Dying Light 2: How to Unlock and Play Co-Op

Dying Light 2 has just been released, and critics love the zombie survival/parkour simulator. The game is wowing audiences with its slick action and tense atmosphere, which players can either experience alone or with a friend thanks to the sequel’s unlockable co-op mode.

Much like the original Dying Light, Dying Light 2 is an open-world RPG where players can jump around rooftops, kill shambling zombies, and complete numerous missions. But when night falls, that’s when the big enemies come out of hiding and stalk the streets. Death comes more easily, but the experience is more bountiful. The heightened risk lets players reap better rewards, which is where co-op really comes in handy. Even the most dangerous of enemies are far more surmountable when someone watches your back. However, players can’t just team up right out of the gate; they have to earn permission first.

Here’s a quick and easy guide on how to unlock and properly use co-op in Dying Light 2.

Dying Light 2: How to Unlock Co-Op

Even though co-op isn’t included in the initial Dying Light 2 package, the feature also isn’t locked behind any devious deathtraps or terrifying gauntlets. In fact, most players will probably unlock the option within an hour or two.

In order to access co-op, players need to complete a few main story missions and access the full open world. Specifically, you’ll need to accept and finish the mission “Markers of Plague,” which tasks players with searching a run-down hospital with the character Hakon. A few cutscenes and a harrowing chase sequence later, players finally exit the hospital, and Hakon hands over a pair of binoculars before asking them to get a feel for their surroundings. Afterward, the game proudly gives players the message “Welcome to Villador.”

Once gamers have completed this simple task, they have not only unlocked Dying Light 2’s open-world but its co-op as well. Audiences are now free to tackle the game’s challenges either alone or with a squad of allies.

Dying Light 2: How to Play Co-Op

After players unlock co-op, they can choose how they feel like teaming up with other players. Do they want anyone to drop in at any moment, or would they rather rely on their closest friends? Different desires require different options.

Once you unlock co-op, you can access the feature with either the main or pause menu. From there, they have to select “Options” and navigate over to the “Online” tab at the top of the screen. The “Game Type” option determines who you play with and how you do it.

Players can cycle through four different co-op types in Dying Light 2. “Single Player” is a self-explanatory solo mode and is best for those who want to go it alone and don’t want anyone inviting them to a lobby or dropping in on them. Meanwhile, “Public” lets any player join the host at any given time, and “Friends Only” limits the gamers who can pop in unannounced to the host’s friends list. The final option, “Private,” is like “Friends Only” but restricted to invites. The host picks and chooses who can join.

Since “Public” is an open invitation for anyone, players who select it will meet other players who join their world without warning. Alternatively, players can join someone else’s public game world by navigating to the “Online Menu” from the pause menu. Gamers can then select either “Quick Join” to connect at random or “Find Games” to join the lobby of their choice. As for players who would rather adventure with friends, they need to select either the “Favorite” or “Friends” options, decide who they want to play with, and send an invitation. Once the invitee accepts (or a player accepts an invitation from one of their friends), it’s time to start fighting zombies as a team.

Dying Light 2: Co-Op’s Limitations and Rules

Even though Dying Light 2 lets players potentially join forces at any time, any place thanks to its drop-in, drop-out co-op, the system comes with some restrictions.

The biggest limitation with Dying Light 2’s co-op is its progression system. Anyone who joins another player’s game session gets to keep everything they find and earn. Weapons, skills, money, you name it, it’s still yours when you get back to single player. However, this also applies to weapon durability. If a weapon breaks in co-op, it will still be broken in solo. The only progress that doesn’t carry over is quests. Even though guests can help the host complete missions, they still need to complete the quests on their own — or as a co-op host themselves — after the multiplayer session if they haven’t already.

Moreover, co-op only lets four players join up at a time, and only if they are on the same platform. PlayStation 5 players can’t join Xbox players and vice versa. This might change in a future patch, but for now, anyone who plans on teaming up with friends in Dying Light 2 needs to coordinate their purchases to make sure everyone buys the same version.