If you are having issues with connecting to multiplayer games in Borderlands 2, please refer to the connection troubleshooting guide below:
1. Check all the physical devices on your network to ensure they are plugged in and powered on.
2. Perform a connection test on each device connected to the network.
- For Xbox 360, refer to the following website
http://support.xbox.com/en-US/xbox-live/connecting/cant-connect-to-xbox-live-wizard
- For Playstation 3, refer to the following website http://manuals.playstation.net/document/en/ps3/current/settings/connecttest.html
- For PC, refer to the following website
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx
Understanding NAT Types:
NAT Types:
- Open
- Moderate
- Strict
- Open NATs can connect to any of the three types. --> Probably the least common type
- Moderate can only connect to open and moderate. --> Probably the most common type
- Strict can ONLY connect to open.
Strict NATs are a difficult problem with peer-to-peer games. Since most people don't have open NATs, the player with a strict NAT won't be able to find many joinable games.
Also, if the player with a strict NAT does manage to join a game, if another player with a moderate NAT joins later, the player with the strict NAT gets kicked out.
The problem is even worse since it is sometimes difficult for software such as Games for Windows Live to detect which NAT type it is running behind, and can often report that the player has a moderate NAT when they actually have a strict NAT.
Another problem is that sometimes the ISP (Internet Service Provider) is also behind a NAT, which often means even if you have a direct connection to the internet (without a router/firewall), the ISP still acts as a strict NAT.
Port Forwarding:
PC:
Online games should not require port forwarding with the latest update. However, some security or firewall software may block access to required ports or certain types of traffic. Check your security software settings to ensure traffic on the following ports is allowed.
For LAN games, the host must have the following ports forwarded:
- Port 7777 (UDP and TCP)
- Port 28900 (TCP)
- Port 27900 (UDP)
- Port 28910 (TCP)
PS3:
You will need to forward port 7777 (UDP and TCP) in addition to the ports for PSN. You can find the port settings for PSN in the "PlayStation Network" section here: What are the firewall (TCP and UDP) port numbers to connect online with PlayStation® products?
- Port 80 (TCP)
- Port 443 (TCP)
- Port 5223 (TCP)
- Port 3478 (UDP)
- Port 3479 (UDP)
- Port 3658 (UDP)
- Port 7777 (UDP and TCP)
Xbox 360:
You will need to forward port 7777 (UDP and TCP) in addition to the ports for Xbox LIVE. You can find the port settings for Xbox LIVE here: Network ports used by Xbox LIVE
- Port 88 (UDP)
- Port 3074 (UDP and TCP)
- Port 53 (UDP and TCP)
- Port 80 (TCP)
- Port 7777 (UDP and TCP)
If you need assistance with opening these ports, please refer to the following website for more information (you will need to know your router brand and model, as the website guides are based on specific routers)
http://portforward.com/english/routers/port_forwarding/routerindex.htm
Here are some additional tips that have helped many players improve their connectivity:
- Make sure your router's firmware is upgraded the latest version (very important).
- Unplug your router for 10 minutes and plug it back in. Some older routers degrade in performance over time until it is rebooted, similar to a PC.
- Disable any firewall or other network filtering for the game.
- Enable uPnP (universal plug and play) on your router.
- If you don't care about security, enable DMZ (de-militarized zone) on your router for your PC's address. This turns off all of your router's firewall features for that specific PC.
- Get a router that has the "Xbox LIVE compatible" or "Certified for Windows Vista" logo.
- Contact your ISP and ask them what your DNS setting should be.
Direct Connection:
If you are still having issues connecting to the online servers after trying the above steps, try connecting your broadband modem directly to the console or PC you are playing the game on. This can help determine if the issue is related directly to the router or another source.