The short answer
- Red Steam Relay: connection initialization failed; restart Steam and the game first.
- Join-only black screen: align game versions and recreate the lobby.
- Changed public/private session type: restart the server as required by Patch 1.0.6.
- Black screen before the menu: treat it as a local launch issue, not a lobby issue.
See it in the game
Videos open on YouTube. Unless a timestamp is cited in the Sources section, use them for visual context—not as a guaranteed drop table or fix.
Branch 1: Steam Relay is red
- 1
Stop retrying the same lobby invite.
- 2
Fully exit How to Fish and Steam.
- 3
Start Steam again, then relaunch the game.
- 4
Check the Relay indicator before creating or joining another lobby.
Branch 2: joining a friend causes the black screen
- 1
Confirm every player is on the same current game version.
- 2
Have the host recreate the lobby with a simple server name.
- 3
If the host changed public/private session type, restart the server.
- 4
Retry with one joining player before filling the lobby.
Branch 3: the screen is black before the menu
That failure happens before Steam Relay or a lobby can matter. Update the game, verify local files through Steam and retry with display overlays disabled. Patch 1.0.4 lists attempted black/gray-screen fixes, so include your current version when reporting a remaining case.
What not to do first
Do not open random ports or install third-party fixes from an uncited checklist. The official notes identify a Relay initialization state but do not publish a port list for players.
Sources used on this page
Community observations are useful leads, but they are not official drop probabilities.