A Franchise connection error does not by itself establish that Planet Zoo 2's servers are down. One known cause is the 1.0.6 Resume issue, addressed by Hotfix 1.0.7: using Resume on a Franchise save could trigger a connection error and then prevent entry into other modes.
If you have 1.0.6 and cannot yet download 1.0.7, Frontier's workaround is to restart the game and enter through the chosen mode's main-menu button, rather than Resume. For that specific incident, Frontier says the affected saves were not lost and instructs players not to delete the saves folder. See the official 1.0.7 announcement.
This guide was checked on 24 October 2026. It is a symptom-based troubleshooting guide, not a live server-status monitor. Match your installed version and failure point to the cases below.
Match the error to the failure point
| What happens | First distinction | Useful next step |
|---|---|---|
| Resume produces a Franchise error, then other modes stop loading | The specific problem described for 1.0.6 | Check for 1.0.7; if unavailable, restart and choose the mode button |
| Franchise cannot connect but the main menu otherwise works | A connection, account or service problem is still possible | Check current official information, VPN use and any account notice |
| Animal Trading has no suitable listing | Availability is separate from connecting to the mode | Read the market state and unlock requirements rather than assuming a global outage |
| The game closes or crashes before the error screen | This is a different symptom from a server connection message | Follow the crashing guide for your platform and failure point |
The distinction matters because a restart workaround for a menu problem is not a repair for every network fault. Likewise, one empty market does not show that all players have lost service.
Use the supported workaround for the Resume issue
- Check the game's installed version and whether Hotfix 1.0.7 is available on your platform.
- If you are affected on 1.0.6 and cannot obtain that hotfix, close and restart the game.
- On the main menu, select the button for the mode you want to enter.
- Avoid Resume for this workaround, then check whether you can reach the mode again.
Frontier's note lists Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox, Microsoft Store and Epic Games Store as live for 1.0.7 in the checked announcement. Inspect the version installed on your own device; a published update and a completed local installation are separate checks.
The save warning applies to this identified incident. It does not establish that every unrelated loading error has the same cause or that every damaged save is recoverable. Do not turn a reported connection fault into a destructive save-folder experiment.
Check connection and account causes separately
The official 1.0.6 notes identify two additional reasons players could have trouble accessing Franchise services:
- VPN use. Frontier warns that playing through a VPN can contribute to connectivity problems. The 1.0.7 announcement repeats this check if Franchise servers remain inaccessible.
- Username filtering. A prohibited word contained within a username could produce a server connection error. The 1.0.6 notes say affected users had been contacted by email; check for an account-specific notice before treating the message as a service-wide incident.
These are documented possibilities, not a diagnosis of your account. If the mode still fails after the applicable checks, record whether the problem occurs at sign-in, while loading a particular zoo, or when opening Trading. That gives support a more precise starting point than a general “down” report.
Do not change several unrelated settings at once or apply first-game fixes solely because they appear in the same search results. Keep the game, version and symptom attached to any instruction you follow.
Check official information before calling it an outage
Use the official help page and the Planet Zoo 2 Issue Tracker when looking for a recognised problem or reporting one. The first game's tracker has a different address.
An old “restored” social post describes its own incident; it is not proof that your current connection is working. Equally, player report totals on a third-party outage site do not by themselves confirm a universal outage. Check the time, game and exact symptoms before choosing a remedy.
For a support report, include your platform, installed version, the error text, where it appears and the steps that reproduce it. Say whether the problem affects one zoo, the whole mode, or the main menu. Keep any account details private when posting publicly.