Family shared accounts keep crashing

  • Sniffyn0se
    Founder

    Here's a copy of my full bug report for anyone interested or having the same issue.

    Description

    Random Disconnects MS Family Share via LAN (Private/Public) WIN10 Version (Latest build as of 04/19/2018 game pass expired on sub accounts this date)

    I have done a full network check to make sure there was no conflicts, all devices are hardwired, and my router is in charge of UPNP with my internet modem being in full bridge mode.

    Here's the Teredo info shown on each PC:

    netsh interface teredo show state

    Teredo Parameters

    Type : natawareclient
    Server Name : win1710.ipv6.microsoft.com.
    Client Refresh Interval : 20 seconds
    Client Port : unspecified
    State : qualified
    Client Type : teredo client
    Network : unmanaged
    NAT : cone
    NAT Special Behaviour : UPNP: Yes, PortPreserving: Yes
    Local Mapping : 192.168.1.x:60336
    External NAT Mapping : xx.xx.xx.xx:60336

    (xx are inserted to hide my external IP address)

    Reproduction
    * Step 1: Host PC (Main PC Account)
    * Step 2: Invite family accounts (2 LAN family gamertags)
    * Step 3: Join using 2 LAN Family Shared PCs
    * Step 4: One of the 2 above Family Share Authorized PCs will just randomly close to desktop, they can be reinvited but then either will just repeat again after 10-15 minutes.

    Note

    I had initially thought this was a game or nat issue, however after seeing others using Microsoft's family game sharing functionality having the same issue in other games I think it is a flaw in the sharing authorization system leading to app closure.

    Xbox One X set as home with main account credentials won't crash (when played using a different family member gamertag), PC with main credentials won't crash, only family shared PCs using their own gamertags crash.

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @sniffyn0se said in Family shared accounts keep crashing:

    I had initially thought this was a game or nat issue, however after seeing others using Microsoft's family game sharing functionality having the same issue in other games I think it is a flaw in the sharing authorization system leading to app closure.

    So you see this in other games, not just SoT, so is it safe to say it is a Microsoft family share issue, and not something Rare is really involved with?

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @soulshadowolf
    You set up sharing as specified here?
    blogs.msdn.microsoft.com

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    And to recap, where are you guys finding family share availability?
    All I find is windows 8 things like:
    blogs.msdn.microsoft.com

    Apps can be installed on multiple PCs and user accounts

    These days, people may use several PCs in the course of their daily lives, or share PCs with more than one person in their household. We want these customers to have access to a great Windows 8 experience on all of those PCs.

    The licensing terms allow customers to install and use their apps on any user accounts on up to 5 PCs. Why only 5 PCs? Because we also believe in the value of the developer’s investments in their apps, and we want to protect that investment from abuse.

    This is the only article I can find from 2012 directly stating up to 5 PCs on one licensed app.
    I guess is it still being supported?

  • Bola Satanica
    Marauder

    Since my last post 4 days ago i renewed my xbox game pass just to be sure of the problem. Guess what? I played with my brother(PC-PC) for countless hours and we had ZERO crashes. Next month when my game pass ends i will test this again using the family share function.

  • Sniffyn0se
    Founder

    @mubhcaeb78 said in Family shared accounts keep crashing:

    @sniffyn0se said in Family shared accounts keep crashing:

    I had initially thought this was a game or nat issue, however after seeing others using Microsoft's family game sharing functionality having the same issue in other games I think it is a flaw in the sharing authorization system leading to app closure.

    So you see this in other games, not just SoT, so is it safe to say it is a Microsoft family share issue, and not something Rare is really involved with?

    They replied that they are aware of the situation and working on a solution in future updates, hopefully as a first party developer they can get Microsoft to fix whatever is going on with authorization dropouts. I'm also going to try and contact MS directly too but for them it's likely just like junk mail getting a random complaint.

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    @sniffyn0se Wait... That might explain why the timing is every fifteen minutes (for us, at least).

    In my case, I shared the game with two brothers, both playing over the Internet (and in different houses).

    If my and one brother play with the same account - it works fine. If a third brother joins, it crashes every fifteen minutes (at least for those two, not for me, the owner).

    I'm going to test tonight if the third brother still has problems just playing with me.

  • TonyMoSo

    Amazing tests guys, all this proves its family share issues.

    And in my case was same with XBOX season pass, 2 weeks playnig many hours without any inssues and then i got family share with my brother from different city and day after day crash so...

    And to some users: please stop wrote is software or hardware issue (specialy if U say U got 2 copies for 2 users and everything is ok... man, no words)

    That prof is easy if U got family share and got crashes just buy one month xbox pass (or 2 weeks first free trial) U will not see any crash on that time.

    U got many many examples and this is a fact.

    I hope we will get some response form Dev team because for now its seems like is only "forum problem" not game issue

  • Nightmare247365
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    What I bet is occurring is that family share wants the owner/home user on the Xbox that is playing.

    Direct from Xbox Support

    At home: Set up your Xbox One console at home so that anyone who uses it can enjoy multiplayer gaming, even if you’re not home or signed in to the console. Simply designate your Xbox One console as your home Xbox. See How to designate an Xbox One console as your home Xbox to find out how.
    On the go: Sign in at a friend’s house, where everyone can enjoy multiplayer gaming while you’re signed in.

    So I bet MS is probably validating IP addresses or routes to Xbox Live and if you are not on the same IP then it boots you. This evaluation can happen as often or as little as MS wants which would be why after 15 minutes someone seems to get booted.

    Now I am unsure about the same household being booted, but if MS wants multiple copies purchased (Which is why Paying for a second copy seems to remedy the situation) at least for players in different cities/locations.

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    @nightmare247365 We wondered that ... but why would it work fine when two of us play on the family share account (we are not in the same household).

    Me (PC) + 1 bro (PC) = No crashing
    Me (PC) + 2 bros (PC) = One bro crashes every 15 minutes.

    We tested it a bit ... either of the bros' will crash when the three of us play together, but either bro can play fine if only two of us are online.

    In short, if it is an IP validation problem, shouldn't we still crash when only two of us play?

  • Nightmare247365
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @guybrushcrpwood Maybe it is a primary and secondary request. So it searches primarily for the "Home" user's account. So when you are in it validates your IP. Then it looks for 1 secondary IP which may be allowed (not sure how MS has it in place). So maybe check and see if it is always the secondary/third player to join who is the first kicked. If so, then MS put some sort of planning in place to prevent abusing the system. That would be why 2 of you can play, but 3 or more all get booted. That would also be why purchasing a second copy negates the issue.

    I am thinking on the business side here, but if I gave this option, I would want a safeguard in place to prevent abuse. I am here to make money so more copies sold the better. A primary and secondary check could be a nice gesture but any more maybe what is causing the issues. It keeps checking after it detects 2 ip addresses and kicks any after that fact.

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    @nightmare247365 Aye, that's a good idea.

    What we found is that as soon as a third person entered the mix, weird things would happen.
    For instance Me + X would play fine, until Z joined the game ... then X (not Z) would crash. It's like the moment a third family share account joins in, anybody will crash (apart from the owner).

  • Nightmare247365
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @GuybrushCrpWood So maybe that is what MS did. I am not sure it will change since it seems that other games are having the same issue too.

    They must have implemented a two IP system. In the event, someone was using two separate networks in an Apartment, Dorm Room, Office Suite, or Home. This allows two users from two IPs that are not technically geographically located side by side to use the system. The moment the 3rd or more attempt to make the connection the system sees the New IP as the "secondary" and then clears the previous hierarchy of players, booting the longer connected device. So you what you were probably seeing was Player X would have played for an hour or so and player Z would "kick" them off the account. Then when X tried to relog back in Z would be kicked again since that hierarchy kept being reset.

    If this is the case then this must be a preprogrammed solution by MS that is likely not to change and the solutions would be either a secondary copy (gamepass or otherwise) or by being on the same network (which I am not sure if this has been confirmed as working).

    I have seen a few from saying PC+Xbox work but then something like PC+Xbox+PC+PC = crashing, but PC+xbox works fine. So it could be something that Xbox Live APP uses to connect the PCs to the Xbox Live system that is causing the crashing, but I have no data on that end.

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    That's the most convincing explanation I've heard so far. Although disappointing, if true!

    The Family Share feature is very ambiguous - I've seen people commenting in Reddit threats about being able to share games with up to 10 people, but there also feels like a lack of clarity on official policy. Hunches, but no definitive answers.

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    No word on whether the latest patch has worked, but I won't be able to test it until next week. If anybody tries and succeeds with 1.05, could you let us know!

  • Schwammlgott
    Champion

    @hezino i never knew, that you can share it up to 10 people...i just know about the console share-where 2 people can play one copy, so do i and ot works fine

  • TonyMoSo

    Im just start to think is not an issue but this "bug" is made on purpose.

    after couple of days playing (family share) I have crash every game, yesterday I buyed again xbox game pass for 1 month, then palyed 3 times and guess what... no crash, issues at all.

    So please somebody tell me one thing:
    How game (installed before) recognize that one time im starting "family share" and then starting "xbox pass"???

    And if game is able to do that, than is simple not issue/bug or whatever but is some system/code to made that happend on purpose!

  • GuybrushCrpWood
    Master
    Insider

    @tonymoso It is on purpose. I spoke to Microsoft, and they confirmed that it's a licensing check. You can share the game with one other person, but a licensing check will detect any additional players (3+) and cause the game to crash.

  • Cave Waverider
    Marauder
    Insider

    @guybrushcrpwood said in Family shared accounts keep crashing:

    @tonymoso It is on purpose. I spoke to Microsoft, and they confirmed that it's a licensing check. You can share the game with one other person, but a licensing check will detect any additional players (3+) and cause the game to crash.

    Our problem is that the game crashes every 5-15 minutes even when sharing with only my little brother and playing together with him both on PC (that's 2 players in the same household, as intended).
    What's also odd is that no other family shared games crash for us (Forza Horizon 3, Forza Motorsport 7, Gears of War 4, Halo Wars, Halo Wars 2, etc.) and we can play these for many hours. It's only an issue with Sea of Thieves.

    If one of us plays on the PC and one on the Home Xbox One (X, S or regular, we have three Xbox Ones in the house), the game doesn't crash either.

    So it's definitely a bug in Sea of Thieves.

    @Rare-Employee When will this bug finally be fixed?

  • CheeseyDong

    @mcvriesnl its been like 4 months and they still havent found a solution, im practically giving up

  • GreatSkullZero
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    @hezino i crash when my gameshare family member joins my crew.. super annoying.

  • KattTruewalker
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder
    Deckhand

    @cheeseydong I think your best course of action here might be to contact Microsoft or Xbox Support as there seems to be a great deal of conflicting advice and indeterminate information.

    Microsoft Support

  • Vinsanity324
    Captain
    Insider

    I hope someone can figure this out, it’s very annoying.
    I can get it to work when we log in quickly and start fast. Then we are good as long as we don’t leave that game. If we try to switch servers, we get kicked when joining. It gives me a Marblebeard or a Granitebeard. Also if I’m playing on one Xbox for awhile and then i try to get my gf in later, it’ll kick me and let her in(or vice versus)
    For reference, I’m playing on 2 Xbox’s in the same household.

  • GaloreSiamang58
    Founder

    Same problem here, i believe it only happens with family shared pcs when there are 2+
    its been a living nightmare and ive missed so many memorable moments with my friends. I really hope Rare addressess this and somehow finds a solution... on that note this is also happening with a game called Astroneer so it might not even be within Rare's problem it might be Xbox and Microsoft... anyway REALLY sucks that i cant play the game.

  • s00tie
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    Sorry for slight necro, but wanted to share that it's March 2019 and I'm seeing the problem when me and my kids try to play on 3 PC's. It doesn't matter if we are in the same crew or playing seperately, eventually one or both of the kids accounts get kicked back to desktop. It doesn't seem to have the problem if we play 1 PC or 2 PC's - only when the third joins and after about 10-15 mins.

    I'm a Gamepass subscriber.

    It's very annoying and is stopping us enjoying the game as intended.

  • Rexjamo

    Same here, trying to play with the kids. 2 PC's play with no crashing, as soon as we play with 3 PC's, one or both of the non MS account PC's regularly crash. I'm trying the $1 Game Pass subscription on one of the kids PC's to see if that stops it.

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @Rexjamo @Sut23

    Hello,
    This is a necro thread, so hopefully I can get this answered before it is locked.

    Microsoft has only articles dated up to 2012 about this family sharing on multiple devices, long before "play anywhere" was introduced in 2016 with Recore.
    It appears they stopped the 5 PC sharing with windows 8.

    It's very annoying and is stopping us enjoying the game as intended.

    No where does SoT state that there is an option to install a single purchase on multiple computers.
    SoT is a Play Anywhere title, meaning you can play it on xbox and/or pc.
    (I'm speculating later it's anywhere xbox game services will reside, aka Switch, etc).

    Sorry that's not what you two were hoping to hear, but the game pass is probably the route you need go to. Since PC's don't require live, the pass should be all you need. Good luck!

  • Rexjamo

    @dyfrin I've fixed the problem. I bought the game on one of my kids accounts. So we now have two copies of the game (one paid, one gamepass). We've played two long games with three of us with no crashes.

    So, one copy of the game won't cover three Microsoft family accounts. Looks like the maximum is two family account players per copy of the game.

    A simple fix. It would have been nice if Rare spelled this out for players. Their support didn't know this. It would have saved a year of frustration and nearly giving up on the game numerous times.

  • BiFEZz
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    [mod edited]
    This happens becouse SOT just suport Xbox shared account not PC.
    [mod edited]

  • Marrl
    Lord
    Insider
    Founder

    Hi @bifezz,

    Please do not post links on the forum that advertise downloading 3rd party software that modifies the game.

    Thanks!

  • irq666

    Hi. Yesterday i created a family share for me and my fiance. We wanted to play together since She is new to SoT and wanted to learn the game, but we play on 2 PC's and we encountered the same issue. Since it was already after the big update any news about this problem?

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    @irq666

    How is setup?
    Are you in microsoft family?
    Is 2nd pc log in as her microsoft account, that you then signed in as you on the store and installed and then signed out?

  • egebay2002
    Rogue

    Hello guys,
    I now have the same problem. I played the game since 2,5 years and with shared family accounts of two family members. Since the last update our games crash one after another. I dont know why. If somebody could help I would be very thankful.
    C:

  • Lady Aijou
    Commander
    Insider
    Boatswain

    As this thread was 2 years old, and revived today, it will now be locked. Please feel free to start a new discussion on this topic!

    A general reminder to all, please avoid reviving threads aged past 30 days, as it is considered a necro, and is against our forum rules

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