Crash when starting a new file

### Description of the crash:

### Can you reproduce? If so please list the steps:
- [ ] No, I cannot reproduce this crash
- [ /] Yes, here are the steps to reproduce the crash:

1. Open the game
2. Start a new file
3. Crash

### Screenshots or videos:
https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/de199c61-5e07-4c92-b3c3-91ee2b8cf3f9

### System Information:
- OS: MacOS Tahoe
- GFX Backend: Metal
- Game Version: 1.0.2
- Rom Version: US

Start by reproducing the crash on macOS Tahoe with the Metal backend using game version 1.0.2 and the US ROM, following the three steps in the report. Use the linked video and any resulting crash details to locate the new-file startup path. Done means starting a new file no longer crashes in this environment.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.