Published , by Kevin Tucker
Published , by Kevin Tucker
One of the only real downsides of playing modern online-based games is, ironically, the nature of online infrastructure. When things are working as intended, online games can be wonderful — but when persistent or vague error messages start popping up, players understandably start getting annoyed. The latter is the case of the "failed to join quest" error message in Monster Hunter: World, an error message that really doesn't give players much to go on in the way of understanding or even preventing the error. Fortunately, the root cause failed to join quest error in Monster Hunter: World is fairly clear-cut.
The failed to join quest error message in Monster Hunter: World most frequently pops up when players try to join online gameplay sessions, more specifically the game's numerous Online SOS quests. Chances are good that most times players see this message, it's because the quest they're trying to join has already been filled up by other players. In essence, it means they're trying to join a lobby that has already been closed since it can no longer accommodate additional players. A quick workaround for players intending to join a game with friends is to have the host quit the quest, then join the lobby before they launch it again, but this method isn't particularly useful for general online lobbies.
However, a full online lobby isn't always the cause behind the error. It's possible, though perhaps less likely, that the failed to join quest error message ties into a literal failure of some element of the player's network settings. In this sense, the error could mean just about anything, from interference based around firewalls, antivirus settings, or even incorrect NAT settings.
As such, assuming the online lobby isn't simply full, tracking down the root cause of the failed to join quest error message could be difficult — especially now that Monster Hunter: World is available for PCs. Considering the essentially infinite amount of different hardware combinations, PC players experiencing the error are hopefully well-versed enough in computer systems troubleshooting to be able to figure out what may be causing issues with their particular systems.
On the flip side, consoles like the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One aren't immune to these types of problems, either. However, addressing the issue should be more straightforward, as both consoles have network diagnostic and testing tools meant to help players identify and resolve problems between their home networks and consoles. These options can generally be found somewhere in each console's Settings menu.
The failed to join quest error in Monster Hunter: World is but one of several other errors that sometimes prevent users from engaging in online play — the 50152-MW and 83-MW1 errors are two of the other more frequent nuisances, and they both have their own different workarounds. Keep on top of these errors and catch up on our latest coverage of Capcom's open-world, monster-slaying adventure by checking out Shacknews' extensive Monster Hunter: World walkthrough and guide.