The Binding of Isaac: Multiplayer Release Date & How it Works
The Binding of Isaac has grown exponentially since its release, but multiplayer is still coming soon; it’ll be amazing when it arrives.
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp 
Image via Nicalis
The Binding of Isaac has grown since its launch to become a game that players can invest their entire lives in. Its gameplay and sheer number of unlockables allow players to make a career in playing it, as several well-known content creators already have.
The one thing that’s been missing from the game but that fans have consistently asked to be included in future updates is multiplayer. It’s an obvious fit but has always seemed like one feature too many to ask for from the developer until now.
Related: Binding of Isaac Repentance Item Guide – Member Card
When is the Release Date for Multiplayer in The Binding of Isaac
Multiplayer will be released in beta for the PC version of The Binding of Isaac: Repentance on December, 1 2023. After Edmund McMillen, the creator of The Binding of Isaac, shared the first teaser for multiplayer on Twitter, he’s kept putting out information and has now confirmed that the beta will launch on December 1.
His FAQ breakdown gives all fans the information they need to ensure they can get into the game and play with their friends as soon as possible. The most important requirement we’ve noticed is that players must have every DLC for the base game up to Repentance.
The beta doesn’t have an end date, but there will no doubt be one because Edmund McMillen will want to tweak the experience based on user feedback. This will allow for the final version of the multiplayer feature to be near perfect.
How to Get Into The Binding of Isaac Multiplayer Beta
The only way to get into the beta for The Binding of Isaac Multiplayer is by following the game’s creator, Edmund McMillen, on Twitter. He’s explained that he’ll be posting information on how players can get into the beta test now and then, but they’ll need to follow him and look out for that information for themselves.
We’ve seen several players enjoying the multiplayer beta ahead of its release. Everything looks solid, but the release date is still set, as we’ve explained above. These players in the multiplayer beta will be setting the tone for how it feels moving forward, so all fans have them to thank for the endless chaos it’ll eventually bring.
One of the new features we’ve seen but know nothing about yet is a Daily Run. This appears to be a way to play The Binding of Isaac multiplayer without friends but with randoms. We’d expect to see random modifiers added to the run that make it more challenging and interesting each day.
How Will Multiplayer Work in The Binding of Isaac
From what we’ve seen, Multiplayer in The Binding of Isaac: Repentance will be pretty straightforward. Players will need to have a friend online and ready to play with them. Then, they’ll have to select the multiplayer option in-game, find their friend, and start a multiplayer game.
Edmund McMillen explained that players will be able to jump into multiplayer on a fresh save or an old one, meaning they can take all the characters and items they’ve unlocked in their hundreds of hours of playing into a multiplayer session. It’s fine for players to go in fresh and get punished as complete newbies.
This lack of limitations on progression means that players can recruit an experienced friend or be dragged into the game by them to get carried through to the final boss. It’s a fantastic way to see multiple builds in action at the most chaotic level. We’re worried about how many crashes are going to be caused by the insane combinations that players will create.
Are There New Items in The Binding of Isaac Multiplayer
At the time of writing, it looks like there will be no new items in The Binding of Isaac: Repentance’s multiplayer mode. However, Edmund McMillen has confirmed that there will be Post It Notes. These rewards mark every player’s progression in a multiplayer game as they conquer new areas together with others. It doesn’t sound like there will be anything more, at least in the beta version.
Do You Need to Own The Binding of Isaac: Repentance to Play Multiplayer
Yes, Edmund McMillen has confirmed that multiplayer will be exclusive to The Binding of Isaac: Repentance. This is likely because the development team wanted to bring multiplayer to the biggest version of the game with the most items and compatibility, so it simply made sense to use Repentance.
The Binding of Isaac: Repentance requires every previous version of the game to run, so it’s really better for players to buy the latest version instead of looking at the original or purchasing individual DLC. Since multiplayer will initially be released on PC in beta, fans will want to own the game on Steam if they want to play multiplayer before anyone else.
Will The Binding of Isaac Multiplayer be Cross-Platform/Crossplay
At the time of writing, we don’t know if The Binding of Isaac: Repentance’s multiplayer will be cross-platform or have crossplay. More details will almost certainly be released as soon as multiplayer enters beta and players can access it. From there, the development team will outline a plan for how crossplay and cross-platform gameplay will work.
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