Preview Server Performance Feedback

Hello! I'm hoping this is the right channel to post this. From the main post, the preview Server Steam Link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/99920/Spiral_Knights_Preview/ Is not live yet!

Can you give it another go? It's possible you checked before the changes had propagated out.

Currently, the link https://store.steampowered.com/app/99920/Spiral_Knights_Preview/ just sends you to the Steam Store front page, which lines up with Postergirl's report.

Attempt 1: Firefox, link directed to front page.

Attempt 2: Steam In-Game Overlay Browser (while having Spiral Knights open), link directed to front page.

Non-Steam accounts still have access to the server with no problem.

Note that the spending block that's currently in place is not working as intended. I've update all the posts to list out the CURRENT block so folks know what's stopping them, however I do believe that will be loosened.

@Scuggs When you are at the storefront are you logged in?

Try typing steam://launch/99920 into your browser navigation bar.

Same as Scugg's above report, I'm only taken to the steam storefront page by the link. Currently, searching for the page manually yields no results beyond the main game, Crimson Hammer DLC, and the Guardians Armor Pack DLC.

Confirmed steam://launch/99920 takes us to the direct download. This works!

Edit: Currently attempting to launch to haven incurs the "Could not enter instance. Please try again later." error.

I have launched the test server with my Steam account, but any attempt to go into Haven or a level results in being sent back to the Ready room with "Could not enter instance. Please try again later."

We are stuck in the ready room and cannot change instance.

Cannot change to Guild Hall, Mission, Arcade or Haven.

I'm getting the same error as the person above, able to load into the ready room but can't enter Haven or any instance. Is this the paywall? Genuine question, I can't remember if I've spent money on this game in the past 3 months.

Edit: The new patch fixed the issue for me, was able to get in. Thanks!

Could not enter instance. Please try again later. Switching between server regions, logging off, waiting doesn't help

wondering if we could get all the weapons and armor (including token/recipe/prizebox exclusive) for sale in the depot.... its kinda odd that we don't have that, since it means we'd have to waste time crafting weapons that are going to get purged on the next day........

Looks like we found an issue and are working on it. If you were yeeted out of the game in the middle of a run, sorry about that! This might have also caused the issues with people changing regions, getting stuck in a scene, etc

Updated the install instructions to help those running into trouble.

Installing the Preview Server client
The Preview Server is installed from this location:
Windows: https://gamemedia2.spiralknights.com/spiral_preview/client/spiral-insta…
Mac: https://gamemedia2.spiralknights.com/spiral_preview/client/spiral-insta…
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/99920/Spiral_Knights_Preview/. You must be logged into the Steam website. If that fails, type steam://launch/99920 into your browser navigation bar.

After logging in to the preview server through steam, trying to go back to the regular live client just gives me a "failed to connect to the server" at login :(

Not sure if this is temporary (or if the main servers are indeed down) but I did see someone else in chat while on the preview server mentioning they also couldn't get back in to the live server.

After downloading and briefly logging into the test server, I can no longer access my knight on the main client.
The knight tries to login but the transition displaying "entering ready room" will stay in loop forever, it appears.

I have submitted a bug report within the test client, as that is the only in-game way I am able to at the moment.

---?---
Has anyone else encountered issues logging into their knight on the main client AFTER trying the test server ; even with uninstalling and re-downloading?
If so, how do you fix it?? ;'(

I sent a bug report for the connection problems. They seem to affect not just testers.
I am not participating in the testing, yet I see this in the logs for Non-Testing, which is related to testing ("monster_spike"):

2026/07/31 12:01:26:764 WARNING P$a.b: Missing translation message [bundle=item, key=m.monster_spike]
java.lang.Exception
at com.threerings.util.Q.h(SourceFile:303)
at com.threerings.util.Q.cR(SourceFile:394)
at com.threerings.util.Q.cR(SourceFile:371)
at com.threerings.projectx.client.ProjectXApp.xlate(SourceFile:1182)
at com.threerings.projectx.client.ProjectXApp.cR(SourceFile:1176)
at com.threerings.projectx.item.config.ItemConfig$Original.e(SourceFile:577)
at com.threerings.projectx.auction.client.SearchPanel$SearchBuilder.AM(SourceFile:543)
at com.threerings.projectx.auction.client.SearchPanel.a(SourceFile:381)
at com.threerings.projectx.auction.client.SearchPanel.b(SourceFile:373)
at com.threerings.opengl.k.mainLoop(SourceFile:558)
at com.threerings.opengl.k.startup(SourceFile:495)
at com.threerings.projectx.client.ProjectXApp.main(SourceFile:252)
2026/07/31 12:02:09:963 INFO P$a.b: Init LogonWindow [depl=prod, v=20260730083524, status=null]
2026/07/31 12:02:15:932 INFO P$a.b: Connecting [host=game.spiralknights.com/35.174.86.64, port=47624]

Not sure it's related to the current issues with non-test ("production"?). It's just a warning, but it seems there is some interference and the timing is suspicious.

Same situation as Rakkzi and Vexon here; though I'm pretty sure after heading to the test server, I did check in with some buddies in Spiral Knights proper before settling down, so I'm not *yet* concerned something serious has happened, but it'd be nice to get some help with this one!

Attempted workarounds so far that haven't had any effect:
- Uninstalling the test server application
- Deleting the test server application's directory from ..\steamapps\common\.
- Verifying integrity (which did find one validation error, but this didn't resolve the issue).
- Emptying the main game application's directory and forcing steam to revalidate and reinstall it.
- Reinstalling the test server before launching main client.

I am non-tester, therefore it can't be the testing stuff that affects me. I am from EU.
Login to production (non-testing) server does currently not work any more.
It started with just sometimes not working. Then I got freezes in-game where it couldn't load AH or energy market or hangs in arcade maps. The hangs became minute long. The connection bar became red late during the hangs, but my internet connection was still fine when using a browser, for example.
Now login is completely broken.

.

I played the live version of the game this morning without any issues, but after joining and playing the test version, I’ve had significant trouble reconnecting to the live version.
After several failed attempts, I can log in occasionally, but I get a black screen whenever I try to join Haven or a mission, the game doesn't crash and I can only access the Escape menu but that's all I can do.

I’ve tried the same troubleshooting steps as Vyre-Acidlashed (from the post above), the only other details I have are:

- I log in via Steam. (thanks for the "steam://launch/99920" tip for the test version)
- The problem is the same on my other PCs that didn't have the test version installed, including the Linux ones.
- Connection to the test version, on the other hand, seems to work perfectly fine.

The only information we can deduce for now is that the problem is clearly on the server side, occurring after the account in question launched the test version.

I think the first thing to check is what changes are made to the player's account when accessing the test version, and which of those changes might cause issues for the live version.

Edit: After seeing Zosu's comment, it seems more likely that the test server caused an issue for the live server, and the problem is escalating, as it is now completely impossible to log in.

Man, this better not lead to a rollback. I just finished my cosmetics set.

Main servers appear to be back online for now, just to let everyone in thread know.

I think I lost > 500kcr from an AH bid that I got outbid on while everything was broken. The crowns never came back (yet?).
Last trade price in energy market is also "0". Never saw that before.

Last trade price in energy market is no longer "0"

I'm able to login to the main client again! Didn't change anything, but it works now.

Add new command for preview server. We have command /ah (teleports player to auction house). What about /el /elevator (teleports player to the end of the level). It will save our time if we have to test only specified levels (like constructs). ATM we have to run through non-construct levels to test spikes.

Following the previous message, with current Arcade Gates there are constructs only at second parts of Tiers, so we have to spend 10-20 mins just to reach it.

its asking for $4.95 to test and i was able to before, please open the test server to everyone to get vital feedback on everything you want tested.

Whatever code you have in place that gatekeeps almost your entire community from being able to test the content changes that you want tested... consider just outright deleting it.

Spiral Knights CCU barely sits between 200-300 and a tenth of those users are actually able to join the preview servers to test and give feedback (for better or worse).

Also consider:
- Heating station.
- Utilizing config copies to test changes (so that we don't have to jump between live and preview for weapons that do not have any reskins).

We're looking at preview server access issues, and need a volunteer to test something real quick. Specifically, who has bought coins, but can’t play on preview and has tried to play on preview in like the last hour.

If you're willing to test, please reply here or send us an email at support@spiralknights.com if you prefer to keep your identity private. Thank you!

I have checked, and I can finally re-enter the test server once more. cheers!

Thank you!

And hopefully, in the future, this will allow other players to test as well.

I have checked, and I can finally re-enter the test server once more. cheers!

Thank you!

And hopefully, in the future, this will allow other players to test as well.

Add Training room to prestige missions, so we can get there without active guild halls.

For some reason, my main knight (forum name, Fangel) cannot log into the test server - getting an error of "You have been disconnected from the server" immediately after clicking on my knight. My other knight can log in as usual though. I've reinstalled the program and validated the steam cache a few times, but it's not fixed.

Any insight would be helpful - thank you!

EDIT: for some reason every time I launch the game and close it, validating the game makes it look for a missing file. Really not sure what is going on there. My main knight is in the leftmost position, if that helps, while my knight is is working is in the central-most position.

EDIT 2: following day from this post, preview server works for my main knight now. Not sure what the situation was there but thankful to be able to test everything finally.

I'm also having difficulty logging on my main knight (named "Dawnleaf") I'm getting immediately booted from the server when I try to enter the ready room from the login screen. Not sure what could be causing it, but I certainly don't hope this issue makes it to live. I'm able to log in fine on other knights on the same account, but what a headache!

I have the same issue as both above. Logging in as 1st knight kicks me out immediately to login screen 2nd knight works fine 3rd knight occasionally crashes the game/app.