Returnal: Multiplayer & social features Returnal guide, walkthrough
Last update: 29 April 2021
On this page of the guide, you will learn whether Returnal has a multiplayer mode. In addition, we explain the social features of the game and what you can get from this type of content
To some extent, daily challenges are also linked to social elements. We have described them in more detail on a separate page of our game guide: Challenge terminal - daily challenges.
Multiplayer and online mode
The most important information is that Returnal does not have any multiplayer modes. You cannot beat the game in co-op mode with another player nor engage in any PvP fights. This is a single-player game, meaning you have to play it alone.
Returnal has an online mode. Enable it to unlock access to the social features - we described them below.
The online mode doesn't come with any risks (e.g. invasion of other players similar to the Souls games). Social elements are similar to Death Stranding – players help each other by doing certain actions or respond to the presence of players from "other worlds".
You can switch between offline and online modes at will. However, we recommend that you leave the online mode on.
Social features
The most common social feature of the game is finding dead scouts - the corpses of other players who died in a given area. Selene can scan encountered bodies.
Two things can happen after the body's been scanned. The first is spawning an Infected Scout. You can fight the Scout or run away. It is a bit stronger than normal opponents, but you shouldn't have problems with winning the fight. Once the Scout is dead, you can pick up loot.
The second option is a choice - you can behave honorably or dishonorably. If you choose a dishonorable action (Scavenge), you will lose a few Ether units (one of the resources in the game). However, you will receive a random reward.
Choosing Avenge lets you avenge the death of another player. You will get a few Ether units, but the heroine will have to face a random mini-boss. Defeating the mini-boss can be difficult – you can't leave the arena without defeating the enemy.
If another player avenges your death, you will receive a message about the reward when you run the game.
Obolit Repositories are also linked to social functions – they let you indirectly cooperate with other players. A Repository should always stand next to a big fabricator. You can exchange:
- Obolit to Ether - It's a good idea if you need Ether, for example, to run a Reconstructor.
- Ether to Obolit - Do that when you want to buy something from a fabricator.
An additional feature of repositories is the option to award a prize when different players, as part of a joint effort, decide to place a total of 10000 obolite in them. Once the progress bar is complete and we find the repository again (within any subsequent cycle), we'll receive a notification about the reward and the chance to collect it. This might be, for example, a random artifact, such as in the attached image.