Windows PC Multiplayer: Multiplayer codes don't connect and LAN disconnects frequently

[rohitrojo]

I host a multiplayer farm on my PC to play with my girlfriend. I bought the game from the Xbox/Microsoft store on Windows 11 and she bought it through Steam on a Mac. We started playing together using the auto generated Multiplayer codes. After a few weeks, she was unable to connect to my farm through the Multiplayer codes. Has anyone else experienced this, and is there any fix for it?

Now, we used multiple tunneling/VPN services like ZeroTier and NordVPN. We currently use NordVPN's Meshnet to play together, but she often disconnects randomly after her character glitches repeatedly on my screen. On her screen, she sees similar erratic movements from my character. Sometimes, she disconnects within a few seconds of joining; other times, she disconnects after we play through a few days. Killing monsters in the skull caverns tends to increase the glitches and disconnections (more packets being sent quickly). My assumption is that there is some packet loss due to the UDP connection and Stardew doesn't handle it well. I was once using SMAPI (this issue began occurring before i downloaded modes) while playing with her and I saw some errors:

[18:33:32 {DEBUG/TRACE} game] {DebugOutput/WarningMessage}: Received unhandled library message {Acknowledge/Ping/Pong} from {Her IP address in our NordVPN Meshnet}:49695.

These errors occur after she disconnects [18:33:25 TRACE SMAPI] Player quit: -456797026218736048. It's confusing to see "Acknowledge" because a UDP connection shouldn't implement an acknwoledge packet because that's what makes a UDP connection fast. I know that UDP connections don't handle packet loss, but is there a way for Stardew to better handle packet loss and prevent disconnections? Or should I use a different service for UDP tunneling? I can also provide pcapng files of some packets that Wireshark saw in port 24642.

Also, if there are many people encountering the same problem with LAN connections and no plans for fixing this issue, I might begin working on a mod that better handles multiplayer connections.

I am also considering buying Stardew through Steam so that we can potentially connect as Steam friends. Is it possible to get a refund so that I can buy again through Steam, or would I have to just pay another $15?

Version: 1.6.15 build 24354
My Laptop: Dell G16 7630, Windows 11
Idk what Mac she has lmao I'll update this after I ask her
Language: English
Multiplayer
She uses controller, I primarily use keyboard/mouse
These bugs occur both in Vanilla and Modded (only I occasionally use mods, but I usually turn mods off when we play together). These bugs began before I started using mods.
I have attached the full SMAPI error log below.
I cannot attach my save file because it is too large.
These bugs have been occuring for around 6-8 months.
I also could not find "PC" as an option for a prefix

 

[mewsubi]

I host a multiplayer farm on my PC to play with my girlfriend. I bought the game from the Xbox/Microsoft store on Windows 11 and she bought it through Steam on a Mac. We started playing together using the auto generated Multiplayer codes. After a few weeks, she was unable to connect to my farm through the Multiplayer codes. Has anyone else experienced this, and is there any fix for it?

Now, we used multiple tunneling/VPN services like ZeroTier and NordVPN. We currently use NordVPN's Meshnet to play together, but she often disconnects randomly after her character glitches repeatedly on my screen. On her screen, she sees similar erratic movements from my character. Sometimes, she disconnects within a few seconds of joining; other times, she disconnects after we play through a few days. Killing monsters in the skull caverns tends to increase the glitches and disconnections (more packets being sent quickly). My assumption is that there is some packet loss due to the UDP connection and Stardew doesn't handle it well. I was once using SMAPI (this issue began occurring before i downloaded modes) while playing with her and I saw some errors:


These errors occur after she disconnects [18:33:25 TRACE SMAPI] Player quit: -456797026218736048. It's confusing to see "Acknowledge" because a UDP connection shouldn't implement an acknwoledge packet because that's what makes a UDP connection fast. I know that UDP connections don't handle packet loss, but is there a way for Stardew to better handle packet loss and prevent disconnections? Or should I use a different service for UDP tunneling? I can also provide pcapng files of some packets that Wireshark saw in port 24642.

Also, if there are many people encountering the same problem with LAN connections and no plans for fixing this issue, I might begin working on a mod that better handles multiplayer connections.

I am also considering buying Stardew through Steam so that we can potentially connect as Steam friends. Is it possible to get a refund so that I can buy again through Steam, or would I have to just pay another $15?

Version: 1.6.15 build 24354
My Laptop: Dell G16 7630, Windows 11
Idk what Mac she has lmao I'll update this after I ask her
Language: English
Multiplayer
She uses controller, I primarily use keyboard/mouse
These bugs occur both in Vanilla and Modded (only I occasionally use mods, but I usually turn mods off when we play together). These bugs began before I started using mods.
I have attached the full SMAPI error log below.
I cannot attach my save file because it is too large.
These bugs have been occuring for around 6-8 months.
I also could not find "PC" as an option for a prefix

Yes, Stardew uses UDP, but it also uses a reliability layer built on top of UDP, as you are seeing with the ACK packets.

I don't see any reason this should be happening, though things can get messy once you start introducing VPNs into the mix.

Steam networking should be the most reliable connection. We don't handle refund requests here, so I recommend emailing the support team & explaining the situation to them, and see if you can refund & buy the game on Steam. Perhaps they could share a Steam key for you to use, alternatively.

Sorry you're experiencing issues, and I hope the team can get them resolved

 

[rohitrojo]

@

Yes, Stardew uses UDP, but it also uses a reliability layer built on top of UDP, as you are seeing with the ACK packets.

I don't see any reason this should be happening, though things can get messy once you start introducing VPNs into the mix.

Steam networking should be the most reliable connection. We don't handle refund requests here, so I recommend emailing the support team & explaining the situation to them, and see if you can refund & buy the game on Steam. Perhaps they could share a Steam key for you to use, alternatively.

Sorry you're experiencing issues, and I hope the team can get them resolved

Thank you for the reply. What about the game codes? My girlfriend has not been able to connect to my farm using game codes for a few months now. They worked when we first started playing together, I'm not sure what changed.

 

[mewsubi]

@

Thank you for the reply. What about the game codes? My girlfriend has not been able to connect to my farm using game codes for a few months now. They worked when we first started playing together, I'm not sure what changed.

Game codes depend on whether you're both playing via Steam, or if either of you are playing on a non-Steam platform. There are potential things to try in either case, though usually if game codes stop working there's often something affecting the network configuration (firewalls, VPNs, issues with the ISP, etc.).