06 / COUCH CO-OP / ANSWER PROTOCOL
QUERY machine party couch co-op
Machine Party Couch Co-op: Is It Available?
CONFIRMED
DIRECT ANSWER
Machine Party v2.0 added couch co-op on August 12, 2026. Connect up to four controllers, open Local, choose Original, Custom, or Arcade, then press any button on a controller to join from the lobby. One player can use keyboard and mouse, so four people only need three controllers.
OFFICIAL V2.0 SETUP / NOT GAMEPLAY UI
LOCAL / UP TO 4
Local play is available in v2.0.
This source-backed setup summarizes the official menu path. It does not recreate the lobby screen or invent a keyboard join key.
- MENU
- Local
- MODES
- Original / Custom / Arcade
- JOIN
- press any controller button
Source: Official v2.0 couch co-op announcement
- Added in
- v2.0 / 2026-08-12
- Controller support
- up to 4 controllers
- Four-player option
- 3 controllers + keyboard/mouse
PANEL COORDINATES / SOURCE DATES IN LEDGER / NO PERSONAL PLAYTEST CLAIM
Why this page exists: Cluster-supported play-mode intent: a local group wants one-screen play status.
Official couch co-op setup
Connect the controllers first, enter Local from the main menu, and choose Original, Custom, or Arcade. On the lobby screen, each controller player can press any button on that controller to join.
Joined players enter a name, select cosmetics, and ready up. Once everyone is ready, a five-second countdown starts; changing the lobby interrupts that countdown.
Controller and screen limits
The official announcement supports connecting up to four controllers. It also says one player can use keyboard and mouse, so a four-person group can play with three controllers plus one keyboard-and-mouse player. That does not create a fifth seat; the official game remains 2–4 players.
Some local simulations adjust their shared camera or use split screen. The announcement does not publish the keyboard player’s exact join key or guarantee every controller and adapter combination.