The "could not find translation files" error is essentially a pathfinding issue. Port Royale 2 stores its language-specific data (English, German, French, Spanish, etc.) in files typically named english.ini , german.ini , or inside folders like Modules or Locale .
Can not find translation file - Port Royale 2 - Steam Community 22 Mar 2021 — port royale 2 could not find translation files
This is the most effective solution for running Port Royale 2 under Linux or macOS with Wine. The "could not find translation files" error is
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Ascaron Entertainment\Port Royale 2] "InstallPath"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steamapps\\common\\Port Royale 2" Use code with caution. Click . Set "Save as type" to All Files ( . ) . Name the file pr2_fix.reg and save it to your desktop. Windows Registry Editor Version 5
Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Try a fresh re-install of the game. Additionally, avoid installing it to the default C:\Program Files (x86) directory. Instead, install it to a simpler path like C:\Games to prevent potential admin-rights issues.
Once resolved, Port Royale 2 runs surprisingly well on modern systems, though you may need to force a resolution via the config file if you want widescreen support.