Co-op experiences have become a cornerstone of modern gaming, and developers are increasingly designing titles that let friends connect no matter what hardware they own. From the sprawling open world of Aniimo to the tightly scripted adventure of It Takes Two the industry now offers built-in tools for inviting pals, sharing progress, and even playing without owning a full copy. At the same time, major platforms are shifting away from physical media, making seamless cross-play more important than ever.
Multiplayer in Aniimo: invites, voice chat and cross-play
Aniimo launched as a free-to-play RPG that supports up to four players in a single lobby. To start a session, open the in-game menu, select the Friends tab and search for a buddy by username or ID. After sending a friend request and receiving acceptance, an invitation icon appears beside the contact’s profile; a single click sends a party invite. The game automatically places all participants in the same world instance, allowing everyone to explore quests together.
The title also ships with integrated voice chat removing the need for third-party programs like Discord. If you prefer text-based coordination, a global chat channel helps you locate other players wandering the outposts, while the same system doubles as a quick matchmaking tool for spontaneous co-op runs.
One of Aniimo’s strongest selling points is its full cross-play support. Whether you’re on PC, a console, or a mobile device, the matchmaking system treats every platform equally, so a mixed-device party can dive straight into the adventure—provided the group stays under the four-player limit.
It Takes Two Friend’s Pass: playing with a partner who doesn’t own the game
It Takes Two is a co-op-only action-adventure that requires two participants to progress. EA’s Friend’s Pass removes the ownership barrier for the second player: the host who owns the full game can invite a friend who downloads a free companion version from the console’s digital store. Once the friend has the Pass installed, the host sends an in-game invite from the main menu.
The first chapter is accessible to both players without any purchase. To continue beyond that point, one player must own the complete title, while both need an active online subscription (Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus, or xbox game Pass) for matchmaking. This structure encourages shared play without forcing both parties to buy the game outright, a model that many indie and AAA studios are beginning to emulate.
Physical media disappears: why cross-play matters as consoles go disc-less
At Tokyo Game Show 2026, longtime PlayStation figures Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes recreated their famous 2013 “used-game” meme—only this time they held no disc. The photo underscored Sony’s upcoming 2028 plan to retire physical game media entirely, mirroring a broader industry trend toward digital distribution.
When the last cartridge or Blu-ray disappears, the reliance on online services and cross-platform compatibility will increase dramatically. Players will no longer be able to swap discs to share a title; instead, mechanisms like Friend’s Pass or built-in party invites become the primary ways to experience co-op content together. For titles that already support cross-play, such as Aniimo, the transition to a disc-free ecosystem is virtually seamless, reinforcing the importance of networked multiplayer features for future games.
Whether you’re exploring Aniimo’s open world, solving puzzles in It Takes Two, or preparing for a disc-less future on PlayStation, the tools are already in place to keep friends connected.
