Co-op Setup and Known Bug Workarounds

Solarpunk supports small-group online co-op, but its multiplayer features and known bugs have changed quickly since launch. Install the latest update before trying an older workaround. Post-launch patches have already addressed problems involving research tables, crop plots, inventories, building controls, and airships.

Co-op Availability and Shared Progress

Online co-op: Yes. Up to four players can join an online session.
Local co-op and split-screen: No local or split-screen mode is currently listed. Steam, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch 2 describe online co-op but do not list couch co-op or split-screen. Nintendo lists one player per system and up to four players online, so plan on one device per player.
Crossplay: Broad cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch 2 is not generally available yet. The developer says a new cross-platform multiplayer system is in development. Until then, confirm that everyone is using the same supported platform network before buying the game or starting a world.
World ownership: Solarpunk does not have public dedicated servers. One player hosts the session, and buildings, farms, resources, and other world changes are stored in that host’s world. To continue normally, the group needs the same host and save.
Shared progress: Shared Progress is enabled by default when creating a world. Completed Merchant trades and electrical-recipe unlocks count for the group, and everyone uses a shared blueprint pool. Airship upgrades unlock for all players, but each player must apply those upgrades to their own airship at a dock.
Player inventory: Each player has a separate inventory. Public developer information does not clearly confirm whether a guest’s inventory transfers safely between different hosts’ worlds. Do not assume that changing worlds or transferring the host save will preserve every personal item.

Choose a host who is usually available when the group wants to play. Store group materials in labeled containers, but remember that anything carried by a player remains in that player’s separate inventory.

Co-op Invite Checklist

Match platforms first. Because broad cross-platform play is still in development, start with players on the same supported platform network.
Update every copy. Make sure everyone has the newest build available for their platform. Console patches may arrive later than PC patches because they must pass platform approval.
Let the host load first. The chosen host should open the correct world before sending invitations.
Enable the Steam overlay. On Steam, check Solarpunk > Properties > General > Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game. Then check Steam > Settings > In Game > Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game and restart Solarpunk.
If Steam says “Invited!” but nothing arrives, open chat. The publisher recommends that both players exchange a few normal Steam chat messages before trying again. A working invitation should appear as a Solarpunk banner with a Play Game button.
Restart cleanly. If the invitation still fails, have both players restart Steam and Solarpunk before changing or moving any save files.
Report repeat failures. Include whether the Friends list opened, whether Steam displayed Invited!, whether anything appeared in chat, and whether either player uses a VPN, firewall, or antivirus tool.

Before Testing a Bug Workaround

Update the game and back up the world before testing a problem repeatedly. On Windows PC, Steam’s cloud-save configuration places Solarpunk saves in %LOCALAPPDATA%\Solarpunk\Saved\SaveGames. Close the game, copy the folder to a separate location, and never edit or delete your only copy.

Problem	What to Try First	When to Stop
Falling through the world or airship collision trouble	Update first. Post-launch notes say airship collision behavior was improved, including fixes for players falling through the world or dying after touching an airship. If it still happens, restart the game; this was the developer’s published recovery for the launch version. If an airship is stranded, select Unstuck Airship from the in-game menu. This moves it high enough to be called back to a dock.	Stop testing while carrying valuable materials. Back up the save and report the location and action that triggered the problem.
Research Table UI is empty or stuck	Update first. The developer says it fixed the issue that hid researched items after reopening the Electronics Research Table. A separate launch bug could block the Energy Research Table after selecting a trade; the published recovery was to restart the game.	Do not rebuild the table or spend more materials while its state is unclear. Restart, confirm that the correct world loaded, and report the problem if it returns.
Animals, chickens, or the animal teleporter get stuck	The developer listed stuck animals, chickens, and teleporter trouble among the known launch issues, but did not publish a step-by-step repair. Reload the world, clear space around the animal or teleporter, and test it once more.	If the same animal remains stuck, stop rebuilding the surrounding area. Submit a bug report with the save and location details.
Crop plots reappear or duplicate after loading	Update first, because the developer says this issue was fixed after launch. After backing up the world, remove the unwanted plot and reload once to confirm that the change remains.	Do not place a finished building over the area until the plot stays removed after a reload.
Foundation height or rotation controls do not respond	Follow the rotation and height prompts shown in the current build; more prompts were added after launch. If the controls still fail, leave and re-enter build mode before restarting the game.	Stop forcing the placement if the preview remains invalid. Try the same controls in a clear, flat area and report the input method if they still fail.
Controller inventory or hotbar locks up	Update first. Post-launch patches addressed several gamepad inventory problems, including backpack-related lockups and stuck hotbar navigation. Close and reopen the menu once, then restart the game if it remains unresponsive.	Do not keep crafting or moving valuable items while the interface is stuck. Report which container and controller were in use.
Oven, furnace, rain, or another sound keeps looping	Oven and rain loops were listed as known launch bugs, and a later update attempted to fix a furnace-audio issue. Update the game, move away from the sound source, and reload the world if the loop continues.	If the sound survives a reload, lower the effects volume for the session and report the object, weather, and platform involved.
A powered machine or postbox appears inactive	Check the energy network before treating the problem as a bug. Weather affects energy production, and a network only counts as powered when connected to a producer or charged battery. Current builds also warn when the postbox has no power.	If the network has confirmed generation or stored charge and the machine still fails after a reload, stop rebuilding it and report the setup.

Best Co-op Habits While Bugs Are Being Patched

Keep the first shared base simple until food, water, storage, research, power, and an Airship Dock are working reliably.
Agree on which items belong in shared storage, since each player has a separate inventory.
Have every player carry a basic kit with food, water, tools, and spare inventory space.
Let the host pause progression if a research, trade, or save issue appears.
Leave walking room around airships, docks, animals, and teleporters while testing them.
After a serious bug, restart and confirm that the expected world loaded before beginning another long build.

These are recovery steps, not guaranteed repairs for every save. Update first, back up important worlds, and test one change at a time. If a problem repeats, report it instead of making repeated changes to a potentially damaged save.

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