Windrose Alpha Connection Guide
As Windrose (formerly Crosswind) is currently in its Alpha Playtest phase, many players encounter the "Failed to Join" or "Connection Timed Out" errors. This guide covers the most effective fixes for co-op connectivity and network lag.
๐ก Current Network Status
- System: Peer-to-Peer (Co-op) and Official Playtest Clusters (NA/EU).
- Common Error: NAT Incompatibility between party leader and members.
- Stuttering: Often caused by high CPU usage on the host player's machine.
Fix 1: Port Forwarding for Co-op
If you are hosting a co-op session (up to 4 players), your router must allow the game to communicate. Open the following ports for **UDP**:
- Windrose Core: 15636, 15637 (UDP)
- Steam Networking: 27015 - 27036 (UDP)
Fix 2: NAT Type Troubleshooting
In the Alpha build, "Moderate" or "Strict" NAT types frequently cause join failures.
How to Check: Open the game menu and look at the bottom-right corner. If it says **NAT: Strict**, you will likely only be able to join official servers, not co-op friends.
Steps to fix Strict NAT:
- Enable **UPnP** in your router settings (simplest fix).
- If UPnP is unavailable, manually forward the ports listed above.
- Ensure your Windows Firewall is set to "Allow" for
Windrose.exeon both Private and Public networks.
Fix 3: Resolving Server Lag
If you are playing on the official Alpha clusters and experiencing "Rubber-banding":
๐ Regional Check
Ensure you are joining the cluster closest to you (US-East, US-West, or EU-Central). Ping increases significantly when crossing oceans.
๐ CPU Priority
Windrose's physics handle ship movement and waves. If your CPU is at 100%, the network sync will fail. Close background apps like Chrome or heavy recording software.
Advanced: Steam Cloud Save Desync
Sometimes you can join but your character data is from a previous session. This is a common Alpha bug.
Solution: Disable Steam Cloud for Windrose temporarily, then re-enable it. This forces a re-sync with the developer's master database.
"Disconnected from Host" immediately after loading?
This is often a version mismatch. Check if there is a "Hotfix" update pending in your Steam library. Alpha builds are updated frequently.
Can I use a VPN to play Windrose?
Generally, no. VPNs often add extra steps to the NAT process and can make "Failed to Join" errors more frequent in the current Alpha build.
When will dedicated servers fix this?
Dedicated servers (hosted on high-speed datacenters) will eliminate the "Host Player" bottleneck entirely. They are planned for the 2026 Early Access launch.
Next Steps
- Learn about the Crosswind to Windrose name change
- View Dedicated Server requirements
- Back to Windrose Wiki Home
Alpha-Grade Stability: Alpha playtests are for testing, but nobody likes lagging. Supercraft's high-performance nodes are currently being benchmarked to provide the lowest latency possible for the Windrose 2026 launch.