Multiplayer / GRAIN ROT
How to invite friends and join public lobbies
Patch 1.07 added public servers through an in-game browser, password-protected servers, and expanded host settings. To play with friends, host a Friends Only or Invite Only game and use the current in-game or Steam invite flow.
Join a public server
Patch 1.07 added public servers that players can join through an in-game browser. This is a public server list, not a promise of skill-based matchmaking or automatic team filling; choose an available session and stay within the confirmed four-player cap.
Host a public or password-protected game
The same patch added more host settings and support for password-protected servers. Use a public game when you want new players to find the session, or add a password when you want to share access with a specific group.
Invite friends
Create a Friends Only or Invite Only game from the multiplayer options, keep the host in the session, then use the invite action exposed by the current game UI or Steam friends list. The official patch notes confirm these privacy modes but do not document every button label, so treat exact menu wording as version-dependent.
Who can join a friends-only game?
Patch 1.07 says Friends Only and Invite Only games allow friends of anyone already in the server to join, rather than limiting joins to the host's friends. Agree on the privacy mode before opening the lobby so the group knows who can bring in another player.
Who owns the progression?
A Steam thread posted August 11 reports no shared progression and says established players prefer to host rather than join. Treat the host's Outpost and progression as the session anchor until the developers document a different system; decide on a regular host before investing in a long co-op run.
If a friend cannot join
Confirm that every player has Patch 1.07 or a newer build, then check the lobby's privacy mode, password, player cap, and whether the host is still online. Re-send the invite, restart the lobby, then restart Steam if needed. Report the exact build and error in Steam Community if the problem remains.
What changed
Earlier launch builds did not offer the current public server browser. Patch 1.07 added public joins, password-protected servers, and expanded host settings, so advice written before that patch may now be out of date.
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