Bynary808

It sounds like you're playing on the Xbox console since the PC GamePass version in the Windows store is the same as the current Steam version (these are the PC general support forums). Microsoft added 7 Days to Die to Xbox GamePass, but the Xbox GamePass version is still the original Xbox version that hasn't been updated since 2017 and currently doesn't appear to have any plan for updates: Console News | 7 Days to Die Xbox update - General Discussion - 7 Days to Die

This is a bit complicated since adding Microsoft store games to Steam as a Non-Steam Game doesn't work by default for UWP (Universal Windows Platform) Games. There are workarounds to adding UWP games to Steam (e.g., using UWPHook (https://github.com/BrianLima/UWPHook)), but even then there can be issues. That being said, there is a steamclient64.dll in the Windows store version install directory. I edited the platform.cfg file to change the first line from platform=XBL to platform=Steam. I then used UWPHook to add 7 Days to Die as a Steam game and then restarted Steam. After restarting Steam I can see 7 Days to Die and launching it from Steam first displays an error: "Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\custominstallexec.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again." After clicking "OK" to acknowledge, the 7 Days to Die launcher is presented and clicking "Run" in the launcher with the defaults presents a 7 Days to Die Launch Error stating "Easy Anti-Cheat is not installed." After exiting that Launch Error (the only option), I ran it again from Steam (same initial error) and then deselected "Use Easy AntiCheat (EAC)" from the launcher to see if it would run without EAC. At that point, the game started and then presented an error "Steam Login. Could not fully initialize Steam: The Steam client is not running or no connection possible." From there, the only option is to Exit Game since Retry does nothing. TLDR: Interesting idea, but seems to have some issues.

Sorry to hear you had the same issues, but I am glad to see some confirmation the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC version issue isn't just us @bulldogg0. We felt the same about the game despite the Windows store version issues so we also ended up buying the Steam version (the two pack option was a big help)... Also, thanks again to @Star69 for all of the help and information. For others with the Windows store version and issue, they helped confirm that the Steam version was much more stable and reliable since I was a bit gunshy. My friend and I both bought the Steam version and then setup the Frag free dedicated server trial so we could confirm performance and stability before fully committing and we've been having a blast and *knock on wood* haven't had any issues even with some much longer than planned game sessions Hopefully The Fun Pimps are able to get the Windows store version issue resolved at some point so the Windows store folks can have as much fun with this game as the Steam folks (and us Steam converts).

Thanks again, @Star69. I posted an official bug report here and have been adding comments as I find more data points: https://community.7daystodie.com/a20-bug-database/bug-pool/windows-xbox-gamepass-for-pc-204-b42-clients-crashing-to-desktop-consistently-~30-minutes-with-dedicated-vanilla-hosted-server-r625/ I haven't seen any kind of response yet, but I know those things take time so I don't expect anything quickly... maybe this will help the future Windows store 7D2D players

To update again, the official response from G-Portal was as follows: Hello, So long story short, This is the steam version of the game so running any other versions of the game does not guarantee the server will work for you unfortunately. We do not host any other versions aside from the Steam version of 7DTD. Hello, So there appears to be some confusion regarding what is now multiple PC clients with the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC version. After this, we tested on a Frag.gz hosted server and also a BlueFang hosted server and received the same results (although the first CTD on the BlueFang server was at 15 minutes with the rest at the expected 30 minute intervals).

To update again, the official response from G-Portal was as follows: Hello, So long story short, This is the steam version of the game so running any other versions of the game does not guarantee the server will work for you unfortunately. We do not host any other versions aside from the Steam version of 7DTD. Hello, So there appears to be some confusion regarding what is now multiple PC clients with the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC version. After this, we tested on a Frag.gz hosted server and also a BlueFang hosted server and received the same results (although the first CTD on the BlueFang server was at 15 minutes with the rest at the expected 30 minute intervals).

Thanks again, @Star69. In the meantime, we tried the Frag.gs free 24 hour trial and like GPORTAL performance was great and no errors... until the crash to desktops at exactly 30 mins. Fun, fun

Thanks, @Star69! I found a server that looked like a public Bluefang server (BlueFangSolutions.com 44178). My friend and I (both Windows store clients) were able to stay connected past the 30 minute CTD window previously experienced; however, we both had an error while loading in that broke the group window (Failed initializing window group players... Specified cast is not valid). No idea what that is about, but obviously a bit gunshy after the last hosting service so I'll PM you to see if I can get access to yours to see if that's a one server issue or possibly another challenge we might face with Windows store clients. It's always fun being early to the game

Just to update this issue in case it helps anyone else from a server hosting/rental perspective, I submitted the following issue to GPORTAL as a support ticket in addition to the bug report here for the crash to desktop: We're experiencing a consistent and reproduceable issue with disconnects every 30 minutes (timed) happening on (2) different PCs running the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients. I posted this issue to the 7D2D support forum and another forum member tested their Steam client with this server and did not experience the disconnect at 30 minutes. After that test, I connected to another public server and I was able to remain connected without disconnecting for ~60 minutes. Based upon these results, my current assumption leads to the idea that adding XBL authentication to the 7D2D PC version likely added additional port/protocol requirements and possibly something is happening with the XBL authentication/verification at almost exactly 30 minutes that is not allowed by the G-Portal hosted 7D2D server causing the issue with Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients (where the Steam clients on the same server work fine). I'm not sure what new configuration requirements were added when 7D2D added the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients, but my suspicion is that it added additional ports/protocols and there is some kind of authentication/validation happening at 30 minutes which is failing (possibly not allowed on the G-Portal hosted server). Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. The response I received was surprising and indicative that there is some confusion with the addition of the Windows store PC clients to the 7DTD PC game (and Microsoft likely has some blame since they keep adding "Xbox" to their PC gaming items): Hello, So long story short, This is the steam version of the game so running any other versions of the game does not guarantee the server will work for you unfortunately. We do not host any other versions aside from the Steam version of 7DTD. As such, for the foreseeable future I'd recommend any 7D2D Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients to avoid GPORTAL unfortunately... we've had great success with them on other games and to be fair their 7D2D PC server ran great during the many 30 minute sessions we played, but since they only recognize the PC Steam version I can't work with them on whatever is causing the 30 minute CTDs on their server.

I have submitted a ticket to G-Portal support for the 30 minute disconnects, but I don't have any specifics on what the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients are trying to do at 30 minute intervals causing the issue vs. the Steam client which does not have that issue to help identify the issue for the server hosting provider. However, as stated above I believe the 7D2D clients actually crashing to desktop when the issue occurs is a 7D2D issue that should not happen when a server side issue occurs. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.

I have submitted a ticket to G-Portal support for the 30 minute disconnects, but I don't have any specifics on what the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients are trying to do at 30 minute intervals causing the issue vs. the Steam client which does not have that issue to help identify the issue for the server hosting provider. However, as stated above I believe the 7D2D clients actually crashing to desktop when the issue occurs is a 7D2D issue that should not happen when a server side issue occurs. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information.

To update this bug post: I continued testing this issue with the help of @Beelzybub and I was able to connect to their test server and remain connected without a crash to desktop for ~60 minutes. After that test, I connected to another public server and I was able to remain connected without a crash to desktop for ~60 minutes. Based upon these results, my current assumption leads to the idea that adding XBL authentication to the 7D2D PC version likely added additional port/protocol requirements and possibly something is happening with the XBL authentication/verification at almost exactly 30 minutes that is not allowed by the G-Portal hosted 7D2D server causing the issue with Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients that does not appear to be an issue for Steam clients on the same server. I've attempted to find a list of 7D2D port/protocol requirements after the PC Windows store version to see what may have changed (and may not be allowed on the G-Portal server), but so far all I can find is the standard port forwarding information. As such, the root cause appears that it could be something with the hosted server config, firewall config, etc. for the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients only.; however, I would expect that if the 7D2D server has an issue with authentication the 7D2D clients should 1) not crash to the desktop and 2) log an appropriate message in the client output log to indicate the source of the issue.

To update this bug post: I continued testing this issue with the help of @Beelzybub and I was able to connect to their test server and remain connected without a crash to desktop for ~60 minutes. After that test, I connected to another public server and I was able to remain connected without a crash to desktop for ~60 minutes. Based upon these results, my current assumption leads to the idea that adding XBL authentication to the 7D2D PC version likely added additional port/protocol requirements and possibly something is happening with the XBL authentication/verification at almost exactly 30 minutes that is not allowed by the G-Portal hosted 7D2D server causing the issue with Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients that does not appear to be an issue for Steam clients on the same server. I've attempted to find a list of 7D2D port/protocol requirements after the PC Windows store version to see what may have changed (and may not be allowed on the G-Portal server), but so far all I can find is the standard port forwarding information. As such, the root cause appears that it could be something with the hosted server config, firewall config, etc. for the Windows store/Xbox GamePass for PC clients only.; however, I would expect that if the 7D2D server has an issue with authentication the 7D2D clients should 1) not crash to the desktop and 2) log an appropriate message in the client output log to indicate the source of the issue.

Just to update, after uninstalling and reinstalling the 7D2D Windows store clients I'm still seeing the same consistent crash to desktops at each 30 minute interval. I looked through the bug reports and don't see any other reports for the Windows store - Xbox GamePass for PC clients for any reason, but that's not too surprising since it just came out publicly last week. As such, I went ahead and submitted a bug report to see if someone with the Windows store client can reproduce since I don't see anything else to try at this point other than buying the Steam 7D2D clients instead: Windows Xbox GamePass for PC 20.4 (b42) Clients Crashing to Desktop Consistently ~30 Minutes with Dedicated Vanilla Hosted Server - Bug Pool - 7 Days to Die Thanks again to Beelzybub for all of their time and assistance attempting to isolate and troubleshoot the issue!