Stardew Valley is a highly acclaimed and serene game in Steam, in which players inherit a neglected farm from their deceased grandfather. It features an online cooperative mode that allows up to four players to collaborate and revitalize the abandoned farm.
The game is crossplatform which means it is available to play on all consoles and PCs, but it still lacks cross play; implying that players using different platforms cannot cooperate. However, those who use Steam can still participate in online and LAN co-op modes.
Unfortunately, players using other media are not able to join. Meanwhile, players on all platforms can access split-screen co-op, Remote Play on Phones, Tablet, and Remote Play Together features. Despite being available on multiple platforms, implementing crossplay is daunting due to significant technical challenges. Developers, ConcernedApe, acknowledged the possibility of crossplay in 2018 but admitted it would be challenging to execute. Nevertheless, Stardew Valley remains a popular game that provides an enjoyable experience for players with the same platform.
However in recent news, the game’s developers, ConcernedApe, have expressed interest in adding this feature. The developers have prioritized releasing updates for the game but have acknowledged the demand for crossplay and promised to investigate it more closely.
Despite the developers’ intention to add crossplay, the game is currently restricted to players on the same platform. While this may disappoint some players, the potential for future crossplay support is promising. It limits players to only interact with those who share the same console, preventing them from playing with PC friends on Nintendo Switch or PlayStation friends on Xbox.
Therefore, players must carefully select their platform to ensure they can play with friends. Different options are available to set up a multiplayer game in Stardew Valley, depending on the player’s goals. For instance, players must buy a cabin from Robin to add a friend to an existing save file. The number of cabins purchased must equal the number of additional players they wish to include in the game. For example, if a player wants to play with three other friends, they must purchase three cabins.
Setting up multiplayer in Stardew Valley is possible anytime, but there are some things to consider depending on what you want to do. If you want to add friends to your current save file, you’ll need to purchase a cabin from Robin for each player you want to add. The cabins are relatively inexpensive at only 100 coins each, and once Robin has finished building them, you’ll need to close out the save file and select “co-op” from the main menu. Then you can invite your friends to join you.
If you’re starting a new game, select “co-op” from the main menu and choose the “Four Corners” farm option, beginning with three cabins on your farm. Once you’ve progressed past the opening credits, invite your friends to start playing with you. While the cross-platform play isn’t currently available in Stardew Valley, you can still enjoy multiplayer with friends who have the game on the same platform as you do.