Arkane's acclaimed immersive sim, Prey, now offers a cooperative multiplayer experience through an unofficial fan-made mod. Dubbed Prey Coop, the mod developed by null234 enables up to 16 players to explore the Talos 1 space station together.
Prey Coop synchronizes crucial gameplay elements across all connected players, including global campaign progression, story choices, enemy AI, inventory, doors, hazards, and world physics. Despite still being in its alpha stage, the mod reportedly allows for the entire campaign to be played from beginning to end, supporting both new and existing save files. However, players may encounter "visual rough edges, animation quirks, and potential bugs" as development continues.
While the prospect of 16 players navigating Talos 1 might sound chaotic, the mod is suggested to be particularly viable for smaller groups, such as two-player sessions. Prey's methodical and cerebral design, which emphasizes strategic use of gadgets and powers against the Typhon threat, could lend itself well to cooperative play. Players might find success in working together to set traps, engage enemies, and overcome obstacles, potentially by increasing the game's difficulty to compensate for the additional players.
Prey, released in 2017, is often lauded as one of Arkane's strongest titles, with its slow-burn narrative, intricate level design of Talos 1, and unique approach to combat that frames enemies as puzzles to be solved. The game's dark sci-fi adventure and emphasis on environmental interaction and player agency have cemented its status as a standout immersive sim.
Those interested in trying Prey Coop can download it from Nexus Mods. The mod requires the installation of Chairloader, port forwarding, and all participating players must possess a legitimate copy of the game and the same DLL build of the mod. Detailed installation instructions are provided by the modder.