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A Pal in Palworld stood facing a camera.
Image via Pocketpair

How to fix ‘failed to host multiplayer session’ Palworld error

I'm just trying to pal around with my Pals!

One specific Palworld error is preventing players from pairing up to play with their pals to catch (and hunt) Pals, and it’s a nasty one. Here’s what we know about the “failed to host multiplayer session” error in Palworld.

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What is the “failed to host multiplayer session” error in Palworld?

Palworld’s “failed to host multiplayer session” error likely has to do with the game’s servers being overloaded with players. It’s a widespread error on the hugely successful launch day for Palworld on both Xbox and PC.

Fixing the “failed to host multiplayer session” error in Palworld, explained

There’s no real fix for the issue other than waiting for the overloaded servers to stabilize or for the developer to put out a patch. But players can try to repeat the process of connecting repeatedly, as some have found success making their way into the servers after a few tries.

With so many players trying to play the game, it’s no surprise there have been some hiccups for those trying to group up and catch Pals with friends. On launch day, over 350,000 players are playing the game on Steam, with even more accessing the servers on Xbox and PC via Game Pass, so the servers are being stressed to the point where errors are coming up, and players can’t host multiplayer lobbies.

“Currently, our server provider is reporting that due to a large number of concurrent players, the servers have become unstable, and you may be experiencing issues connecting to servers,” the game’s developers said. “We are working to resolve this ASAP! In the meantime, some users have reported success in attempting to connect 2-3 times or waiting after launching the game.”

Tip: Avoid peak server load times

Hosting sessions late at night or early in the morning often avoids the peak player count, so playing when the numbers are down could prove helpful if you are desperate to play or plan ahead.

How to check Palworld server status

There is a dedicated page that shows the current server status of Palworld that you can continue checking to see when and if the issues have stabilized. On launch morning, the page says there are issues connecting.

“The system capacity of the external vendor appears to be exceeded,” the page said as of 10:25 am CT on Jan. 19. “We are currently investigating the details.”

Check the page and this article for more details and updates on when the game’s errors are subsiding.


So, there you have it. You know everything you need about Palworld’s ‘failed to host multiplayer session’ error. Good luck!


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Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.
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