| Xbox and PC/PS4 instancing issues work the same while on rescues, once the Xbox specific settings issues are resolved |
One main difference between PC/PS4 and Xbox, is that the Xbox friend list is across all games played and is independent from those games. This has advantages and disadvantages. The biggest advantage is that a rat does not normally need to be friends with a client to see/verify their current location in game. If a rat states that the system’s client is confirmed or different than reported at the beginning of a rescue, it does not mean they are already fr+ with the client, just that they’ve checked the client’s profile and hopefully already sent the required request to follow them as a friend (the client will still need to do the same).
All Xbox games use the same friend system, managed through Xbox live. For most Xbox players, they're already familiar with how to send a friend invite. Unless they're a brand new Xbox player it isn't necessary to give them instructions on how to send a friend invite. |
Xbox Party Chat (party+) - An app integrated into Xbox that is separate from any game and allows voice chat for up to 16 players. Because the app is integrated into Xbox it doesn’t require any players to be in a game. It is separate from any in game comms and is not an indicator of connectivity between the rat and client, nor does it affect instancing in game. It’s not required to start an Xbox party, and is at the discretion of the rat and client to use a party for comms. The benefit to an Xbox party is that there can be voice comms with the client allowing for quicker responses, and every Xbox ships with a headset so communication is possible more often than not.
The Xbox rescue process is the same as PC rescues, with one difference, the Xbox Rat MUST send a friend request to the client. Adding someone as a friend on Xbox makes you a follower of the other person. It's not until both parties follow each other, that it's a true friend relationship and FR+ can be reported. Most Xbox Rats send the friend request when they are assigned, so most cases of fr- are due to the client not sending the request or known delays in Xbox updating friend statuses (see troubleshooting below). |
It’s best to do this as early as possible in the rescue because it can be used to confirm the client’s location sooner and it may help with receiving notifications when the client adds the rat as a friend (unconfirmed).
Client calls ratsignal
Rat calls jumps and is assigned to the case
Rat adds client as friend (favorite)
Verify client’s profile is online
Verify client’s system
Client adds rat as friend
Client invites rat to wing
Client turns on wing beacon
Rat engages wingman navlock and flies to client's beacon
Rat rescues client
The two most common causes for issues on Xbox are below. It's good to make sure these are resolved early.
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When all else fails, and often after changes to settings are made, a full reboot of the client and Rat(s)' Xboxes may be required. This involves powering off the Xbox completely (holding the power button), then unplugging the power cord for 10 seconds. Sometimes even when everything else is being followed a full reboot can help. |
The Xbox preview program (basically beta testing OS updates) has been known to cause issues in the past. If standard troubleshooting doesn't resolve issues, confirm that the client and rat(s) are/are not in the preview program and assign additional rats when necessary. |
Friend Request Notification Not Received (FR-) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
1 | Known Xbox Issue of notifications not appearing | Client has sent friend request | Client needs to manually add the rat |
| Rat needs to manually add client (i.e. reverse FR) | |||
| 2 | Client and rat have not sent each other friend requests | Confirm that client and Rat have each sent friend requests and the Rat has the client as a Favorite | Client changes friendship status of the Rat to “Favorite” |
3 | Xbox Live Server Issues | Xbox Live services are operational http://support.xbox.com/xbox-live-status | Reschedule rescue until Xbox Live services are fully functional |
Client Profile is Offline | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
1 | Client profile is set to offline | Client’s profile says “Appear Offline” | Client click button on their profile page that says “Appear Online” and reboots Xbox. They can get to their profile by double-tapping the Xbox button on their controller, going up to their profile icon, selecting view profile and hitting the button that says “Appear Online”. A full reboot of the Xbox may be required for the change to be reflected (including pulling the power cord from the Xbox) |
2 | Online Safety and Privacy settings prevent multiplayer gaming | Account Settings > Online Safety and Privacy Settings are Set to Adult Default | Client changes Online Safety and Privacy Setting to Adult Default. Client can change the settings back after the rescue if they're concerned about security/privacy. It's critical that this is set correctly, even just "hiding friends" is known to cause issues with the comms panel. A full reboot of the Xbox may be required for the change to be reflected (including pulling the power cord from the Xbox) |
Rat and/or Client Name Not Showing on Comms Panel or Comms not Being Sent/Received | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
| 1 | Rat or client XBL profile is set to "Appear Offline" | All XBL profiles are set to "Appear Online" | Set XBL profiles to "Appear Online" |
| 2 | Online Safety and Privacy settings prevent multiplayer gaming | Account Settings > Online Safety and Privacy Settings are Set to Adult Default | Client changes Online Safety and Privacy Setting to Adult Default. Client can change the settings back after the rescue if they're concerned about security/privacy. It's critical that this is set correctly, even just "hiding friends" is known to cause issues with the comms panel. A full reboot of the Xbox may be required for the change to be reflected (including pulling the power cord from the Xbox) |
| 3
| NAT Type | Network Settings > Network, NAT Type is Open | Client and/or rats with moderate/strict NAT Type hard reboot their Xbox including pulling the cord for 10 seconds |
Client and/or rats reconfigure their router for port forwarding or place the Xbox in the DMZ https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/networking/nat-error-solution | |||
| Confirm that no other Xbox’s are connected to the Network and reboot the Client or Rat’s Xbox | |||
| 4 | Miscellaneous | In game text comms work | Rat invites client to wing (i.e. reverse wing) |
| Rat jumps to another system or drop to normal space and back to supercruise | |||
| Have the client SC Hop and attempt to wing from local. If that doesn’t work have the Rat follow the client and drop manually on their low wake | |||
| When all else seems to not be the problem, reboot the client and Rat(s) Xboxes. This is a bug that affects all platforms. | |||
Wing Invites are Immediately Cancelled or Unsuccessful | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
1 | Online Safety and Privacy settings prevent multiplayer gaming | Account Settings > Online Safety and Privacy Settings are Set to Adult Default | Client changes Online Safety and Privacy Setting to Adult Default. Client can change the settings back after the rescue if they're concerned about security/privacy. It's critical that this is set correctly, even just "hiding friends" is known to cause issues with the comms panel. A full reboot of the Xbox may be required for the change to be reflected (including pulling the power cord from the Xbox) |
| NAT Type | Network Settings > Network, NAT Type is Open | Client and/or rats with moderate/strict NAT Type hard reboot their Xbox including pulling the cord for 10 seconds | |
Client and/or rats reconfigure their router for port forwarding or place the Xbox in the DMZ https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/networking/nat-error-solution | |||
| If NAT type can't be corrected, have the client submit a support ticket to FDev explaining the situation. They will generally fuel the client if we're unsuccessful due to problems outside our control. | |||
2 | Miscellaneous | Chain wing client and rat using another rat or friend of the client | |
| Attempt to wing with client from Local contacts in supercruise | |||
Rat Can’t Instance with Client | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
| 1 | General Instancing | n/a | Follow standard instancing SOP: SC Hop, Manual, wingless, chain winging, Assign Additional Rats as appropriate. Often after checking for the common issues on XB and everything is good - a console restart for both rats and client can help. |
| 2
| Online Safety and Privacy settings prevent multiplayer gaming | Account Settings > Online Safety and Privacy Settings are Set to Adult Default | Have client change their Online Safety and Privacy Settings to “Adult Default” and hard reset their Xbox |
| NAT Type | Network Settings > Network, NAT Type is Open | Client and/or rats with moderate/strict NAT Type hard reboot their Xbox including pulling the cord for 10 seconds | |
Client and/or rats reconfigure their router for port forwarding or place the Xbox in the DMZ https://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-one/networking/nat-error-solution | |||
| Confirm that no other Xbox’s are connected to the Network and reboot the Client or Rat’s Xbox | |||
| 3 | Miscellaneous | When all other avenues have been tested (above) and instancing is still not possible, see if the client and rat(s) can get into a game of CQC/Arena and play together. If the rat(s) and client can't continue troubleshooting without the client logging in | |
Less Common Issues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Problem | Step | Possible Causes | What to Confirm | Possible Solution |
| Client is using a Child's account | 1 | Client is a child | Age of client and Online and Privacy Settings | Have the client's parent change their account settings to Adult Default for the rescue and back to Child settings afterwards |
Xbox Live Social and Gaming Server shows “Limited” connectivity issues | 1 | Multiple Causes
| Xbox Live services are operational http://support.xbox.com/xbox-live-status | Attempt to wing with client from Local contacts in supercruise |
Have the client SC hop and interdict them using an FSD Interdictor | ||||
2 | Reschedule drill until Xbox Live services are fully functional | |||
Client can not log into Open play | 1 | Client does not have Xbox Live Gold account | Client has an Xbox Live Gold Account | Have client obtain a trial membership or purchase a membership |
2 | Client is banned from Xbox Live | Confirm if client has an Xbox Live Account Ban | Nothing can be done until the ban is lifted | |
Client cannot send/receive friend invites | 1 | Client is under an Xbox communications ban | Confirm if client has received a ban which may show on their profile with information removed | Attempt to wing with client from Local contacts in supercruise or have rat(s) drop on low-wake |