Set Up Machine Party Couch Co-op

What you need

• One machine running Machine Party v2.0 or newer.
• A screen everyone can see — the mode is built for a TV or monitor shared by the group.
• Up to four controllers. For four players, three controllers plus one keyboard-and-mouse player is enough.

Four steps to a local game

What changed for the couch

Five simulations were adapted for shared or split screen when local play landed. Firearm Factory changed too, though not for the couch specifically: the part each gun needs is now shown on every workbench instead of only at the bottom of the factory. The developers said the rest behave the same as they do online.

• Minefield — the camera pulls back based on how far apart the players are.
• Chisel Gauntlet — the view switches between a single screen and split screen depending on whether the jumbotron is being watched.
• Duck Hunt — the screen splits with the runners on the left and the hunter on the right, and the runners' camera sits further back.
• Inside Job — Since v2.0 infected players — the syringe carrier included — move at 1.15× the speed of the hiders.
• The Filter

The lobby itself changed too: players now enter a name and pick cosmetics before readying, and everyone keeps their name and customisation when the game returns to the lobby afterwards.

If it does not work

Two known problems have official fixes rather than workarounds. Controllers disconnecting in the local lobby used to crash the game — that was fixed in v2.1.1. The intro cutscene failing to appear in Original mode during local play was fixed in v2.1.2. Both mean the same thing: update before troubleshooting anything else.

If the game will not start at all, that is a different problem — Vulkan support is a listed system requirement and is the first thing to check.

Frequently asked

Does Machine Party have split screen?

Yes, in local play. The v2.0 update adapted several simulations for shared and split screen: Duck Hunt splits with the runners on the left and the hunter on the right, Chisel Gauntlet switches between one screen and split depending on the jumbotron, and Inside Job and The Filter both work in split screen.

How many controllers do I need for four players?

Three, if one player uses keyboard and mouse. Otherwise four. The developers called this out explicitly in the v2.0 announcement.

Can one player use keyboard and mouse while the others use controllers?

Yes. That is the officially described setup for a group of four with only three controllers.

Do achievements unlock in local play?

They should now. Achievement registration in Local mode was broken at first and fixed in v2.1.1 on 13 August 2026 — if you played local sessions before that date, unlocks from them may not have registered.

Does local co-op work on Steam Deck?

We have not verified a Steam Deck compatibility rating, so we are not going to claim one. What is confirmed is that the game lists SteamOS and Linux system requirements, both of which require Vulkan support.

Local play, on video

🔴 COUCH CO-OP Meets SAW?! ⚙️ Machine Party LIVE | Miklo Cantina PART 2

The Miklo Cantina · 2026-08-13 · 54 min

A stream recording from the day after couch co-op shipped, which makes it the most current look at local play in practice. Useful if you want to see how four people on one screen actually behave before you round up controllers: the split-screen simulations, the lobby flow where each player types a name and picks cosmetics, and how much of the comedy comes from sitting in the same room. This is a long unedited replay rather than a tutorial, so skip through it. The step-by-step setup, including the three-controllers-plus-keyboard arrangement, is on our local co-op page.

Open on YouTube ↗