Sid Meier's Civilization 6 presents players with a fun, challenging experience that requires strategic moves and a lot of patience. The game is in a finished state, and it likely won't receive any major updates. However, that doesn't mean players won't have to deal with a few hiccups from time to time.
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Many Civ 6 fans have taken to online forums to discuss one common network error that seems to be present beyond any other -the infamous 'Network Connection to the Host Has Been Lost' message. This can happen for many reasons, but luckily, this guide will cover the solutions you need.
How to Fix 'Network Connection to the Host Has Been Lost' Error In Civilization 6
Given that Civilization 6 is available on so many other different platforms, including mobile, pinpointing the source of the network issue can be a little difficult, as every device works differently. However, it would appear that many of the network-related issues affecting players often have something to do with them trying to connect to online Civ 6 games that are either heavily modded, have crashed or are experiencing difficulties themselves.
Unfortunately, while many improvements have been made to Civilization 6 over the years, there's still nothing you can do in that regard except try to join another game that is working. That said, there are a few things under your control that you can try to resolve the issue.
Verify Your Civilization 6 Steam Files
If you're struggling with the PC or Mac versions of Civilization 6 and bought the game through Steam, you can try verifying the game's files to solve any internal issues that might be interfering with its network capabilities.
To verify your Steam files, you'll have to follow a simple series of steps:
- Launch Steam
- Go to the Library tab
- Locate Civilization 6 on the left area of the screen
- Right-click on it
- From the dropdown menu, choose "Properties"
- Select "Installed Files"
- Click on "Verify integrity of game files"
A verification process will start. Once it's done, Steam will tell you whether there are any corrupted files that need to be addressed. If everything seems normal, the solution likely lies elsewhere.
Get a Friend to Host the Game
Sometimes, the "Network Connection to the Host Has Been Lost" message can also appear due to a poor network connection or an issue with your modem. To rule this out or confirm it as a possibility, you can ask a friend to host the game and see if that resolves the issues. Naturally, if you're playing on your own or trying to form alliances with strangers online, this won't be possible, but in any other circumstance, it can be very useful.
If you suspect your connection or an issue with your modem is to blame, the following solution can help.
Flush Your DNS
Lastly, you can try to flush your DNS, which, in a nutshell, is one of the many ways in which your devices and modem communicate with each other and share information. Sometimes, when there's an issue with the DNS, your devices' network might not work as well, and you may experience slow browsing times and errors connecting to a game's servers.
To flush your DNS, simply hit the Windows key, and type "cmd", or "Command Prompt". Then, type the following code into the black square that appears:
- ipconfig/flushdns
Doing this should clear your DNS resolver cache, fixing many connectivity and network issues across your gaming devices that might be causing the "Network Connection to the Host Has Been Lost" in Civilization 6. While it's a bit inconvenient to have to go through so many hurdles, most of the solutions discussed here are fairly quick and often very effective, allowing you to play Civilization 6 without dealing with losing connection to a game's host.
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
- Released
- October 21, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Drug Reference, Language, Mild Violence, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Games
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Franchise
- Civilization
- Number of Players
- 1-6
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
- How Long To Beat
- 23 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
