It Takes Two Friend Pass: Setup, Crossplay and Guest Rules

It Takes Two Friend Pass lets a guest play the complete adventure with someone who owns the full game. The owner installs their copy, the guest downloads the free Friend’s Pass, and the owner sends an invitation from the game. If neither person owns it, Friend’s Pass lets you try the first chapter together. EA explains both arrangements.

Crossplay has changed: EA now supports online play across PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2, with an important exception for the original Switch. This guide uses official pages checked on October 22, 2026. We have not tested a live session.

1. Choose the right arrangement

For a pair playing on separate devices, decide who will own the full game before downloading. The free pass gives the guest access through their partner; it does not provide an independent full-game license. Keep the owner available for the sessions you plan together.

If you are deciding whether to buy, start with the free first chapter. Use that session to judge whether both people enjoy cooperating and whether your connection is comfortable enough for a longer playthrough. There is little value in arranging an entire campaign before discovering that one partner dislikes its controls or pace.

Sharing one computer is another option. The Steam listing includes shared/split-screen co-op as well as online co-op. For help choosing a setup, see our local co-op vs online co-op guide.

2. Check crossplay before choosing devices

EA’s Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, dated September 9, 2026, announces the October 15 launch and newly added crossplay. The current EA Help guide confirms this compatibility:

EA Help also says a Switch 2 player can downgrade to the original Switch edition for online play with an original Switch partner. Treat that as a different arrangement from using the Switch 2 edition for broad crossplay.

Some older EA pages and store footnotes still describe same-platform restrictions. Use the newer announcement and current support list when planning your pairing. These sources concern It Takes Two itself; another Hazelight game’s Friend’s Pass rules do not establish compatibility here.

3. Install the guest version from the right place

The owner should launch the full game. The guest should look for Friend’s Pass in their platform’s store. EA’s overview points to Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam and the EA app.

On Steam, open the current full-game store page and find Play It Takes Two - Friend’s Pass, with its Install Game option. Avoid mistaking the paid purchase button for the guest download. The older standalone Friend’s Pass listing says it is no longer available on the Steam store.

Allow time for both installations before your planned start. Our recommendation is to check downloads and launch each copy earlier in the day, particularly if your evening together is short. That also leaves room to handle account prompts without spending the session staring at a progress bar.

4. Prepare accounts and online access

For Steam online play, an EA account remains required. However, EA’s Steam update explanation says the EA app launcher is no longer needed for the updated Steam version. Account linking and installing a separate launcher are different requirements.

Console guests should check their online subscription too. EA Help says both console players need the applicable Nintendo Switch Online, PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass subscription for online play. A free guest download does not remove that requirement. Check the online multiplayer access included with your particular console plan before arranging a session.

5. Send the invitation and join

With both games running, have the full-game owner send an in-game invitation. EA’s current community manager announcement describes this flow for supported crossplay platforms. Follow the prompts on your devices rather than relying on a menu screenshot from an older version.

For Steam friends, EA also documents direct invitations through the Steam friends list. For a Steam-to-EA-app pairing, its Steam FAQ directs players to the in-game EA Friends List, where they can add the partner’s EA account and send an invite. EA invitations are visible only while the game is running.

If joining fails, record the exact error, both platforms and which guest download you installed before contacting support. Recheck the edition and account steps above. Those checks help narrow the problem; they are not a tested cure for every connection error.

For another one-copy puzzle partnership, our Operation Tango Friend Pass guide explains its different requirements. Compare the setup as carefully as the game itself before choosing your next co-op night.