you have lost connection to the game session

Hi there @iluminatethesky thanks for the response! i have indeed been through the troubleshooting help, but with no avail. i will include some traceroute results for you to have a look and see if anything stands out.

i am currently connected using gigabit ethernet on a 200Mbps FTTP package and never had any trouble with any other games (PVZ1 and 2 included) in the past or currently.

I spent the morning playing multiplayer with two friends doing town centre missions no lag, no problems at all. but before that, (and since) if i tried to join their giddy hills, or use the MP portal, same error, 'server could not be found' or 'you have lost connection'.

if i do get in to a match or thier backyard (about a 1 in 20 chance) there is no problem, no lag, no issue. its just that initial connection.

Interestingly, i also cannot set my giddy hills multiplayer options to open, or private with AI - if i set it to either and reload giddy hills, it reverts to private with no AI - i couldn't complete even the tutorial, as it asks me to kill a zombie - but unfortnately no AI spawn with the settings that it reverts to currently. (i eventually managed to join a friend whos giddy hills had AI enabled)

Even when i load the game initially,  and am at the title screen and its connection to servers, it says failed, and i have to start the game basically, private. However, other people can always join my giddy hills though.

i have tried everything i know of from super basics including restarting the pc, restarting the router, reinstalling the game, making sure firewall or AV isnt blocking etc. All other games play and connect fine, its just this game on its own.

hope to hear back from you soon with any other suggestions, and if you need more info i will provide what i can.

regards

Marc.

Removed TraceRoute due to personal information - iluminate