Device playback failure recovery and redistribution

A method for automatic failover recovery comprising:

• causing a plurality of playback devices comprising first and second playback devices to render audio content in a synchronized manner;
• detecting an addition of a new playback device to the plurality of playback devices;
• determining a playback responsibility of the new playback device;
• and
• after detecting the addition of the new playback device, causing an adjustment of the rendering of the audio content by at least one of the first or second playback devices of the plurality of playback devices, the adjustment based on the playback responsibility of the new playback device.

A system comprising:

• a processing unit configured for communication with a plurality of audio playback devices comprising a first playback device and a second playback device, the processing unit further configured to:
• cause the first and second playback devices of the plurality of playback devices to render audio content in a synchronized manner;
• detect a failure of the first playback device of the plurality of playback devices;
• determine a playback responsibility of the first playback device;
• and
• after detecting the failure of the first playback device, cause an adjustment of the rendering of the audio content by at least the second playback device of the plurality of playback devices, the adjustment based on the playback responsibility of the first playback device.