Having trouble joining client server session in PIE(in editor)

[FOG_Never]

Hey guys, I’m not an unreal engine veteran, but im just trying to set up simple hosting and joining and will later add more complex options etc. using 5.5.4

all i’ve been attempting is to host on one client and join session with another, using PIE, not standalone just in editor.
I can host a session, and load into my gameplay map from main menu, but when i attempt to join the session on the other client, no matter what i try i get a print string from failed on the FindSessionsAdvanced node (from steam sessions plugin). though its a steam sessions node i am not yet attempting to host and join via steam.

I’ll add a couple pics of my very simple code. as a summary, i have my main menu widget and two buttons, when clicked they call both the create session and find/join session custom events within my game instance BP. where am i going wrong? im wondering if this has something to do with firewall, incorrect code, or something else. again, i am attempting simple joining session in PIE in editor, so steam is not involved with the process yet.

[dZh0]

Hey, I’m not an expert on this and I haven’t tried it but I’m quite sure that you need two PCs with two Steam Accounts running to test steam sessions.

[FOG_Never]

you are 100% correct, however im just trying to first establish functional hosting and joining without steam, inside the editor (PIE) where steam is not involved; using two players

the find advanced session node you see in the picture is basically the same as the default UE find sessions node with extra options and works the same to my knowledge without steam.

[FOG_Never]

i can host a session just fine, but the find sessions node always returns with a failure, not even making it to the join session node.