Shift At Midnight Co-op and Crossplay Guide

Xbox console and PC Game Pass can play together; Steam remains separate from that Microsoft crossplay group. Shift At Midnight was designed for solo play or up to three players online. A July 23 Steam patch also lets a host select up to six, but the developer calls four-to-six-player sessions an optional chaotic setting rather than the intended first-playthrough format.

For: Full release and July 23/29 patches · Updated: August 5, 2026

Key takeaways

Shift At Midnight supports solo play or up to three players online.
A July 23 Steam host selector can raise the lobby maximum to six; this does not change the designed three-player range or crossplay compatibility.
Xbox console and PC Game Pass can play together at launch.
Steam is separate from the Microsoft launch group.
Full crossplay is planned without a confirmed date.
No newer developer post reviewed through August 5 specifically closes the dated July 23 Steam lobby-branch workaround.

Current compatibility (August 5, 2026)

Capability	Current supported reading	What it means for a group
Solo play	Current	One player can play without forming an online group.
Designed online co-op range	Current	Form a group of up to three players total.
Steam host selector up to six	Added July 23	A Steam host can select four to six, but the developer warns that this is outside the intended design and is not recommended for a first run.
Xbox console and PC Game Pass crossplay	Current at launch	These two Microsoft release paths can play together.
Steam with Xbox or PC Game Pass	Not available at launch	Do not build a mixed Steam-and-Microsoft group on the launch setup.
Steam-only public server browser	Current state unclear	A July 10 announcement planned it for launch or shortly after, but no reviewed shipping notice confirms that it is live.
Full crossplay and broader server-browser plan	Planned after release	The developer gives no confirmed release date.

Official links: Steam store, Xbox product page, Bun Muen's official site, the Xbox Game Pass launch notice, and dated Steam announcements. The Xbox page also lists proximity chat and says console online multiplayer requires Game Pass Core or Ultimate, sold separately.

Dated Steam lobby-join workaround

On July 23, 2026, the developer posted a temporary Steam lobby workaround for players who cannot join friends:

In the Steam Library, right-click Shift At Midnight.
Open Properties, then Game Versions & Betas.
Enter the access code networkissues.
Opt into the network-issues-patch branch.
Make sure every teammate uses that same branch before trying the lobby again.

The notice calls this a workaround while a proper main-version fix is being prepared, so it is not a permanent setup step. The July 29 patch reports general bug and crash fixes without naming this lobby problem. That is not enough to declare the branch retired; follow a newer specific networking notice or the current default-branch behavior when one is available.

Choose a compatible group

Playing alone needs no crossplay decision.
For an Xbox console and PC Game Pass group, use the launch crossplay path.
For an Xbox console group, account for the console online subscription requirement shown on the current product page.
For a Steam group, keep every player on Steam and on the same branch when the temporary lobby workaround is needed.
If a Steam host chooses four to six players, treat that as the optional larger-lobby setting described in the six-player update, not a new crossplay path.
For a group mixing Steam and Microsoft storefronts, wait for explicit first-party confirmation that full crossplay is live.

Server-browser wording matters

The July 10 release announcement described a Steam-only public server browser as a launch or shortly-after- launch target. Bun Muen's FAQ separately describes full crossplay and a server browser as post-release work. Those statements may refer to different rollout stages, so do not assume they describe one live feature.

Features not confirmed

The official pages do not explain host migration, host-versus-guest save ownership, local split-screen, Xbox One support, or current Steam-to-Microsoft crossplay. Xbox Play Anywhere and cloud saves are listed capabilities, but they do not explain how a co-op guest's campaign progress is stored.

Compatible party setups

Use either an Xbox-console/PC-Game-Pass combination or a Steam-only group. For the temporary Steam workaround, every teammate must use the same branch. The public server browser and wider crossplay are separate features.

Check the latest Steam networking post before changing branches.

Return to the Modes hub.
Read the beginner guide.
Compare products on the platforms and PC requirements page.
Read the 13-shift Story Mode overview.
Check the six-player lobby update before planning a four-to-six-player Steam session.

Quick answers

How many players can play Shift At Midnight together?

The designed range is solo or up to three players online. A July 23 Steam patch also lets a host select up to six, with an explicit warning that larger groups are outside the intended balance.

Can Steam players join Xbox or PC Game Pass players?

As of July 23, Xbox console and PC Game Pass can play together, while Steam remains separate.

What should a Steam group try if friends cannot join the lobby?

The dated July 23 notice says every teammate can use the network-issues-patch branch with access code networkissues. Because this branch is temporary and the later general fix note does not name this issue, check the current default branch and a newer specific Steam notice first.