Unable to Join Game or Accept Invites on Sea of Thieves after installing Steam version

Chak Prospero · Dec 28, 2021

I posed the following questions to Rare (Sea of Thieves) and to Steam. At this point, I am not sure what I can do. I am hoping that someone here might have some suggestions.

I play on PC and I receive my Join Game requests through the Xbox Game Bar.

My email to Steam - Prior to December 22, I was running Sea of Thieves on the Microsoft client. I received an Ah, Coffee emote from a friend that required me to install the Steam version of Sea of Thieves. I was hoping that I would be able to transition to Steam for one of my alt accounts. Instead of me being able to choose which version I wanted to play on, the Steam client would take priority when I received game invites and I couldn't switch between alts. Because of my inability to accept game invites, I made the decision to uninstall the Steam version and request a refund. Unfortunately, what has happened that I can no longer accept invites on any of my accounts. I have unlinked Steam, uninstalled Steam and reinstalled it and have done the same with the xbox live accounts. I even went so far as to uninstall Sea of Thieves and reinstall it from the Microsoft website. When I did that, it created a Steam Library folder and loaded it in there. What do I need to do to completely disassociate Sea of Thieves with Steam?

Steam response - Hi there. Unfortunately, Steam Support is unable to assist with linking or unlinking the account you are inquiring about.
Sea of Thieves requires a separate account that we do not have access to. You will need to contact their support department directly for assistance with the issue.

My email to Rare - Earlier this week, I purchased and downloaded the Steam version of Sea of Thieves. I have been playing on the Microsoft client since I started playing in February. I was able to get into the Steam client as a solo player just fine. This morning I accepted an invite on my alt account but the game started to open up the Steam client under my main account. When I realized the mistake, I closed down the Steam client and proceeded to request a refund from Steam because I did not want to have Steam as my main client. I no longer have Steam on my computer and I no longer have the Steam version of Sea of Thieves on my computer. I have tried all day to join in on my friends and have been unable to join on every single invite that was extended to me. At this point, it seems like solo is the only way I can play. I have made changes and deleted multiple items based on the feedback generated from the community and SoT Support but I still can't join. I have uninstalled SoT and reinstalled it. Despite ordering and downloading from Microsoft, it created a new Steam Library and put the game files into that folder.

Rare response - Hello there,
Visit: https://account.xbox.com/en-us/Settings whilst signed in on the account with the issue, check out your Privacy Settings.
Also, please attempt to re-link your account by checking the articles below:
Steam - How to link / unlink an Xbox Live account

I went to these links and did whatever was suggested.

Additional Rare Response - Hello again. Have you tried contacting Xbox Live Support regarding your account permissions?
They might be able to assist you in this regard if the issue is account related.

This is why I am here. When I went to Xbox Live support, it suggested I ask the community.

:)

L4c3rd4

I see. That's odd. Only on Sea Of Thieves on Steam you're having that issue?

L4c3rd4

Probably your router's configuration back then was all set and due to an update on the router's firmware could have changed some of those settings, it happens. Those configurations will not affect your router's connection to any other device there, I do believe it will also not affect your wife's connection. But I understand your apprehension of not wanting to risk it.

When the connectivity is blocked, is usually due to your router's settings. There are also some procedures on your PC you could try but do not know if that will help if the issue is indeed in your router's configuration. In any case, I will leave those procedures down below if you want to try.

So, let's try this, first, make sure your windows and all its services are up to date:

Open Settings, click Update and Security and then Windows Update;

Click Check for Updates;

Click the Download and Install Now option, if available;

Also, check the Microsoft Store for any updates on the Xbox apps and its services.

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Then try this:

Go to windows settings > apps > search for gaming services app > click on it and select advanced options.

After that, click repair and then restore, open the app and try again.

Then do the same for the Xbox app:

Go to windows settings > apps > search for Xbox app > click on it and select advanced options.

After that, click repair and then restore, open the app and try again.

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Then, try to uninstall and install the Xbox app.

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If it still doesn't work you're going to uninstall the games services using a powershell command, then you're going to open the gamepass app, it will ask you to download and install the game services again :

In the windows search bar type Powershell > Right click and select open as administrator > Type the command: "get-appxpackage Microsoft.GamingServices | remove-Appxpackage –allusers" > Wait for the process to finish and then restart the PC, then open your Xbox gamepass app, it will ask you to install the gaming services again, install it and try again.

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If neither of those procedures works, try to restore your PC's OS via the ISO image tool, using that tool you will be able to maintain your installed games and files.

If you're using Windows 10:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

If you're using Windows 11:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

Chak Prospero

Hi L4c3rd4,

Nat Type says OPEN and connectivity says BLOCKED. When I hit the FIX IT button, I get the message that it tried to fix the problem and I should CHECK AGAIN which puts me back in the same loop.

Regards

L4c3rd4

I see. Chak, usually, when this happens, could be 2 things, either your internet connection, more specifically your NAT connection, or TEREDO protocol blocked.

Or the privacy settings on your account that's not allowing you to receive invites or invite your friends.

Please, try a test for me:

Press the Windows button on your device or keyboard, or select the Windows icon in the lower left corner of the main screen.

Select Settings > Games, then select Xbox Network.

In Xbox Live Multiplayer, check Nat Type.

Tell me what comes up please

Chak Prospero

I don't have Steam anymore. When I posted my initial question, I stated that I had the Steam version but after having the problem, I got refunded for the Steam version of Sea of Thieves and proceeded to uninstall the Sea of Thieves version and I also uninstalled Steam. I have uninstalled the Microsoft version of Sea of Thieves twice and have reinstalled it twice. I have completely uninstalled the Xbox Game Bar with Powershell and then I reinstalled it. The game bar connects to the Xbox Live servers and I receive the invites through the Game Bar but it doesn't trigger the game to start when I click ACCEPT. Just to reiterate, Steam is no longer on my computer.

Unable to Join Game or Accept Invites on Sea of Thieves after installing Steam version