Permafrost Co-op Guide: Players, Invites and Sessions
Updated 2026-10-14 · Last checked 2026-10-14 · Early Access
Permafrost co-op is a hosted session, not a persistent official server. Steam categories include single-player, multiplayer, co-op, and online co-op. The cap stated on the store page is four players: one host and three people joining that host’s world.
This is a source-based setup guide, not a tested host session. A solo load does not create a joinable session: use Host Multiplayer again when friends return. Crossplay is not verified in the current store or co-op documentation; an announcement of another platform alone would not establish crossplay.
Host and join
- Host: main menu, Play, Host Multiplayer, pick or create a world, set a password and max players, then wait for the load.
- The host must reach the cabin before guests can join, according to the official known-issues post.
- Join: main menu, Play, Join Multiplayer Sessions, find the session, enter the password.
- Steam invites work after the 11 October 2026 patch only if the invited player is already at the main menu.
Rules that surprise people
Characters are world-bound according to the linked co-op guide. A character in your solo world is not the same character as one in a friend’s world. If the host is offline, that in-game-hosted session is unavailable. This page does not recommend exchanging saves or changing Steam Cloud selections.
The official known-issues post says there is one dog per world and it belongs to the host. Guests can encounter a visibility bug showing only its moving harness. The host should perform main-quest and Skinwalker steps; do not assume every guest can safely progress those checkpoints.
Questions
Is Permafrost co-op?
Yes. Up to 4 players in a host session. Online co-op is a Steam category.
Can more than 4 people play?
The official co-op cap is four. A third-party rental advert is not evidence of a supported higher player count.
Does Permafrost support crossplay?
Crossplay was not verified in the sources checked on 14 October 2026. Online co-op is not itself a crossplay guarantee.
Related pages
Sources
- Steam store page — Permafrost (app 2254990) — Checked 2026-10-14. Price, platforms, Early Access FAQ, and system requirements.
- Steam appdetails API — Checked 2026-10-14. Release date, developers, languages, screenshots.
- Steam guide — Co-op Guide — Host and join steps. Checked 2026-10-14.
- Developer — Known Issues & Workarounds — Developer-tagged post, edited 11 October; checked 2026-10-14. Iron-pick description, unavailable refined flint sledgehammer, controller crafting and co-op. Newer patch notes take priority.
- Developer — Quest Fixes & Steam Invites, 11 October 2026 — Checked 2026-10-14. Join from the main menu; quest-key replacements and cooking-progress localization. Some previously stuck saves still need a fix.