Multiplayer & cross-play
Updated July 20, 2026 · Verified for v1.3.2
Short answer: yes, it's cross-platform, it's online co-op for up to four, and there is no split-screen. Below is how lobbies work, what to do when a session misbehaves, and the levels where playing as a team actually changes the tactics.
How to play with friends
You host a lobby and hand out its room code; your friends type that code in and drop straight into your session, whatever platform they're on. Lobbies can be public or private, and you can hide the code so strangers can't wander into your run. Cross-play is handled through Epic Online Services behind the scenes, so nobody has to sign in to an Epic account to make it work.
Room codes and the hide-code option arrived with the console release on May 28, 2026, which is also when cross-play went live across all three platforms.
When multiplayer misbehaves
Most of the co-op problems people hit were patched, so the first thing worth checking is that everyone is on the current build (v1.3.2):
- Voice chat cuts out after a while or when changing level: fixed in 1.3.1.
- Crash after idling in The Hub, or when cancelling a join whose host already left: fixed in 1.3.2.
- Stuck on a loading screen mid-session: also addressed in 1.3.2.
- No ping shown in the lobby list: that display was pulled on purpose in 1.3.2, so it isn't a fault on your end.
The full dated list is on the update history.
Levels where co-op changes the plan
Most levels play the same with a team. These are the ones where splitting up, or refusing to, is the actual tactic.
Call the forks out loud and keep together. A straggler who takes a wrong turn once the chase is live rarely makes it back to the group.
Move as a tight group, not spread out. A lone player who wanders off gets surrounded while the rest of the team is already a room ahead.
Everyone runs their own line and there is no reviving mid-chase. Agree on the left-route detour before you start so nobody freezes at the block.
Split the shelves between players to beat the blackout timer, then regroup at the computer. One person switching it on covers the whole team.
Split the four sectors between players to gather keys faster, but deal with a Party Host the moment anyone sees one; one alarm pulls Partygoers onto the whole team.
Multiplayer FAQ
Is Escape the Backrooms cross-platform?
Yes. The game has full cross-play, so PC (Steam), PS5 and Xbox Series X|S players can all be in the same session. It runs on Epic Online Services in the background, and you do not need to sign in to an Epic account to use it.
How many players is Escape the Backrooms?
Up to four players in online co-op. You can also play the whole game solo. Everyone on the team has to reach each level's exit alive before the group moves on.
Is Escape the Backrooms split screen or couch co-op?
No. Co-op is online only, so every player needs their own copy and their own machine or console. There is no split-screen or shared-couch mode on any platform.
How do you play Escape the Backrooms with friends?
Create a lobby and share the room code with your friends, who enter it to join you directly. Lobbies can be public or private, and you can hide the code so random players can't drop into your run.
Can you play Escape the Backrooms solo?
Yes, the whole game is playable alone. Some levels are noticeably harder without a team, especially the ones built around watching an entity while someone else works, like Level 974 with Mr. Kitty.
Is Escape the Backrooms cross-play between PS5 and Xbox?
Yes. Cross-play covers all three platforms, so PS5 and Xbox players can play together, and either can team up with someone on PC.
Compiled & code-checked by lhb · verified for v1.3.2. Spot an error? Tell us.