Until now, co-op needed a couch. Since version 0.121 you can also fly together from two computers — no account, no sign-up, just a four-character code.
How it works
- One of you opens Online co-op → Open room in the main menu and gets a code, for example
6TGN. - The other enters the code under Join.
- The host picks Arcade or Orbit and the difficulty as usual. The guest shows up as player 2 in the loadout screen, and each of you chooses weapon, jump and defense.
- As soon as both are ready, you launch. You stay connected after the flight — the next one needs no new code.
Your ship, your progress
The guest doesn’t fly the host’s ship but their own: their hangar, their upgrade paths, their talents and their ship level. Whatever they earn in the shared flight, ions and ship XP, goes into their own save. Only the run itself is shared: you split waves, boons and skill points just like on the couch.
Both of you pick boons
Since 0.123 both players see every boon offer. Shared boons are picked in turns — first the host, then the guest, then the host again. Whoever isn’t up sees the cards greyed out, with a note at the top saying who is choosing. Each player picks the upgrade path for their own ship. And if your partner just went for coffee: after 20 seconds without an answer, the host may pick for them.
Under the hood
The host’s browser simulates the world and sends the guest what changed, 20 times per second. The guest draws everything with their own graphics — sparks, embers, smoke and fire are created on their side — and extrapolates movement until the next packet arrives, so nothing stutters. The connection runs directly between your browsers. Our server only helps set it up and never sees the game.
Not perfect yet
- As the guest, your own ship reacts with your connection’s delay. On a good line you’ll barely notice; across long distances you will.
- Some networks (such as some mobile and corporate networks) don’t allow a direct connection. The room then can’t be joined. A detour through a relay server is on the list.
- Track flights to your own music remain solo only.
Also new
A lot has happened since the last post: fire, smoke and explosions have been redone, enemies burn according to their damage and blow apart when they die. Focus mode now changes every weapon in its own way. Your shield lights up exactly where a hit lands and clearly shows when it’s empty. In Orbit, an auto-aim takes over when you haven’t aimed yourself for three seconds — weak at first, upgradable at the trading posts. All the details are in the patch notes.
Grab a partner and take off!