📖 Survival Squad Goals: Playing Don't Starve Together on Every Platform

Using Steam Overlay to Invite

1. Host a World: From the main menu, click Play → Host Game. Set up a server with your desired settings.
2. Set Server Privacy: Set Server Mode to "Online" (not Local) and Server Type to "Friends Only" if you want it private.
3. Generate & Load World: Click "Generate World" and wait for it to load. You can pause once you spawn in.
4. Open Steam Overlay: Press Shift + Tab to open the Steam Overlay.
5. Invite Friend: In the overlay, find your friend in your Friends list. Right-click their name and select "Invite to Game".

Using Epic Games Store

Since Epic Games doesn't have an overlay like Steam, you'll need to use the server browse method:

1. Host a Public Server with Password: Create a server with a unique name and set a password.
2. Share Details: Tell your friend the exact server name and password via chat or Discord.
3. Friend Joins via Browse: They go to Browse Games, search for your server name, and enter the password.

Troubleshooting PC Invites

• Invite Greyed Out: Ensure you're in an online world, not at the main menu or in offline mode.
• Friend Can't See Server: Check that you're both online in Steam. If one is set to Invisible/Offline, invites may not work.
• Different Mods: If you have mods enabled, your friend will need to download them when joining. Mismatched mods can prevent connection.
• Wrong Server Mode: If you accidentally hosted as "Local Only," online friends won't see it. Use "Online" mode.

Using the In-Game Menu on PlayStation

1. Host a Friends-Only World: From the main menu, choose Play → Host Game. Set the privacy to Friends Only.
2. Launch the Server: Once your world is generated and you're in-game, open the pause menu (Options button).
3. Access Invite Menu: You should see an option that says "Invite Friends" (sometimes under a "Players" submenu). Select that.
4. Select Friends: Choose the friend(s) you want to invite from your PSN friends list and send invites.
5. Friend Accepts Invite: They'll receive a PlayStation notification that they can accept to join your game.

Alternative: Joining via Browse Games

If direct invites aren't working (which sometimes happens after updates), use this method:

1. Host sets up Friends-Only server: Just like above, create a world with Friends Only privacy.
2. Friend uses Browse Games: From DST main menu, select Browse Games.
3. Filter for Friends: Press the filter button (Triangle) and set "Friends Only" to Yes.
4. Join Server: Your friend should see your server in the list. They select it and hit Join.

Split-Screen Co-Op on PS4/PS5

PlayStation supports local split-screen co-op for two players:

1. Connect a second controller: Turn on a second controller and have it connect to the console.
2. Join as Player 2: Have the second player press the Options button to join as Player 2.
3. Choose profile: They'll need to either log into a PSN account or choose "Guest".
4. Play together: Both of you can now host or join an online world together from the same console.

Troubleshooting PlayStation Invites

• Missing "Invite Friends" Button: This happened in May 2024 after an update. If it occurs, use the Browse Games method instead. Check for game updates.
• "Server not found" Error: Check that both players have the same game version. After updates, versions can temporarily mismatch.
• PlayStation Plus Required: If the game says "You require PlayStation Plus to access online multiplayer", you need an active PS+ subscription.
• Voice Chat: There's no in-game voice on PS4/PS5, but you can use Party Chat. The game does have text chat (press Touchpad to open).

Inviting via Xbox Guide

1. Host a World: From main menu, select Play → Host Game. Set the server to Friends Only or Private with a password.
2. Launch the World: Generate your world and wait for it to load.
3. Use the Xbox Guide: Once in-game, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the Guide.
4. Navigate to Friends: Go to your Friends list or party chat if you have one.
5. Invite Friend: Find the friend you want to invite, click on their profile and select "Invite to game".

In-Game Invite Method

DST on Xbox often also has an in-game pause menu option to invite friends:

1. Host a World: Create your server as described above.
2. Open Pause Menu: Press the Menu button to pause the game.
3. Select Invite Friend: Look for the "Invite Friend" option in the pause menu.
4. Choose Friends: This will open the Xbox friends overlay where you can select friends to invite.

PC <-> Xbox Crossplay

One special feature of the Xbox version is limited crossplay with PC:

• Microsoft Store Connection: PC players who have DST via the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass (not Steam) can play with Xbox console friends.
• Xbox App on PC: PC players use the Xbox Game Bar (Win+G) or Xbox Console Companion app to invite Xbox friends.
• Same Account System: This works because both platforms use the Xbox Live ecosystem. Steam players cannot join Xbox players this way.

Troubleshooting Xbox Invites

• Xbox Live Gold Required: Make sure everyone has Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate. Without it, DST won't allow multiplayer.
• NAT Type Issues: If you have NAT Type "Strict", you might have trouble connecting. Try enabling UPnP on your router if available.
• Crashes on Join: If the game crashes when a friend joins, try having the host Rollback the server one day (in the pause menu) in case the current day is bugged.
• Split-Screen: Xbox also supports split-screen like PS4. Connect a second controller and press the Menu button to join as Player 2.

Hosting and Joining via Friends-Only Servers

1. Set Up an Online Friends-Only Server: Launch DST and select Play Online. Go to Host Game and set the privacy to Friends Only.
2. Give Server a Distinctive Name: Under Description, give the server a unique name like "AliceWorld" to help your friends identify it.
3. Create World: Generate and enter your world.
4. Friends Search via Browse: Your friends should go to Browse Games from their main menu.
5. Set Filters: They press Y (Filters) and set Friends to Yes. Also set the same Playstyle you chose (or "Any").
6. Join Server: Your server should appear in their list with a blue Friends icon. They select it and hit Join.

Password Protected Servers

If you want an extra layer of security or need to play with people not on your Switch friends list:

1. Host a Private Server: When creating your world, set it to "Private" instead of Friends Only and create a password.
2. Share Details: Tell your friend the exact server name and password via phone/Discord (since Switch has no messaging).
3. Friend Searches: They go to Browse Games and may need to filter "Show Password Protected" to Yes.
4. Enter Password: After finding and selecting your server, they'll be prompted to enter the password.

Switch Split-Screen & LAN

The Switch version supports both split-screen and local LAN play:

• Split-Screen: From DST main menu, a second controller can press the + button to join. Both can play online together if both accounts have NSO.
• LAN Play: If multiple people have their own Switch consoles in the same location, you can use the Local mode. Host toggles "Local" when creating a world, and others set their Browse filter to LAN. No NSO required for LAN play!

Troubleshooting Switch Invites

• Connection Quality: The Switch's online can be less stable. If connecting takes long or times out, try having everyone reboot their game.
• Night Time Spawn Bug: If joining at night, players might die before fully loading in. Try to host or save & exit during daytime.
• Can't See Friend's Server: Ensure you've exchanged Switch friend codes and are actually friends on the Switch. "Friends Only" only works for actual Switch friends.
• Performance Issues: The Switch can experience low FPS with large worlds or many players. Consider turning off certain graphics settings to improve performance.

Expected Mobile Invite System

Based on other Netflix Games and Klei's previous mobile ports, here's what we anticipate:

• Netflix Account Login: The DST mobile version will likely require you to log in with your Netflix profile.
• Invite System: Similar to other platforms, it will likely offer a way to host private games and share a code or link with friends.
• Share Options: Many mobile games allow you to generate an invite link that you can share through messaging apps like WhatsApp or Discord.
• Mobile-to-Mobile Only: Don't expect crossplay with PC or console versions at launch.

Preparing for Mobile Launch

• Netflix Subscription: All players will need an active Netflix subscription to download and play DST Mobile.
• Network Performance: Mobile players should be ready to play on WiFi for better performance, as cellular data might cause lag.
• Finding Friends: Be prepared to exchange Game Codes or Room Names to play together, similar to the Switch method.
• Device Requirements: While not confirmed, expect the game to require a relatively recent smartphone or tablet for smooth performance.

Using VPN or LAN Simulator for Long-Distance "LAN" Play

If you can't use the official online servers, VPN tools can create a virtual LAN:

1. Install VPN Tool: All players install a program like Radmin VPN, Hamachi, or ZeroTier (all free).
2. Create Network: One player creates a private network room in the VPN and others join with the provided name/password.
3. Host LAN Game: The host starts DST and chooses Host Game → Server Mode: LAN (instead of Online).
4. Join via LAN Browser: Others in DST go to Browse Games and switch to LAN filter. The server should appear as if you were all on the same local network.

Dedicated Servers & Cluster Sharing

For groups that play frequently, consider setting up a Dedicated Server:

• Always Online: A dedicated server runs independently and is always online. Friends can join anytime without the host needing to be present.
• How to Set Up: On PC, DST includes a Dedicated Server tool in your Steam library (under Tools). You'll need to generate a Cluster Token from Klei's website.
• Host Options: You can run it on your own PC or rent a server from game hosting providers for better 24/7 reliability.
• Console Limitations: On consoles, there's no official dedicated server software. You can simulate it by leaving your console running 24/7, but this isn't practical.

Essential Mods for Co-Op Experience (PC Only)

While mods don't directly change how invites work, they can enhance multiplayer:

• Global Positions: Reveals friends on the map so you don't spend time trying to find each other.
• Geometric Placement: Helps everyone build aligned, neat bases without overlap.
• Combined Status / Show Me: Gives more info about players' health, hunger, and item details for better team coordination.
• Mod Compatibility Note: Everyone joining a server must have the same mods. DST auto-syncs them when joining, but sometimes they can fail to download properly.

Community Networks & Finding New Friends

Need people to play with? Here are some places to find DST companions:

• Klei Official Forums & Discord: Klei has an official DST Discord server and forum LFG sections where people post "looking for players" threads.
• Reddit: r/dontstarvetogether occasionally has friend-finding threads where you can meet other players.
• Steam Groups: There are Steam groups dedicated to DST where you can join chats and find folks to play with.
• Console Communities: Xbox's Club feature and PlayStation Communities can connect you with other console players.