How to Fix Nioh 3 Can't Connect to Friends/Co-op Error

Nioh 3's further enhanced multiplayer co‑op mode lets players face higher‑difficulty challenges together. The good news is you no longer have to confront powerful enemies alone; the bad news is you must ensure your connection is stable enough. Yes, some players report they can’t connect with friends, or that after connecting the latency is extremely high. No one wants to waste half an hour on failed invites, so I think this guide can help you.

The Nioh 3 Co-op "Door" Has Two Locks

Koei Tecmo explicitly calls out Summon Visitor and Expeditions as ways to get help or explore with others. If either of those systems fails, players usually describe it as "can’t join friends," even though the cause might be much earlier in the chain.

Think of co-op like walking through a torii gate with two locks.

1. Lock one is compatibility: platform, crossplay, and version.
2. Lock two is connectivity: NAT, router rules, firewall behavior, and the route your ISP chooses.

If you fix the second lock while the first one is still closed, you will just waste time. So start with the hard rules first, then move outward into network troubleshooting. It sounds obvious, but most “it won’t connect” stories start with a basic mismatch.

Lock One: Make Sure You’re Not Fighting the Game

The Crossplay

Here is the fastest reality check: Nioh 3 online crossplay is not supported. If one friend is on PS5 and another is on PC, you are not dealing with a connection issue. You are dealing with a wall, and no amount of router tweaking will break it.

So, if you’re not playing Nioh 3 on the same platform, don’t bother trying; either one of you switches platforms, or you can only summon the default‑generated party.

The Game Verison

Many players will overlook the game version issue — that’s normal; games that are mainly single‑player usually don’t emphasize updates unless they encounter a bug. But version differences are often the key obstacle preventing you and your friends from connecting in Nioh 3, which is why, even if you both appear online, you may still see “I can’t see your room.”

The reason the game refuses to connect different versions is also simple: after a version update the data, bugs, and game modes may be adjusted, and different versions become incompatible. In most cases, verifying file integrity and forcing the client to update is the better choice.

Lock Two: The Network is Blocking Your Connection with Friends

Pay Attention to Nioh 3's NAT Type

Based on Nioh’s online mode, your NAT type is the most direct indicator of whether you can smoothly connect with friends; typically you can see three types:

To optimize NAT, you almost have to use a tool. We recommend GearUP, a tool dedicated to optimizing game latency and connection stability. It uses AI‑based intelligent multi‑path technology to optimize connection nodes and address data transmission issues between your local network and the public network, thereby improving your NAT and also reducing Nioh 3 lag in multiplayer mode.

The power of GearUP lies in providing extremely simple usage and network optimization for devices across all platforms.

PC players only need to follow the steps below:

1. Search for Nioh 3.
   
2. Click "Boost" or select a server; "Auto" means GearUP will automatically connect you to the best node.
   
3. Start the boost, then launch Nioh 3. Do not close GearUP while the game is running — it will run silently and continuously provide network optimization without affecting your gaming experience.
   

Console players can opt for its game router HYPEREV. It doesn’t require you to turn on a PC — just connect it to any home router and your console to use. It is also a very convenient Wi‑Fi extender and management tool. You can learn more about it via the video below or by clicking the button to go to the store:

Remove Firewall or Router Restrictions

Firewalls and routers may restrict your network access. If the methods above haven’t solved your connection problem, then you can check these factors. Note: do not turn off your firewall for a long time — it may leave your device vulnerable to threats:

1. Check whether Nioh 3 is on the firewall whitelist, or whether it is being blocked by the firewall.
2. Check whether your router settings are restricting Nioh 3 or your gaming device’s network connection.

How to add Nioh 3 to the whitelist:

1. Open Windows Security → Firewall & network protection → Allow an app through firewall.
2. Click Change settings → Allow another app → Browse to the Nioh 3 executable (Steam: right‑click game → Properties → Local Files → Browse).
3. Add the exe and check both Private and Public boxes (or at least Private/home).
4. Click OK and restart the game to test the connection.
5. If you use a third‑party antivirus/firewall, open that program and add the game .exe to its allowed/exception list as well.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why Nioh 3 can’t connect with friends. Check your platform and game version, your firewall and router settings; most importantly, optimizing your NAT type and network node connections with GearUP and HYPEREV to improve stability and reduce latency is the key to ensuring you can successfully enter co‑op mode.