Direct Connect

Direct Connect adds a Join via IP option to BIG WALK's Join Game page, lowers network latency for direct sessions and tries to hide the game's warning banners about connection issues with a single key.

This project is based on N2N Direct Connect by lajilaji.

[!WARNING] This mod was created with the help of AI (Claude by Anthropic). The code was generated and refactored with an AI assistant and tested in-game by the author, but it has not been audited line by line. Use it at your own risk and please report anything that behaves strangely.

Features

• Join via IP – a new section between Join via code and Join via friends list, styled like the game's own UI:
  • IPv4 (192.168.1.10), IPv6 (2001:db8::1) or a domain name (game.example.com, localhost).
  • Password field
  • Domain names are resolved in the background; the section greys out with a loading indicator meanwhile.
  • Join via code and the friends list keep working exactly as before.
• Lower latency for IP sessions – raises Mirror's send rate from 30 Hz to 60 Hz (configurable up to 120 Hz) and sends reliable data every frame instead of every 10 ms.

WARNING: Every user should have the exact same send rate as it can cause issues.

• Hide warnings – press F5 to hide/show the game's "WARNING: …" banners (e.g. "No network connection", which concerns Epic Online Services, not direct sessions).
• Translated into 15 languages; follows the game's language automatically.

Manual Installation

1. Install BepInEx 6 (Bleeding Edge) – Unity IL2CPP x64 into the BIG WALK game folder.
2. Start the game once and close it, so BepInEx can generate its files.
3. Copy BigWalk.DirectConnect.dll to BIG WALK\BepInEx\plugins\BigWalk.DirectConnect\.
4. Start the game – the Join Game page now has a Join via IP section.

Linux / Steam Deck (Proton): add this to the game's launch options:

WINEDLLOVERRIDES="winhttp=n,b" %command%

Configuration

Settings are in BepInEx\config\kamiloo13.bigwalk.direct-connect.cfg (created on first launch).

Important

• THE HOST MUST BE REACHABLE ON UDP PORT 7777. Either forward the port on the host's router or use a VPN such as Tailscale, ZeroTier or similar and join with the VPN address.
• THE HOST AND EVERYONE JOINING BY IP SHOULD USE THE MOD WITH THE SAME SendRate. Mismatched values can cause jittery movement.
• Joining by IP works between PC players only; console players can still join via code.
• BEFORE REPORTING A BUG TO THE GAME'S DEVELOPERS, UNINSTALL ALL MODS and check that the problem still happens. Mod issues should be reported to the mod author, not to House House.
• A higher send rate uses more bandwidth and a little more CPU on the host.

Help

• Where is my game folder? In Steam: right-click BIG WALK → Manage → Browse local files.
• Something doesn't work? Check BepInEx\LogOutput.log – every part of the mod logs what it does (look for Direct Connect).
• Warning banner not hidden? Press F5 and look for Hiding banner lines in the log.

Building from source

1. .NET SDK 6+; BepInEx installed in the game and the game started once (BepInEx\interop must exist).
2. Check GamePath in BigWalk.DirectConnect.csproj (or pass -p:GamePath="...").
3. dotnet build -c Release in this folder (or open BigWalk.DirectConnect.slnx).

The DLL is copied to BepInEx\plugins\BigWalk.DirectConnect\ automatically.

Plugin.cs          entry point + configuration
ModController.cs   per-frame driver
UI/                Join Game page: patch, section builder, layout and input-field helpers
Localization/      translations + game/system language detection
Networking/        address validation, DNS resolution, connecting, password auto-fill
Tuning/            send rate tuner, KCP flush
Warnings/          warning-banner hiding + key input (legacy Input Manager / Input System)
Common/            reflection helpers

Credits

• lajilaji – original N2N Direct Connect mod.
• Code written with the assistance of Claude (Anthropic).
• BIG WALK by House House, published by Panic. This mod is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.