Yes—XCOM 2 has multiplayer, but its documented multiplayer is competitive head-to-head combat, not a cooperative campaign. You can battle another player with a squad mixing XCOM soldiers, ADVENT units, and aliens; the official manual lists ranked, quick, and custom online matches, as well as local play over a LAN. Whether online play is currently available depends on platform and service status.
What multiplayer modes does XCOM 2 have?
The official XCOM 2 manual describes matches where players “face off in head-to-head combat against other players online.” Rather than sharing control of the campaign, each player fields a squad that can include XCOM soldiers, ADVENT units, and aliens.
Online matches
- Ranked matches: compete in ranked head-to-head play.
- Quick matches: search for the next available unranked public match.
- Custom matches: set up a public or private match.
The manual also describes local multiplayer over a LAN. These options are all versus play, not cooperative campaign missions.
Can you play the XCOM 2 campaign with a friend?
No co-op campaign is documented in the official manual. The multiplayer it describes is separate from the single-player campaign against computer-controlled enemies. That means there is no officially documented mode for two players to share the campaign or command the same squad cooperatively; this does not make a claim about unofficial workarounds.
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Does online multiplayer work on every platform?
Platform support and current service availability are distinct. Feral Interactive describes cross-platform Steam head-to-head matches among Mac, Linux, and Windows versions on its XCOM 2 for Mac and Linux page. The Xbox Store listing describes online multiplayer for two players. These listings establish platform-specific capabilities, not that matchmaking is currently operating everywhere.
There is also a historical caveat for Steam. A 2022 Reddit post reproduces a purported publisher notice saying an update on March 28 would remove Steam multiplayer and Challenge Mode functionality, while indicating the change would not affect the Mac version. Because this is a secondary source quoting an announcement, it does not establish present service status on every platform. See the Reddit post reproducing the notice, and check current support information for your specific platform and version before arranging a match.
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How to choose a way to play with a friend
- Want to compete? Look for a supported online head-to-head option, such as a custom match, and confirm the service is available for your platform.
- On a local network? The manual documents LAN multiplayer; it is still versus play rather than campaign co-op.
- Want to complete campaign missions together? The official manual does not document a cooperative campaign mode.
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