Quick answer: Godot 4 ResourceLoader failing to find resources from a symlinked PAK file? Some platforms don't resolve symlinks at the file API level - resolve manually before passing path.
Symlinked DLC PAK on macOS; ResourceLoader.load fails; same PAK via direct path works.
Resolve symlinks
var real_path = FileAccess.get_real_path(symlink_path)Pass the resolved path. Engine reads from the real location.
Or avoid symlinks
Copy the PAK to the canonical location. Symlinks introduce fragility.
Verify per platform
macOS, Linux, Windows handle symlinks differently. Test on each shipping platform.
“Symlinks are platform-quirky. Resolution at boundary avoids most issues.”
If your DLC system uses symlinks, the resolution helper is mandatory. Documented; predictable.