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Steam Remote Play Together: play local co-op games online

Last updated: 2026-11-13

Remote Play Together is a Steam feature that lets you invite friends into a local multiplayer game that you host, even when they are not in the same room. It is a good fallback when you want to play a couch co-op game but your group is spread out.

How it works

The host runs the game on their PC. Steam streams the game to your friends, and their controller or keyboard input is sent back to the host. Because the game runs only on the host machine, usually only the host needs to own the game.

How to start

1. Make sure everyone is signed in to the Steam client and is on your friends list.
2. The host launches a game that supports local multiplayer or shared-screen play.
3. Open the Steam overlay (Shift+Tab by default), open the friends list and invite a friend with the Remote Play Together option.
4. Your friend accepts the invitation and joins through the Steam client.

What to check first

The host needs a fast, stable connection and a PC that can run the game while streaming it. Input delay is more noticeable in fast action games than in turn-based or puzzle games. The maximum number of players depends on the game, and not every game supports the feature, so check the features listed on the game's Steam store page.

When to choose something else

If everyone already owns the same game, native online co-op usually gives a smoother experience. To see which games your friends already own, compare your Steam libraries, or read how to find games you both own. For ideas by group size start with 2 players or 4 players.

Features and limits can change, so confirm the details in the official Steam documentation and the game's store page.