Multiplayer lobbies disconnect at race start

[Athalon020]

This evening, myself and some friends attempted to run some multiplayer races (Jam Sessions), and the first session we ran went perfectly fine. Here is how that one was configured:

Jam Session
-Rally
-3 Rounds
-Monte Carlo Rally stages
-6 players

After that session finished, we added two more, bringing the party to the full 8-person limit. The session was changed using these settings:

Jam Session
-Cat 'n Mouse
-4 Rounds
-#1 Shibuya, #2 Monaco, #3 Shibuya, #4 Monaco
-8 players

This session started, loaded up to the screen where we choose assists, setup, or "Done". Once we all clicked "Done", the session kicked all of us and we were returned to the first multiplayer screen to choose between Pro Tour or Jam Session, but everyone was still in the party.

We then changed the settings for the sessions to try to determine if it was something specific and were not able to identify an issue. We went through these settings:

-Changed to Rallycross (eliminates problem with Cat 'n Mouse)
-Changed to Individual (eliminates Teams)
-Changed initial track (eliminates issue with Shibuya) (See next post)

Each of these sessions resulted in the party getting dumped out just before the start of the first race.

We then went over the settings for the session that worked, and reset it to the Monte Carlo tracks that we had before in the session that worked. This session also resulted in everyone getting dropped before the first Rally stage.

We then kicked two people from the party (returning it to the original six), and kept the settings that worked initially, and that session also dumped everyone.

Finally, we passed around "Host" status and that did not work either. We only got the first session to work, and could not pinpoint what actually caused the disconnections. I'd be more than happy to answer any questions that could help lead to a solution though!

[Athalon020]

We've done some more testing on this issue to try and narrow everything down and see if it's a specific situation that causes this to happen, and we've been pretty successful:

When the lobby is first opened, it works absolutely fine. Whenever the tracks are changed to include either of the Shibuya Rallycross tracks, the lobby has worked just fine. If the game type is set to Cat 'n Mouse and the track list contains any of the Shibuya tracks, the game becomes bugged and will drop players at the start of every multiplayer game from that point until all clients are restarted and the multiplayer lobby is re-formed.

So, the problem apparently lies with selecting Cat 'n Mouse (any number of rounds, any settings) with any of the Shibuya layouts in the list. If the two are selected independently (C'nM without Shibuya or Shibuya in Rallycross), the sessions work fine. Only when the two are combined does the multiplayer lobby stop working.

I feel it should also be noted that whenever this starts happening, if we shut the game down and look at the Steam Library, DiRT 3 CE is performing a cloud sync. Disabling the Cloud sync option does not fix this.

[Smashing]

I have exactly the same problem and suspected it was the Shibuya track. If you can confirm that is definitely the fault then I guess it's something that needs to be fixed.

[Athalon020]

So far, the Shibuya tracks with Cat 'n Mouse are the only thing that cause the lobbies to "crash". I'm going to try to run a Rallycross party tonight at Shibuya to see if that passes and will post here with the results.

[Smashing]

I have definitely raced in Shibuya but not in cat n mouse. I then have the permenant disconnect problem after like you said. Have you reported this to Codemasters?

[Athalon020]

I have not. I was under the assumption that this was the "official" bug reporting method. Do they have another way to contact them?

[Smashing]

I can't find another method but generally stuff posted on here is ignored for most games beyond things like steam early access, even then many have a bug report forum.

[Cupanoodle]

Seconded, these disconnecting issues happen for me as well

System Specs:
RAM - 16 GB DDR3
CPU - AMD FX 6300 - 6 Core @ 3.85GHz
GPU - AMD HD 6870
HDD - Game installed on system drive which is an SSD
OS - Windows 8.1 Pro x64

[mandrake]

This problem was caused by wrong start table. DiRT3 Shibuya fix: http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=653456177

[Player 2]

Same thing here guys, but it happens with every online mode.

[who asked?]

for me it doesnt matter what map i choose on cat'n'mouse i still got disconnected.. So still no fix for that?

[Cupanoodle]

Originally posted by Dan 3000 | Skinodds.com:

for me it doesnt matter what map i choose on cat'n'mouse i still got disconnected.. So still no fix for that?

November 2016 and the same issue still exists, wow.

[//SBE_Ruben//]

im in the start of an outbreak room and when i press ready it just disconects me

[//SBE_Ruben//]

idk why

[//SBE_Ruben//]

its getting annoying

[//SBE_Ruben//]

september 2023 still happening