Internet backgammon not working, server apparently down

Question

See https://www.ghacks.net/2018/01/23/windows-7-internet-games-error-0x80041004/

If the server is down, please restart it.

If the server has been deleted, please let us know.

Answer 1

Hi,

For us to be able to help you with your concern, we would like to know if you're having an issue on a specific game only. What exactly happened every time you access the game? Also, what troubleshooting steps have you done so far? This is for us to know the next course of action we need to take.

If this happens on a specific game only, we suggest that you try uninstalling the game on your device. Once done, please run the troubleshooter for Windows apps. Click this link for the steps. After that, please reinstall the game and see if the issue persists.

We will be waiting for your response.

Answer 2

1.  The only game I have tried is backgammon.

2.  What happens every time I tried it is as described in the link:  

The Internet game displays status information when you run it. It begins with "connecting to the game server." The game tries to establish a connection to the game server. This process takes 10-or-so seconds and ends with an error notification.

A network error occurred while communication with the game server.

Error Code: 0x80041004

You can try again by clicking on "new opponent" or quit the game instead.

3.  I have done no troubleshooting steps.  I do not control the server or the network.

4.  Are you implying that the server is up and operating correctly, and others can play this game?  There are many other people having the same problem.  If you have solved it for ANY of them, can you please let the rest of us know the solution?

Answer 3

No - I am having the same issue with both backgammon and spades - it has been for about a week now, no connection to game server at all - not even a connection then an error, it seems as if the game server is down totally, so just asking if anyone out there knows of a solution since microsoft has no answers whatsoever

Answer 4

So............ is someone in the towers of Microsoft going to restart the game servers?  What will it take?

Answer 5

The Internet game displays status information when you run it. It begins with "connecting to the game server." The game tries to establish a connection to the game server. This process takes 10-or-so seconds and ends with an error notification.

A network error occurred while communication with the game server.

Error Code: 0x80041004

You can try again by clicking on "new opponent" or quit the game instead

A quick check with CurrPorts reveals the IP address the games try to reach when you start them. It is 168.61.188.58, a Microsoft IP address. It is possible that Microsoft uses multiple IP addresses for Windows 7 Internet games, but all should return the same error.

A simple ping returns a timeout, and so does a tracert. In other words: the game server that handles the matchmaking for Internet-based Windows 7 games is not reachable.

That's bad news for Windows 7 customers who like to play the affected Internet-based games as there is nothing that can be done about it on the user's side.

The incident is not the first time that Windows 7 game servers stopped working. Günther Born published an article about this in November 2015 (in German). Microsoft fixed the issue back then eventually.

It is unclear whether Microsoft turned off the game server for good, if it works on the server to repair the issue, or whether it noticed the issue at all.