fix: failing Create Instance api call no longer skips spec

cli/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <!-- See the ../guides/writing-the-cypress-changelog.md for details on writing the changelog. -->
-
 ## 13.16.1
 
 _Released 11/26/2024 (PENDING)_
 
 **Bugfixes:**
 
 - Support multiple imports of one module with multiple lines. Addressed in [#30314](https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/pull/30314).
+- During recorded or parallel runs, execution will fail if Cypress is unable to confirm the creation of an instance instead of skipping the spec. Addresses [#30628](https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/issues/30628).
 
 ## 13.16.0
 

packages/errors/src/errors.ts

@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ export const AllCypressErrors = {
 
         ${fmt.highlightSecondary(arg1.response)}
 
-        Because you passed the ${fmt.flag(`--parallel`)} flag, this run cannot proceed because it requires a valid response from our servers.
+        Because you passed the ${fmt.flag(`--parallel`)} flag, this run cannot proceed since it requires a valid response from our servers.
 
         ${fmt.listFlags(arg1.flags, {
       group: '--group',
@@ -188,6 +188,8 @@ export const AllCypressErrors = {
 
         ${fmt.highlightSecondary(arg1.response)}
 
+        Because you passed the ${fmt.flag(`--record`)} flag, this run cannot proceed since it requires a valid response from our servers.
+
         ${fmt.listFlags(arg1.flags, {
       group: '--group',
       ciBuildId: '--ciBuildId',

packages/server/lib/cloud/api/index.ts

@@ -458,22 +458,20 @@ export default {
       'platform',
     ])
 
-    return retryWithBackoff((attemptIndex) => {
-      return rp.post({
-        body,
-        url: recordRoutes.instances(runId),
-        json: true,
-        encrypt: preflightResult.encrypt,
-        timeout: timeout ?? SIXTY_SECONDS,
-        headers: {
-          'x-route-version': '5',
-          'x-cypress-run-id': runId,
-          'x-cypress-request-attempt': attemptIndex,
-        },
-      })
-      .catch(RequestErrors.StatusCodeError, formatResponseBody)
-      .catch(tagError)
+    return rp.post({
+      body,
+      url: recordRoutes.instances(runId),
+      json: true,
+      encrypt: preflightResult.encrypt,
+      timeout: timeout ?? SIXTY_SECONDS,
+      headers: {
+        'x-route-version': '5',
+        'x-cypress-run-id': runId,
+        'x-cypress-request-attempt': 0,
+      },
     })
+    .catch(RequestErrors.StatusCodeError, formatResponseBody)
+    .catch(tagError)
   },
 
   postInstanceTests (options) {