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If Saints Row (2022) is stuck on Waiting for Host, reports Host is currently busy or shows Incompatible game version, check the game-state requirements before changing router settings. The host must finish Making Rent, both players must be outside active missions (including the tutorial), and both installations must be on the same version. A PS5 player joining a PS4 host must use Request to Join; Steam and Epic players must connect through the game’s Epic sign-in flow, not through the two storefront applications. Restart the game for a persistent waiting screen, then investigate broader PlayStation network problems only if those checks pass.
Which Saints Row does this troubleshooting guide cover?
These instructions apply to the 2022 reboot, officially titled Saints Row. They do not establish fixes for Saints Row IV or Saints Row: The Third, whose online-service arrangements and menus can differ.
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PLAION’s co-op documentation specifically covers the game’s co-op campaign, Steam–Epic PC crossplay and the PS4-host/PS5-guest join exception. It does not provide a complete PC-to-console or PlayStation-to-Xbox compatibility table, so do not assume that an undocumented platform pairing is supported or unsupported. Identify each player’s exact platform and storefront before choosing an invitation method.
PLAION’s co-op guide is the primary reference for the game-state and joining requirements.
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What should both players check first?
Most failed joins are resolved by clearing the game’s own co-op gates. Complete these checks in order, with both players in the game together when possible.
- Confirm the title. Make sure both copies are the 2022 Saints Row, not another game in the series.
- Finish Making Rent on the host’s save. The host cannot open co-op before this point. The introductory tutorial counts as an active mission, so reaching the open world is not enough if the tutorial objective is still running.
- Leave every active mission. The host and guest should both be free-roaming, with no mission currently selected or in progress. Have each player return to normal exploration before sending an invitation.
- Match installed versions. PLAION states: “Both players need to be on the same game version.” Update the game on each platform, then restart it so the update is actually loaded. A version mismatch can prevent a join even when the players use the same storefront.
- Check the platform pair. The correct menu differs for PS4-to-PS5 and Steam-to-Epic play. Do not use a console invitation procedure for PC crossplay or expect the Steam and Epic launcher friend lists to connect directly.
- Retry after a clean launch. Close the game completely on the side showing the failure, reopen it, and repeat the join flow. If the screen remains on Waiting for Host, restarting the application is PLAION’s documented remedy.
These are prerequisites, not optional optimizations. A faster internet connection, a different DNS server or a new router cannot make an unfinished mission gate or mismatched build pass.
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Use the PS5 guest’s in-game Request to Join option, then have the PS4 host accept the request. This is the documented cross-generation route; sending a normal invitation from the wrong side can leave the players waiting without completing the join.
PS4 host and PS5 guest
- On the PS4 host, finish Making Rent and leave any mission.
- On the PS5 guest, open the game’s co-op menu and choose Request to Join.
- Ask the PS4 host to accept the incoming request in the game.
- Wait for the session to load before starting a mission. If the request produces a persistent waiting state, close and relaunch the affected game, then repeat the same request.
The available documentation establishes this PS4-host/PS5-guest procedure; it does not establish a universal cross-generation invitation rule for every other host-and-guest direction.
How do Steam and Epic players use crossplay?
Steam and Epic players must use Saints Row’s in-game Epic Online Services connection. PLAION says the two players cannot connect to each other through their respective platform applications alone.
Steam player’s setup
- Launch Saints Row on Steam and open Co-op Campaign.
- Select Crossplay.
- Choose Log in to Epic Games and complete the Epic sign-in flow.
- After the connection is established, use the game’s in-game friends list to find and invite the Epic player.
The Epic version does not have an equivalent Crossplay button. The Steam player’s crossplay setup is what allows an Epic friend to appear in the in-game list.
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When is account linking required?
PLAION describes PC crossplay as optional and says it requires Epic Online Services. If you are connecting Steam and Epic, connect Steam from the Epic account’s Apps and Accounts settings and make sure it is the correct Steam account. A same-store PC session does not need unnecessary crossplay linking; only use the account-connection flow when the platform pair actually requires it.
If an Epic friend does not appear after sign-in, verify that the Steam account linked under Apps and Accounts is the one that owns and launches the game. Sign out and repeat the in-game crossplay flow only after correcting the account identity.
What this documentation does not confirm
The cited PLAION pages do not resolve PC-to-console or PlayStation-to-Xbox co-op compatibility. Treat an unlisted pairing as an open compatibility question rather than changing network settings in the hope of making an unsupported route work.
How do I fix the “Waiting for Host” message?
A prolonged Waiting for Host screen should first be treated as a stale game session. Restart the application, then retry after confirming the host is eligible and both versions match.
- Close Saints Row completely on the side showing the waiting message.
- Relaunch the game and load the intended save.
- Ensure the host is outside a mission and that the guest is also free-roaming.
- Use the platform-specific join route: Request to Join for a PS5 guest joining a PS4 host, or the in-game Epic flow for Steam–Epic play.
- If the message returns immediately, have both players relaunch and repeat the sequence once.
PLAION’s historical patch notes list changes intended to reduce co-op desynchronization and connection loss, but those notes do not prove that every current waiting-screen report has one known cause.
What does “Host is currently busy” mean?
This message generally indicates that the host is in a state where a guest cannot be admitted, most commonly an active mission or the tutorial. Return both players to free roam, then send a new invitation rather than trying to force the existing session.
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- Confirm the host completed Making Rent.
- Exit the tutorial and any later mission on both saves.
- Check for an update on each platform and confirm the displayed versions match.
- Restart the game if the busy message remains after the host is visibly free-roaming.
Network troubleshooting is useful only after these conditions are satisfied; it cannot clear a mission-state lock.
How do I resolve “Incompatible game version”?
Update both installations until they report the same build, then restart each game. PLAION’s requirement is exact version parity, so being on the same console family or storefront is not sufficient.
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- Check each platform’s pending downloads or update queue.
- Install the available Saints Row update on both copies.
- Launch again and compare the version information shown by each installation.
- Only after the versions match, repeat the appropriate co-op invitation.
If one platform has no update available while the other still reports a different version, record both displayed versions for PLAION support instead of deleting settings or changing router configuration.
Why can’t I invite my friend even though we are online?
Being friends in Steam, Epic or PlayStation does not by itself satisfy the game’s co-op requirements. The host must be past the progression gate, both players must be outside missions, and the invitation must use the route for the actual platform pair.
| Symptom | First branch to follow | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Invite option is unavailable or host is busy | Game-state branch | Host finished Making Rent; neither player is in a mission or tutorial |
| Incompatible game version | Update branch | Both installations show the same version after restarting |
| Steam player cannot see Epic friend | Crossplay branch | Steam player used Co-op Campaign → Crossplay → Log in to Epic Games |
| PS5 guest cannot join PS4 host | Cross-generation branch | PS5 selected Request to Join and PS4 host accepted |
| Waiting for Host persists after valid setup | Restart branch | Application was closed and relaunched, then the correct join route was retried |
This branching order prevents a launcher or router problem from being mistaken for a game-state block.
What PlayStation network checks are worth trying?
Use general network checks only after the game prerequisites and join flow are correct. Sony’s instructions address console connectivity broadly; they are not Saints Row-specific proof of a server outage.
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Check platform service status
Look at PlayStation’s service-status information before changing local settings. A platform service interruption can affect invitations and sign-in independently of the game.
Restart the console and router
Power-cycle the affected PlayStation and, where appropriate, restart the home router. Then launch the game again and test the same invitation path. This is a general connectivity step, not a replacement for completing Making Rent or matching versions.
Try a wired connection
If Wi-Fi is unstable and you already own a suitable cable, try a wired connection with an Ethernet cable. A cable is optional; players without one can continue with the wireless diagnostics rather than buying hardware as a guaranteed fix.
PS5 wired-LAN path
- Open Settings.
- Select Network, then Settings.
- Choose Set Up Internet Connection.
- Select Set Up Wired LAN.
- Choose Connect.
PS4 wired-LAN path
- Open Settings.
- Select Network.
- Choose Set Up Internet Connection.
- Select Use a LAN Cable, then Easy.
Sony documents these paths in its PlayStation internet-connection guide.
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Multiple NAT routers
For a specific PS5 network error indicating multiple NAT routers, Sony advises removing the duplicate-router arrangement. That guidance does not make port forwarding, a DNS change or a router replacement a blanket Saints Row requirement. Follow Sony’s network-error guidance only when the console reports the relevant condition; do not alter NAT settings merely because matchmaking failed.
Sony’s multiple-NAT guidance is at this PS5 error-code page.
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Do the game’s patch notes explain current co-op failures?
They provide useful context, not a guaranteed diagnosis. PLAION’s DustFaire notes say, “Made changes to help remove desync while playing in co-op.” That supports installing available updates, but it does not mean every present connection loss has been eliminated or has the same cause.
PLAION also described its historical Bright Future Update – November as containing over 200 bug fixes, with particular attention to stability and co-op. This is a 2022 publisher figure for that update, not a current count of fixes and not evidence that a live matchmaking problem is resolved.
Read the official notes at DustFaire patch notes and Bright Future Update – November.
When should I contact PLAION support?
Open a PLAION Saints Row support ticket when the failure is repeatable after the game-state, version, platform-flow and basic network checks. Describe the exact path that fails instead of reporting only that co-op is broken.
- Both players’ platforms and storefronts, such as PS4 and PS5 or Steam and Epic.
- The installed game version shown on each system.
- The exact message, including Waiting for Host, Host is currently busy or Incompatible game version.
- Whether the host completed Making Rent and whether either player was in a mission.
- The join method used, including Request to Join or the Steam crossplay sign-in flow.
- Whether restarting the applications, updating, checking service status or trying a wired connection changed anything.
This information gives support a reproducible scenario without assuming that a router, account or server is responsible. Submit the ticket through PLAION’s Saints Row co-op support page.
What should I avoid while troubleshooting?
- Do not treat Saints Row IV’s Epic Online Services changes as fixes for the 2022 game.
- Do not ask same-store players to link Epic accounts unless they are actually using Steam–Epic crossplay.
- Do not infer a universal PC-console or PlayStation–Xbox compatibility rule from the limited platform pairings documented by PLAION.
- Do not assume a VPN, firewall exception, DNS change or paid repair utility can bypass a mission gate or version mismatch.
- Do not declare a live Saints Row outage without checking the relevant platform service and the publisher’s current notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a confirmed Saints Row matchmaking outage right now?
A failed join alone does not confirm an outage. Check PlayStation service status when consoles are involved, compare the exact error with PLAION’s current support notices, and include the time and platform details in a support ticket if the failure persists.
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The documented crossplay route uses Epic Online Services inside Saints Row. The Steam player signs in through Co-op Campaign → Crossplay → Log in to Epic Games, after which the Epic friend should be handled through the game’s in-game friends list rather than relying on the two storefront applications to connect directly.
Can changing DNS or opening ports fix an Incompatible game version message?
No network setting can reconcile two different installed builds. Update both copies and restart them first; only investigate console connectivity or NAT when the versions and game-state requirements already match.
What if the wrong Steam account was linked to Epic?
Review the Epic account’s Apps and Accounts page and identify the Steam account connected there. Correct the account identity before repeating the in-game crossplay sign-in, and tell PLAION support which account pairing was involved if the friend list still does not populate.
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