Golf With Your Friends 2 is in development, aiming to build on the chaotic multiplayer fun of its predecessor with new gameplay modes and enhanced course creation tools. Radical Forge, the studio responsible for the original game's DLC, is leading the development of the sequel, which will launch fully released rather than in early access.
Dynamic Courses and Chaos Mode
The primary new feature for Golf With Your Friends 2 is the addition of a 'Chaos mode'. While the game will launch with fewer courses than the original, Chaos mode introduces dynamic, randomized variations to existing layouts. This means no two playthroughs of a course will be identical. These variations can include structural changes to the holes themselves and the addition of modifiers like speed boosts, pinball bumpers, or even alien laser-equipped UFOs, as seen on the space-themed level.
Lead designer Annie Grudeva explained that Chaos mode spawns different mechanics, with many custom to the mode and others nodding to features from different courses. The developers estimate that approximately 10,000 permutations are needed to encounter the same layout twice. This approach aims to keep the game fresh by introducing unexpected twists and dangers, addressing a common critique of the original game where strategies and shots could become static over time.
Enhanced Level Editor
In addition to Chaos mode, Golf With Your Friends 2 will feature a revamped level editor designed for increased ease of use. Inspired by user-generated content platforms like Roblox and Fortnite Creative, Radical Forge aims to make course creation more accessible. CEO Bruce Slater highlighted the desire for a "Lego Snap" feel, making building courses intuitive and fun, while still offering the complexity players expect from the series.
The improved editor is intended to encourage more players to create and share their own custom levels. This move towards greater user-generated content is part of a strategy to keep the game alive and updated for an extended period, fostering the existing community and bringing new players into the fold.
Expanded Multiplayer and Accessibility
Golf With Your Friends 2 will also introduce crossplay, a feature absent in the original game. This functionality will extend to both general multiplayer and custom courses. The sharing of user-created levels will shift from the PC-exclusive Steam Workshop to Mod.io, a platform that supports consoles. This change aims to make custom levels accessible across different platforms, allowing console-made levels to be available on PC and vice-versa.
Radical Forge is mindful of the original game's broad appeal, which included casual players and those less familiar with PC gaming. While the unpredictability of Chaos mode is a central component, the developers are focused on ensuring it enhances the fun rather than alienating a wider audience, stating their intention to create a "silly golf game" rather than something akin to "Dark Souls: Golf."