Going into the launch of Remnant 2, the sequel to the acclaimed action-RPG Remnant: From the Ashes, Gunfire Games promised improvements upon its world and combat for the sequel, but one thing curiously remained familiar: the three-player limit for co-op play.
For those accustomed to larger online experiences, the decision was undoubtedly puzzling. However, Gunfire design director John Pearl has explained the decision in an interview, while also teasing potential future upgrades for co-op.
Remnant 2 Was Built Around Three Player Co-op
Speaking with WccfTech, Pearl shed light on the reasoning behind the decision to keep co-op limits unchanged for Remnant 2:
Three feels like the right group size for our game. We’ve built the world so that a maximum of three players feel like they have the room they need to maneuver around and never feel cramped. On the flip side, the world never feels too spread out or empty for someone playing alone.
The decision to stick with a smaller party size is clearly deliberate, then, as the game’s world itself is designed to deliver the best possible experience for up to three players. While some can argue it’s arbitrary and constrictive game design, Pearl’s case for hindrance-free gameplay is equally valid.
It’s also important to note that Remnant 2 isn’t a co-op game at heart. Pearl emphasized in the interview that the world maintains a sense of density and purpose for solo players as well, effectively skirting around the problem of vast, empty landscapes in a lot of singleplayer open-world games.
Gunfire Could Allow More Players, But Side Effects May Show
However, Pearl interestingly doesn’t shut the door on future changes to the mechanic, “Never say never in game development, but we currently have no plans to increase the number of players.” So while the focus remains on making the three-player experience tangibly satisfying, it’s possible that given enough demand, Gunfire can raise the player limit for co-op play.
Although, adding more players into the mix could sour the game’s balance. In the game’s current state, the developers have tailored enemy health, attack patterns, and arena size to create a satisfying co-op experience for three players. Increasing the co-op limit could require significant rebalancing, potentially diminishing a lot of the underlying challenge that players appreciate.
Remnant 2‘s environments are also specially created around this specific player count, ensuring every location feels deliberately placed and relevant to the overall narrative, regardless of whether you’re exploring alone or with a team.
While the prospect of larger-scale battles with more people might seem amazing, there are obvious drawbacks to it. What was developed around three players may not translate well when you bring more in, but if Gunfire can figure it out, it’s a classic win-win scenario.
