It Takes Two Patch Notes: Cross-Play Update Explained

Latest verified facts — Checked October 22, 2026 against the official store listings: Steam

• It Takes Two was released on March 25, 2021.
• Platforms: Steam, Windows.

It Takes Two Patch Notes: What Changed October 15?

Your co-op partner can now join you from another supported platform: the October 15, 2026 update added online cross-play between PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch 2. These It Takes Two patch notes make coordinating a game easier when you and your friend own different systems. If you’re checking It Takes Two patch notes before returning, start by updating your game to the latest version.

The supported platform list matters, especially for Nintendo players. Nintendo Switch 2 is included; the original Nintendo Switch is outside this cross-play list. Check the exact system your partner uses before arranging a cross-platform session.

Platform	Included in October 15 cross-play
PC	Yes
Xbox Series X|S	Yes
Xbox One	Yes
PlayStation 5	Yes
PlayStation 4	Yes
Nintendo Switch 2	Yes

This update changes who you can play with online. A PC owner and someone playing on PlayStation 5, for example, can now plan a session across those supported platforms. The same supported list also includes the older Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles.

Friend’s Pass remains central to getting a partner into the game. One person can own It Takes Two while the other joins using Friend’s Pass, including for cross-platform play. You don’t both need to purchase the game to play together through that arrangement.

For returning players, keep two dates separate: October 15, 2026 brought cross-play, while May 29, 2024 brought the earlier Steam integration changes. The Steam Deck, launcher, invitation, and cloud-save changes below belong to that historical update.

Prepare Your Game for Cross-Platform Co-op

Start with the requirement that directly unlocks the October change: update It Takes Two. Ask your partner to update their installation as well, including Friend’s Pass if that’s how they’ll join.

Work through this checklist before setting aside time to play:

1. Check both platforms. Match your systems against the supported list above.
2. Update your installations. Use the latest version of the full game or Friend’s Pass.
3. Arrange ownership and access. Have the game owner use the purchased game and their partner install Friend’s Pass if needed.
4. Prepare your accounts. Online play requires an EA account, along with the applicable platform account.
5. Keep an internet connection available. Online co-op requires a persistent connection.

If you’re playing through Steam, choosing Play Online prompts you to link an EA account when one isn’t already linked. Removing the EA App launcher from the Steam version did not remove that online account requirement.

That distinction is easy to miss when you return after a long break. The launcher is software that previously started alongside the game; the EA account is still part of connecting to EA’s online services. You can therefore play the Steam version without the EA App launcher while still needing a linked EA account for online co-op.

The October It Takes Two patch notes also change how you should interpret older compatibility advice. For cross-platform planning, use the October 2026 list above. Keep older Steam instructions for the specific tasks they explain, such as sending Steam invitations or choosing between Friend’s Pass installations.

Before your session, tell your partner which platform you’re using and whether you own the full game or need Friend’s Pass. Those details help you sort out the correct installation before you reach the invitation stage.

Friend’s Pass and Invitations: Choose Your Setup

Friend’s Pass lets your partner join without purchasing a second copy. For cross-platform play, one of you owns It Takes Two and the other uses Friend’s Pass, with the required accounts and internet connection.

You can find the Steam version of It Takes Two Friend’s Pass separately from the full It Takes Two game. Check which one you need before installing.

For Steam players, the invitation options also depend on which Friend’s Pass installation your partner uses.

Your setup	Invitation or access requirement
Steam game with Steam friends	Send invitations directly through the Steam friends list
New Steam Friend’s Pass	Supports sending and accepting Steam friends list invitations
Older EA App Friend’s Pass	Continues through the EA App and uses in-game EA invitations
Steam player inviting an EA App player	Choose the in-game EA Friends List option
Online Friend’s Pass session	Requires the relevant accounts and a persistent internet connection

Using the Steam Friends List

When both of you use the supported Steam setup, you can invite your partner directly through Steam. You don’t need to add that Steam friend to your EA friends list just to send the Steam invitation.

The important detail is the new Steam Friend’s Pass. The older EA App version continues to work, but Steam friends list invitations require the newer Steam installation.

If your partner launches Friend’s Pass and the EA App still opens, check which version they installed. Install the new Steam Friend’s Pass to use the Steam invitation route without that launcher.

Inviting a Friend Through the EA App

For a friend playing through the EA App, choose EA Friends List inside It Takes Two. Add their EA account there, then send the game invitation through EA.

EA invitations are visible only while It Takes Two is running. Have your partner open the game before checking for the invitation.

When using these It Takes Two patch notes to prepare a session, keep the platform compatibility question separate from the invitation question. The October update supplies the cross-play platform list; the Steam integration gives Steam players their established invitation options.

Historical Update: May 29, 2024 Steam Changes

The May 29, 2024 update changed how the Steam version launches and connects with friends. These features predate the October 2026 cross-play update.

That earlier update made It Takes Two Steam Deck Verified, removed the EA App launcher requirement for the Steam version, and added invitations through the Steam friends list. It also introduced the new Steam Friend’s Pass and moved Steam-version saves to Steam Cloud.

Historical Steam change	What it means for your setup
Steam Deck Verified status	It Takes Two has Steam Deck Verified compatibility status
EA App launcher requirement removed	The Steam version can run without that launcher
Steam friends list invitations added	Steam friends can invite each other directly
New Steam Friend’s Pass introduced	This installation supports Steam friends list invitations
Steam Cloud adopted	Local saves upload when the game starts
EA account requirement changed for local play	Local play and Steam Remote Play Together no longer require an EA account

Steam Deck and Account Requirements

Steam Deck Verified status belongs to this historical Steam update. If you’re returning on Deck, the account distinction is the same one that matters elsewhere on Steam: online play still requires an EA account linked to Steam.

Local play and Steam Remote Play Together no longer require an EA account. Decide which mode you’re using before troubleshooting an account prompt; the online requirement and the local-play requirement are different.

Friend’s Pass and Steam Family Sharing

Friend’s Pass and Steam Family Sharing are separate features. The historical Steam update’s corrected information states that Family Sharing cannot be used for It Takes Two because of a technical limitation affecting games with a Friend’s Pass version.

Use Friend’s Pass when arranging a session with someone who doesn’t own the game. That is the access option supported for playing together.

When comparing It Takes Two patch notes across these dates, attach each feature to its actual update. Steam Deck verification and launcher removal arrived in May 2024; cross-platform online play arrived in October 2026.

Steam Cloud Saves and Returning to Your Progress

If you’re returning to an older Steam installation, check your saves before starting your next session. The historical Steam update moved save handling to Steam Cloud, with local saves automatically uploaded when you start the game.

The affected Windows save folder is:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\ItTakesTwo

Replace USERNAME with your Windows user folder name when locating it.

Save situation	Behavior or recovery action
Existing saves stored on your computer	Upload automatically to Steam Cloud when the game starts
Saves previously stored only in EA App Cloud	Became inaccessible during the historical transition
Progress lost because of that transition	A completed save provides a Chapter Select recovery option
Completed save installed in the save folder	Start the game and use Chapter Select to resume from a chosen point

Recovering Progress After the Historical Cloud Change

For progress lost during that transition, you can download the completed It Takes Two save and copy it into the save-data folder above.

Before replacing save data, back up the folder’s existing contents. Then:

1. Download the completed save.
2. Copy it into C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\ItTakesTwo.
3. Start It Takes Two.
4. Open Chapter Select and choose where to continue.

This recovery route gives you access to Chapter Select through a completed save. Choose the point that matches where you and your partner want to resume.

Keep this issue attached to the May 2024 cloud-save transition when reading It Takes Two patch notes. The October 2026 feature to prepare for is cross-play; the older save instructions matter if that Steam transition affected your progress.

FAQ

What Is New in the October 2026 It Takes Two Patch Notes?

The October 15, 2026 It Takes Two patch notes add online cross-play between PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch 2. Update your game to the latest version before playing across those platforms.

Does Cross-Play Include the Original Nintendo Switch?

The cross-play list includes Nintendo Switch 2. The original Nintendo Switch is outside that list. Check your partner’s exact Nintendo system before planning a cross-platform session.

Do Both Players Need to Buy It Takes Two?

The game owner can play while their partner joins with Friend’s Pass, including for cross-platform play. Online co-op requires a persistent internet connection, the applicable platform accounts, and EA accounts.

Do Steam Players Still Need the EA App or an EA Account?

The Steam version no longer requires the EA App launcher. Online play still requires an EA account linked to Steam, while local play and Steam Remote Play Together do not. For Friend’s Pass without the EA App launcher, install the newer Steam version.