Windrose Developers Seek ISP Connections Amidst Co-Op Connectivity Chaos

The Windrose developers are urgently asking players if they "happen to know someone at a major ISP" who can help diagnose persistent online co-op issues. As an entirely PvE focused co-op survival game, it is no surprise that the community is eager to party up and run their own Windrose dedicated servers. While the overall launch has been surprisingly smooth for an early access title—peaking near 100,000 concurrent players on Steam just two days in—online connectivity remains a significant stumbling block. These connection bumps have become severe enough that developer Kraken Express has turned to their Discord community for assistance from internet industry professionals.

The team's plea highlights the critical nature of these connectivity problems affecting the player base. They stated, "If you happen to work with, or know someone at a major EU/NA ISPs who might be open to speaking with us, we would truly appreciate an introduction." This request suggests that standard troubleshooting methods have failed and external expertise is needed to resolve what seems like a widespread infrastructure issue.

Investigating the Lag and Dedicated Server Headaches

Personal testing reveals the severity of these connectivity disruptions. Playing alongside PC Gamer's Chris Livingston, we experienced frequent multi-second lag spikes and hangs despite living only a couple of hours apart in northern California. The issue extends beyond random player-to-player disconnects; users attempting to host their own environments are finding that Windrose dedicated servers lack essential configuration options.

Unlike many survival games where players can forward specific ports to improve stability, this title offers unusually barebones features. This limitation is particularly puzzling given that publisher Pocketpair successfully launched Palworld with comprehensive server tools. Players are left wondering why a publisher would not provide similar assistance for a new launch title. The current state of the game forces developers like Kraken Express to admit they may be out of their depth regarding these complex network diagnostics.

Unusual Server Routing and Community Suspicion

The situation has taken on a geopolitical dimension due to unusual server routing behaviors. Several Steam users, including one named Headbasha, have noted that the dedicated server infrastructure appears to request registration from a Russian endpoint. Upon investigation, the specific URL https://r5coopapigateway-ru-release.windrose.support/ indeed routes traffic to an IP address located in Moscow.

Kraken Express addressed these concerns on Discord by stating they have received reports that some backend services are being blocklisted by ISPs across Europe and North America. The developers wrote, "We don't yet have a clear answer, but we're doing everything can to get to the bottom of it." However, this explanation has not fully quelled community fears regarding why international players are pinging Russia upon starting servers.

Key details surrounding these issues include:

  • Developer Location: Kraken Express is based in Uzbekistan, not Russia.
  • Server Distribution: The software contains URLs pointing to IP addresses in Europe and South Korea as well.
  • Active Development: Multiple hotfixes are currently in development to address these connectivity hurdles.

While the global distribution of server nodes suggests the Russian traffic might be a routing anomaly rather than a malicious setup, players remain suspicious until the developers provide a clearer explanation. The team continues to ask for help, noting that "several hotfixes are already in development" and that player feedback is vital for resolving these problems properly. Until then, the Windrose community must navigate these bumpy waters while hoping for smoother connections ahead.

For those looking to survive while waiting for fixes, here are essential guides on core mechanics:

  • How to fast travel in Windrose
  • How to get lamp oil in Windrose
  • How to get clay in Windrose
  • How to make gunpowder in Windrose