After investigating this issue thoroughly, it turns out that there are several different common scenarios that might cause the game client to behave in this way when trying to connect to an existing multiplayer server. Here’s a list of culprits that might trigger the NetworkException’ (Join Failed) error with Starbound: Now that you are aware of every potential culprit that might be responsible for this issue, here’s a list of methods that other Starbound games have used to fix this particular issue:
1. Enabling UPnP (if applicable)
One of the most common signaled issues that will produce this Starbound error is a case where the ports used by the game are not forwarded, so the connection with the game server cannot be established by your computer. Nowadays, the vast majority of routers are perfectly capable of forwarding the ports used by the games we play automatically – via a feature called UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). So if your router supports Universal Plug and Play, the solution is extremely easy – Simply access your router settings and enable UPnP to allow your router to automatically forward the ports used by the game you play. Even though the instructions on how to do this are different from router to router, you need to follow a series of generic instructions to enable UPnP on your router. Once you have ensured that UPnP is enabled, reboot both your router and the PC you play the game on and see if the issue is now fixed. In case your router does not support Universal Plug and Play, move down to the next potential fix below.
2. Forwarding StarBound’s Ports Manually
In case you’re using an older router model that doesn’t support UPnP, you’ll need to take some additional steps to forward the ports used by the game manually (depending on the platform you’re playing Starbound on). Several affected users that we’re dealing with the same kind of issue have reported that the problem was finally fixed after they accessed their router settings manually and forwarded the ports used by Starbound. Note: Every situation will be slightly different depending on your router manufacturer, but we’ve created a series of generic steps that should walk you through the entire process. Follow the instructions below to forward the required StarBound ports manually from your router settings: If the same kind of issue is still occurring even after you forwarded the required ports manually, move down to the next potential fix below.
3.Checking the Game File’s Integrity (Steam Only)
According to some affected users, this issue can also be related to some type of system file corruption that is affecting the local installation of Starbound. If you’re encountering this issue while launching the game through Steam, you should take the time to perform a file integrity check and repair your Steam installation of Starbound. This operation will check every game file individually and replace every corrupted item with a healthy equivalent – In case an item is missing, this operation will also replace it. Follow the instructions below to verify the Starbound’s file inside Steam with a file integrity check: If you still see the same NetworkException error when attempting to connect to a Starbound server, move down to the next fix below.
4. Whitelist Starbound inside Windows Firewall
If none of the other methods above have worked for you and you’re using the Windows Security suite (Windows Defender + Windows Firewall), it’s likely that this issue appears due to an instance where the connection with the game server is treated as a potential security breach and it’s actively being blocked. If this is a suitable scenario, the fix is simple – You need to whitelist both the main executable and the Steam launcher (if you’re launching through Steam) inside your AV / Firewall settings. Note: In case you’re using a 3rd party security suite, the instructions you’ll need to follow to create a whitelisting rule will be different from app to app. Search online for instructions on your specific security app. But if you’re using Windows Defender + Windows Firewall, follow the step-by-step instructions below to create a whitelisting rule for Starbound and the Steam launcher to fix the issue: If you’re seeing the same disk write error even if you followed the steps, go to the next possible fix for this error.
5. Using a Hamachi VPN
If none of the methods above have allowed you to connect to a Starbound server normally, chances are you’re dealing with some type of network restriction that is somehow restricting the data exchanges your PC makes with Starbound’s server. In this case, you should be able to fix the problem by using a VPN to make it seem that you’re not using a shared IPv4 connection. The easiest way to do this is to simply install a conventional gaming VPN. But if you want to maximize your chances of success, the proper way to do it is to use Hamachi (or a similar VPN tunneling app) to create a dedicated VPN network that you and all your friends are connected to when joining a Starbound server. Note: This might make your ping higher, but it’s still better than not being able to play the game at all. Follow the instructions below to install hamachi and set up a VPN network to use with your friends when playing Starbond:
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