Field notes · Tutorial troubleshooting
Aquarium gate tutorial frozen? Check the automatic path join
Use this branch only when the gate-and-path objective matches. A desktop crash, a frozen tutorial prompt and an unrecognised Moon Jelly purchase are different failures.
The short answer
For the aquarium gate tutorial that stops progressing after a path joins automatically, Born Canadian’s reported workaround is to place the gate high enough to leave the path disconnected, then follow the prompt to connect it. This is a single-source placement suggestion, not a verified fix for every freeze.[1]
Match the gate-step symptom first
In the 13 October “Zoo freezes” Steam thread, LadyEbil reported a crash while placing the Aquarium Staff Gate. Born Canadian described a path joining automatically when the tutorial still wanted a connection step. PinkWolf said Kai kept talking but the player could not do anything; hablargy reported two soft locks.[1]
That discussion contains several symptoms. The height suggestion addresses the gate/path prompt. It does not establish a fix for the thread’s original translocation problem or a general graphics crash.
Try the reported placement sequence
- If you can return to a saved point before placing the gate, preserve that save first.
- At the aquarium gate step, place the gate at a height where the path does not automatically attach.
- Wait for the tutorial’s path-connection instruction, then connect the path as directed.
- Observe whether the objective advances before continuing with filtration or animal placement.
Born Canadian suggested this sequence twice. PinkWolf and hablargy did not post a successful follow-up in the directly readable thread. We therefore call it a reported workaround, not a confirmed success rate.[1]
Choose the next route by the remaining symptom
| What happens next | Next step |
|---|---|
| The gate objective advances, but a filter warning remains | Use connections, power and salinity; the gate workaround did not finish the entire tank. |
| The application closes or will not relaunch | Use PC startup checks for a startup failure; keep the gate-placement crash trigger in your report. |
| The Moon Jelly objective never acknowledges the earlier purchase | Keep that as a separate objective-recognition case. This gate suggestion has not been shown to fix it. |
| The same soft lock returns | Stop repeating the same placement; retain the pre-gate save and exact last instruction for support. |
Preserve a useful gate-step report
Record your platform, installed build, the exact tutorial instruction and whether the path attached automatically. A short before/after capture is more specific than “the tutorial freezes.” Send those details through Frontier Support · issue report ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab).
Checked 16 October 2026; report dates 13 October, build unknown. We have not reproduced the workaround and do not recommend restarting your entire Career solely on this evidence.
Sources & verification
- Steam · Zoo freezes / Born Canadian ↗ (external site, opens in a new tab) — 13 Oct 2026; named gate/crash/soft-lock reports and a height/path suggestion; no successful follow-up established.
Checked 16 October 2026. Research-based guidance; we have not personally tested these setups or fixes. Earlier player reports may describe an older build.
Back to guide ↑