It's the thing you've all been asking for since launch, so let me just say it: Coffie Simulator is getting co-op. I've been heads-down building the networking for a while now, and it's finally at a point where I can show you something real.
...though "something real" might be generous. The first thing my playtester and I did once two players could see each other? Throw boxes at each other. For like ten minutes. No orders, no coffee, just chucking crates across the test map. In my defense, it's a really good stress test, also fun to do too.
> What actually works right now <
Getting a sim game online is a genuinely huge job, multiplayer touches basically every system in the game, so I'm keeping expectations honest. But the foundation is further along than I expected:
You can see each other. Two players moving around the same cafe in real time. Sounds simple. Was not simple.
Machines and ingredients sync. You can both grab things, run the machines, and actually make drinks together! Not just stand around waving.
Turns out backseat-baristaing your partner is going to be a core part of the co-op experience.
> The plan <
The goal is the full cafe, up to 6 players. Splitting the espresso machines and the blender during a morning rush, yelling about who forgot the almond milk, bumping into each other behind the counter. That specific kind of chaos.
Right now I'm past the "does it connect" phase and into the "does it feel right" phase: syncing customer orders, progression, and all the little interactions so nothing desyncs when a friend joins. That's the slow, unglamorous part, but it's where co-op actually becomes fun instead of just functional.
> When can you play it? <
Sooner than you'd think. Co-op is heading to the beta branch soon. I'll post exact instructions when it's ready to test.
And to be clear: this isn't eating all my time. The bugs you've reported recently are still on my list and I'm fixing them alongside the network stuff.
> Thanks <
Building multiplayer solo is a big swing, and the only reason I'm taking it is because you all keep showing up for this dumb little cafe. So, thank you. Back to the coding. More soon. <3