So did some testing. You can enable the console and DevMode in the sots2.exe.config file, in the x86 folder. Next, and this takes a lot of HD space, every folder in the asset, well, folder, needs to be duplicated.

An example, the Base folder needs all of its usual content copied into another folder called _assetbin , which you need to make.

TLDR, every folder needs to be duplicated into its own _assetbin folder.
Base would be Base\_assetbin\everything in the original base folder.
This has to be done for all DLC and the EOF folder as well.
eof would be eof\_assetbin\everything in the original eof folder.

You'll get the textures back and everything else, but the console mode was buggy from the start, so it's stability is not the best in an already unstable game.

Afraid not. All of my SOTS2 files were lost in a direct lightning strike hit on my unit which fried my PC on Christmas day. I personally didn't use the console after a certain incident on the forums, I just remember it wasn't worth the numerous crashes it caused.

However if all else fails, you could try opening a .dll editor\viewer and seeing if any of the code in the files gives any clues, as I do recall you had to rename folders to something like _debug.

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi Rossinna-Sama, you're my only hope! Okay it wasn't a joke, with Kerberos forums done you're the only one who might be able to help me. I've wanted to return to Sword of the Stars 2 after a long time. While the strategy layer had its flaws, the space battles were among the best I've ever played, and I used to love setting up my own huge battles there. I used to do this via console commands and a personal mod that tweaks a few things. The problem is, I don't remember how to enable the console, especially not with textures enabled. There was a guide in a thread on the forums but with them gone and Wayback Machine never archiving that far this knowledge is lost. I remember something about launch arguments and copying the game files to a second set of folders. I imagine if there's anyone who might hold this knowledge that would be you.

At the present time, no. Focusing on my studies.

Sword of the Stars II Project Hiver will continue to update?

I miss the timegate forums