Prey gets a 16-player co-op mod that lets you finish the entire campaign with friends

Immersive sims like Dishonored and Deus Ex have traditionally been solo experiences, though attempts to add multiplayer have surfaced over the years. System Shock 2 featured a notoriously janky cooperative mode that was overhauled in last year's Nightdive remaster, while Arkane's Deathloop successfully folded an invasion mechanic into its mix of roguelike runs and emergent stealth.

Now, Arkane's excellent System Shock successor Prey can also be played with a group of friends, albeit through unofficial means. The aptly named Prey Coop mod enables up to 16 players to explore the Talos I space station together. Created by modder null234, the mod reportedly syncs global campaign progression, story choices, enemy AI, inventory, doors, hazards, and world physics across all connected clients.

Although Prey Coop is still in its Alpha stage, null234 says the entire campaign is playable from start to finish on both new and existing saves. That said, plenty of kinks remain to be ironed out, including visual rough edges, animation quirks, and potential bugs.

Frankly, 16 players running around Talos I sounds like the worst thing ever—but playing Prey as a two-player cooperative game could work quite well. Prey is by far the most methodical and cerebral of Arkane's immersive sims, one that encourages ingenious use of gadgets and powers to get the drop on the Typhon menace. Teaming up with a partner to set traps, fight enemies, and bypass obstacles seems like a viable way to experience the game, turning a solitary survival horror into a shared tactical challenge. The mod is still rough around the edges, but for fans who always wished they could explore the station with a friend, it's a promising start.