theHunter: Call of the Wild multiplayer breaks on Xbox when the service is down, the game has a known multiplayer bug, or Xbox blocks the connection through NAT, privacy, or account settings. Start with the checks that rule out a wider outage, then work through the console, network, account, and reinstall fixes that Xbox and theHunter support recommend.
Start with Xbox status and known issues
The most common cause to rule out first is an Xbox service outage or current game-side multiplayer issue.
Open Xbox Status and check Xbox services, games, apps, subscriptions, and cloud gaming. If Xbox reports an outage, wait for the service to return before changing console settings.
Open the current theHunter: Call of the Wild known-issues page next. If multiplayer appears there, wait for the patch path shown there or submit a request to theHunter support.
When you contact support, include your Platform ID and a screenshot of the in-game main menu with the version number visible in the bottom-right corner.
Quit the game and restart the console
This fixes a stuck game session, suspended-game networking problem, or stale Xbox connection.
Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
Highlight theHunter: Call of the Wild.
Press the Menu button.
Select Quit.
Relaunch theHunter: Call of the Wild and try multiplayer again.
If joining still fails, press and hold the Xbox button in the center of the controller to open the Power Center.
Select Restart console.
Select Restart.
Confirm the account can play online
Use this when multiplayer is blocked before you can join a hunt, especially on a new account, a child account, or a console that recently changed subscriptions.
Make sure the signed-in account has an active Xbox Game Pass subscription that includes console online multiplayer. Microsoft requires Xbox Game Pass for online multiplayer on Xbox consoles except supported free-to-play games, and theHunter: Call of the Wild is not a free-to-play exception.
Press the Xbox button and go to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy > View details and customize > Communication & multiplayer.
Set You can join multiplayer games to Allow.
Adjust voice and text communication options in Communication & multiplayer if the problem affects party chat or in-game communication.
For a child account, open the Xbox Family Settings app, go to Settings, select the Multiplayer tile, and turn on the toggle that allows multiplayer games.
Update the game and Xbox software
Old Xbox multiplayer bugs for theHunter should be treated as patched once the game is current. The March 24, 2025 patch fixed an issue where restricted Xbox accounts could not join multiplayer even after parental access was granted.
The June 16, 2025 Snowfall update fixed a crash that could happen when a player disconnected while setting up a new multiplayer game and made the Xbox error messages clearer when a disconnect interrupts joining a multiplayer session. It also fixed separate Xbox crashes listed under stability and system, including a gameplay crash and crashes tied to switching profiles. Install current updates before using older workaround advice.
On the console, press the Xbox button, then open Profile & system > Settings > System > Updates. Install any available console update.
In Updates, enable Keep my console up to date and Keep my games & apps up to date. For the game itself, install or update theHunter: Call of the Wild from the official Microsoft Store or Xbox product page, not a third-party download portal.
Fix NAT, UPnP, and router blocks
Press the Xbox button.
Go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings.
Check Current Network Status > NAT Type.
Select Test multiplayer connection.
Select Test network speed & statistics when you also need connection-quality details.
Because theHunter multiplayer is peer-to-peer, repeat the same NAT and router checks on the host console and the joining console.
Power off or unplug the router for 10 minutes, then plug it back in.
Enable UPnP in the router admin screen and update the router firmware.
If UPnP Not Successful appears, restart the router after enabling UPnP, then retest from Network settings.
If Double NAT detected appears, remove one router layer or put one device in bridge or access-point mode.
If NAT Type: Unavailable appears, update the router firmware and make sure Teredo connectivity is enabled or supported.
If you cannot use UPnP, allow the Xbox network ports Microsoft lists for Xbox networking, including 88 UDP, 3074 UDP/TCP, 53 UDP/TCP, 80 TCP, 500 UDP, 3544 UDP, 4500 UDP, and 9002 UDP for remote play.
On a workplace, school, or shared network, ask the network administrator to open the required Xbox network ports.
Connect Ethernet if Wi-Fi is unstable.
If the router uses MAC filtering, open Advanced settings, copy the console MAC address, and add it to the router allow-list.
After router changes, test multiplayer with the same host and guest again.
Clear stale Xbox network settings
Stale network settings stay behind after moving the console to another network, changing router settings, or using MAC spoofing.
Go to Profile & system > Settings > General > Network settings > Advanced settings > Alternate MAC address > Clear, then select Restart.
If DNS was manually changed, return to Advanced settings, open DNS settings, and choose Automatic.
After the console restarts, open Network settings and run Test multiplayer connection.
If this method fails, refresh the Xbox profile next.
Refresh the Xbox profile
This fixes account-token or local profile problems that stop a valid Xbox account from joining multiplayer.
Press the Xbox button.
Go to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Remove accounts.
Choose the affected profile.
Confirm removal.
Go to Profile & system > Add or switch > Add new.
Sign in with the same Microsoft account.
Launch theHunter: Call of the Wild and test multiplayer again.
Reinstall only after account and network fixes
The most common reinstall-worthy cause is a damaged or incomplete local game install.
Press the Xbox button and select My games & apps > See all > Games.
Highlight theHunter: Call of the Wild, press Menu, then select Uninstall.
To reinstall a digital copy, go to My games & apps > See all > Full library > Owned games, choose theHunter: Call of the Wild, and select Install.
Disc owners should reinstall from the disc and then apply updates.
You can also use the Xbox app on mobile, Xbox.com, or Microsoft Store on PC to remotely install the game to a linked console, then launch it after installation finishes.
Do not use Xbox Console Companion NAT checks or Hamachi-style tunneling as Xbox fixes. Xbox Console Companion was deprecated on August 28, 2023, and Hamachi is not a supported Xbox multiplayer layer, so use current console network settings, UPnP, ports, and the Xbox app instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Apex Connect for basic Xbox multiplayer in TheHunter: Call of the Wild?
No. Basic multiplayer does not require an Apex Connect account. Check Apex Connect only for Apex features, wrong account links, or Apex login errors that affect invites.
Why can my friend host but I cannot join?
The game uses peer-to-peer multiplayer, so both the host and guest need a working connection. Check NAT Type, UPnP, router filtering, and Xbox multiplayer permissions on both consoles.
Should I clear local saved games to fix multiplayer?
Use Clear local saved games only when launch or sync corruption is suspected, not as a first multiplayer fix. Xbox cloud saves should resync when you reconnect and launch the game.
What is the last-resort Xbox fix after reinstalling?
Use Reset and keep my games & apps from Profile & system > Settings > System > Console info > Reset console only after network, account, update, and reinstall steps fail.
