Multiplayer
State of Decay 2 can be played either solo or with up to 3 other players. You can either join your friend’s game or host your very own session. When you’re visiting another player’s game, you’re there to help them succeed.
While your visiting character won’t gain standing, you can still collect items and resources and develop your skills. Helping your friend earns you a nice chunk of influence and other rewards upon returning home, while also making progress for your chosen character. Plus, the more you play in a host’s world, the better the rewards!
Permadeath is still active in multiplayer sessions, so cooperation is the key as players take on different roles to complement each other. Teamwork and communication are crucial in multiplayer in order to not only complete the host’s goal but also to keep your survivors alive.
When you bring a survivor from one of your active communities to a host’s map, you can scavenge locations on the map together and complete the host’s goals. While visiting, you’ll have access to your own community’s Supply Locker, so you don’t have to borrow stuff from your buddy. Don’t despair, if you’re underprepared, you’ll be able to trade resources, weapons, and items with other players. You will not have access to the host’s Supply Locker, but if you want to exchange goods, you can have them grab it for you.
Color-Coding System
The game uses a color-coding system to differentiate between players. The host player retains the usual color coding, while other players are marked with different colors. This system applies to player icons over their heads, waypoint markers on the map, and loot containers at various sites. Each client will see their own loot marked by their specific colored icons, ensuring clear identification and ownership.
Loot Mechanics
Loot from plague hearts can only be accessed after the host has interacted with it first. This ensures that the host has the primary right to these valuable items. Any loot found on the ground is fair game for all players, provided it is unlocked. For instance, a bounty item dropped by the host cannot be claimed by a client who has not completed the associated bounty.
Tether system & Connection
Our multiplayer uses a tether system that keeps players in the action or prevents them from being left behind in the potential madness. The tether system enforces a maximum distance that players can move away from the host. If a player tries to exceed this distance, they will be gently pulled back towards the host. It is designed to enhance the cooperative multiplayer experience by keeping players connected and focused on shared objectives.
Multiplayer uses a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection. This means there is no central server; instead, your connection quality depends on the host’s internet stability.
Cross-platform play and how to connect to friends
State of Decay 2 is currently available for Xbox and personal computers. Cross-play is supported! Anyone with an Xbox account can play with others, regardless of platform or storefront.
To play with friends on other platforms, you will need to exchange Xbox gamertags. PC players will need to use the Game Bar (normally accessible by pressing the Windows and G keys at the same time) to invite/join friends across different stores/consoles. Ensure you are signed in to an Xbox account and that your multiplayer setting is turned on in the in-game settings menu.