5. Finally the outbound protocol. It has to support TLSv1.2 or 1.3 or both and it has to be over HTTPS. Reuse destination info provided in packets, in case you Proxy Server cannot - enter address and SNI manually (in our case 52.140.237.68:443 and game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com, you can obtain IP by pinging game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com, using some sites that provide info about url, etc. etc.)

Now that our Proxy Server is set and ready, let's configure our Proxification:

1. Make the rule for BlackDesert64.exe, that access to game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com on port 443 should be forwarded through our Proxy Server at its IP:Port.

That's it. You can also make rules to forward traffic to IP of trade server (52.140.237.68) through the Proxy Server, and even add extra ports, which BDO likes to use, like 8884, 8885, 8888, 8889, but as of now the game only uses game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com:443 for the Marketplace, so those extra rules just won't be used, but won't harm either.
In the end we have a little bit more of RAM consumption and a few less FPS (when you use Marketplace, for the most part, in other times the impact is minimal). For those extra FPS in PvP you can always close this solution , unless you're using Market in your PvP routine, and then start it again whenever you need it.
So far I haven't been banned for externally upgrading TLS protocol for the Marketplace (totally don't care about http of the Patcher) yet, and hopefully I won't be, after posting this mini-guide. I don't recommend jumping right in and testing it right away, just sit back and watch if I'll be banned, and when enough of time has passed for you to consider it being "safish" - try it. I also recommend to test your setup with browser, instead of the game (point Browser to your Proxy Server, using your Proxification Software, and just enter https://game-trade.jp.playblackdesert.com in your browser). I have waited a bit, before posting this solution publicly, letting them reconsider fixing the game (in that case no one, apart of me and PA, would even know about all of this nonsense) and also testing the waters, so to say, so that I'd be more comfortable suggesting it to anyone else. If you've made it this far - my congratulations, you're a patient reader

[Balanor]

Do you need to buy server to set up proxy server? Why not provide example with the names of the programs?

[KAMIKADzE]

Do you need to buy server to set up proxy server? Why not provide example with the names of the programs?

I've set a few baits in my post, on purpose (to bait those, who are aware; trying to catch PA), but that wasn't one of those, moreover, the fist question wasn't what I expected at all but let's start with the 2nd one:

• That was a deliberate choice, and I still stand by it.
• Why make a guide based on the program, that can be abandoned tomorrow, if you can make the one suitable for all? even if it's not a 100% line in line.
• It's just a mini-guide (mentioned in the post), as a bonus to the story, not the other way around.
• If you're not willing to find the available programs, from my description of those - then it's probably better to not.

Now to the first question. You can actually setup your Proxy Server on the separate machine (Server), but I would recommend against that, for several reasons (there are benefits and drawbacks):

• Performance (+).
  That would be the positive side of setting it up on the physical Server, as you would greatly reduce RAM and CPU usage of this solution, but it's not that high anyway.
• Cost (-).
  Unless you already have a Server, lying around - it'll be a costly solution.
• Latency (-).
  It'll take longer to connect your game with the game's server, and although Marketplace don't really require a good connection, that will still be a thing, slightly reducing the first aspect of performance.
• Mimic (-). The biggest drawback, and the main reason why you should not.
  Your connection IP to the trade server will differ, from the connection IP to the other game servers, which is completely not what you want and can rise many questions on the other end. Technically you can avoid that by routing all of the game's traffic through your separate Proxy Server, but that will greatly increase your latency, unless it's literally sitting somewhere next to you, making your performance gains seem negligible at this point.

So to answer your question - no you don't need to buy anything, let alone a server, you just setup a server on the same physical machine as your game is running on, it's not that difficult as it sounds. This Proxy Server will be set on your PC, with access available only to you (technically you can open up the access for the web, but that's not what you want).
Hopefully that was clear enough