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RuneScape: Dragonwilds supports multiplayer across PC and consoles. For a normal co-op session, one player starts a world, enables crossplay when necessary, and shares the invite code shown in the pause menu. Friends enter that code in the world browser. Jagex describes four players as the standard co-op group; its dedicated-server documentation supports up to six players, with additional setup for hosting, networking and version maintenance.
How multiplayer works at a glance
There are two practical ways to play with friends:
| Option | Player-count guidance | How friends connect | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard co-op world | Four players is the standard co-op group described by the Jagex team. | The host starts a world, enables crossplay if needed, then shares the pause-menu invite code. Friends enter it in the world browser. | A small group playing together without server administration. |
| Dedicated server | Jagex’s dedicated-server guide documents support for up to six players. This is not a claim that every ordinary host-run session accepts six. | Players find the running server from the Worlds screen’s Public tab by entering its exact world name. | A persistent world, a group larger than the standard four, or a world that should remain available when the original host is offline. |
Crossplay is a feature of the full release announced for September 15, 2026. The announcement says it works across the game’s supported platforms; the official FAQ names PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. See the RuneScape full-release announcement and Jagex FAQ for the platform list and release information.
How to play with friends in a standard co-op world
1. Choose a host and start the world
One player must start the world. That player controls the world session and is the person whose invite code the others will use. If everyone is on the same platform, crossplay is not relevant to the connection; if players are using different platforms, the host must enable it in the world settings each time the world starts.
2. Enable crossplay when platforms differ
Open the world settings during startup and turn on crossplay before entering the world. Jagex’s team specifically describes this as a host-controlled setting that is available each time the world starts. It is therefore worth checking the setting again whenever a new session is created rather than assuming a previous choice carries over.
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3. Copy the invite code from the pause menu
After the host enters the world, open the in-game pause menu. The world’s invite code is displayed there. Send the code to friends exactly as shown; avoid adding spaces or changing characters.
4. Enter the code in the world browser
Friends open the world browser and enter the invite code. Jagex’s team says invite codes are entered from the world-browser screen. The materials do not provide one universal, button-by-button path for every controller, console or PC interface, so the visible label or menu position can vary by platform and game version.
5. Confirm the correct world before joining
Server lists show the host platform, according to the development team. Use that information to distinguish the intended world when several entries look similar. Once connected, all players should see the same world and progression associated with the host’s session.
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Which platforms can play together?
The full-launch announcement states that crossplay is supported across platforms. The FAQ lists PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 among the launch platforms. A group can therefore include players on different supported systems when the host enables crossplay.
On PC, Steam and the Jagex Launcher are treated as separate platforms. The FAQ says buying the Steam version does not itself grant access through the Jagex Launcher. Before a mixed-PC group starts, confirm which PC storefront or launcher each person is using and that everyone has access to the game on that platform.
Steam describes the game as offering single-player and online co-op. That label confirms online co-op availability, but it does not replace the in-game invite-code process or establish a different player limit.
Is the co-op limit four or six players?
Both numbers appear in official material, but they apply to different arrangements:
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- Four players: a Jagex team AMA describes four as the standard co-op group. The same response treats increasing that limit as a future goal, not as a current promise for ordinary worlds.
- Up to six players: Jagex’s dedicated-server guide documents support for up to six players on a dedicated server. The guide’s capacity note was current as of version 0.11 in March 2026 and should be checked again after major updates.
Do not interpret the dedicated-server figure as a six-player cap for every host-run session. If your group has four or fewer people and wants the least administration, standard co-op is the straightforward choice. A group of five or six should plan around a dedicated server and verify the current guide before committing to a setup.
When a dedicated server is worth using
A dedicated server runs separately from an individual player’s normal host session. That separation is useful when the world needs to persist between play sessions, when different members play at different times, or when the group needs the documented six-player capacity. It also introduces operating-system, memory, networking, installation and update responsibilities that standard co-op avoids.
Choose standard co-op when
- The group is within the standard four-player size.
- One player can be available to start and host the world.
- You want to join quickly with an invite code rather than configure a server.
- You do not need the world to remain available while the host is away.
Consider a dedicated server when
- Five or six people need to play in the same persistent world.
- Players need to enter the world at different times without waiting for a host-run session.
- The group can manage a Windows or Linux machine, network access and game updates.
- You are comfortable making backups and troubleshooting firewall, port or version problems.
Dedicated-server requirements
Jagex’s Dedicated Servers – How-to Guide specifies the following baseline information:
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| Requirement | Official guidance | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | 64-bit Windows or 64-bit Linux. | A 32-bit operating system is outside the documented support. |
| Memory | 2 GB plus 1 GB per player. | Jagex gives 4 GB for two players and 8 GB for six. Treat these as stated allocations, not a performance benchmark. |
| Network port | Servers start at UDP port 7777; additional instances increment the port. | Firewall, router and ISP forwarding may be required for players outside the host network. |
| Server software | Install the free Steam product named “RuneScape: Dragonwilds – Dedicated Servers.” | The server installation is separate from the game client installation. |
| World discovery | Use the Worlds screen’s Public tab and enter the exact, case-sensitive world name. | Capitalization and spelling matter when clients search for the server. |
| Version | Clients and server should run matching versions. | Updates and hotfixes can leave a client and server out of sync until both are updated. |
Self-hosting a dedicated server
The guide is the authoritative setup reference because commands and screens can change. The following sequence reflects its documented workflow without assuming a platform-specific interface that Jagex has not described.
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- Prepare a supported machine. Use 64-bit Windows or Linux and allocate at least 2 GB plus 1 GB for every planned player. For the guide’s six-player example, that is 8 GB of RAM.
- Install the dedicated-server product. In Steam, install “RuneScape: Dragonwilds – Dedicated Servers.” Jagex also provides a SteamCMD app-update command in the guide; use the command shown there rather than copying an older command from an unofficial post.
- Select and record a world name. Choose a distinctive name and keep its capitalization. Players will need the exact case-sensitive spelling when searching the Public tab.
- Set the network port. The first instance uses UDP 7777. If you run additional instances on the same machine, the port increments for each instance.
- Allow inbound traffic. Configure the host machine’s firewall and, for home hosting, the router’s port forwarding. Some ISPs use carrier-grade NAT or block inbound connections, in which case router rules alone may not make the server reachable.
- Start the server and test locally. Confirm that the process launches without an error and that the expected world name is present. Testing from the same network can verify the application before you troubleshoot internet routing.
- Join from a game client. Open the Worlds screen, select the Public tab and enter the exact world name. Check that the client and server versions match before diagnosing connectivity.
Moving an existing local world to a dedicated server
A dedicated server loads the latest save file in its Savegames folder. Jagex explains how to copy an existing local save into that folder and recommends making backups first.
- Stop the local game and the dedicated server so neither process is writing to the save.
- Make a separate backup of the original local save before copying anything.
- Locate the local world save and the dedicated server’s Savegames folder using the paths in Jagex’s guide.
- Copy the save into the server’s Savegames folder as instructed, preserving the required file and folder names.
- Start the dedicated server and verify that it loads the expected world before inviting the group.
Keep the backup until every player has confirmed that buildings, inventory and progression are intact. A save copied while a session is still active can be incomplete or represent an older state.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Keeping a dedicated server joinable
Match updates before troubleshooting
Game updates and hotfixes can make client and server versions differ. Update the dedicated-server installation and each player’s game client, then restart both sides. A version mismatch can look like a connection or world-discovery failure even when the port is configured correctly.
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The Public-tab search is case-sensitive. Copy the name from the server configuration rather than retyping it from memory. Check for trailing spaces, punctuation and capitalization.
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Check UDP forwarding and firewalls
Verify that UDP 7777, or the incremented port for another instance, is allowed by the host firewall and forwarded to the correct internal machine address. If local players can connect but friends outside the home network cannot, the problem is usually upstream of the game client: router forwarding, a changing local IP address, ISP restrictions or a second firewall.
Back up before maintenance
Back up the Savegames folder before changing server files, applying updates or copying a replacement world. The backup gives you a recovery point if an update or file operation produces an unexpected state.
Troubleshooting a friend who cannot join
The invite code is rejected or no world appears
- Ask the host to confirm that the code was copied from the current session’s pause menu.
- Have the joining player enter it in the world browser, not in a general platform-friends or storefront field.
- Restart the world and generate a fresh code if the host has returned to the main menu.
- For different platforms, verify that crossplay was enabled in world settings for this startup.
Players are on different platforms
- Confirm that everyone is using one of the platforms named by Jagex: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S or Nintendo Switch 2.
- Have the host enable crossplay before entering the world.
- Use the server-list platform indicator to ensure friends are selecting the intended host world.
A dedicated server is visible but will not accept a connection
- Compare the client and server versions and apply pending updates or hotfixes.
- Check the exact case-sensitive world name in the Public tab.
- Confirm the correct UDP port for the instance and review both operating-system firewall and router rules.
- Test from inside and outside the host network to distinguish a local server problem from an internet-routing problem.
The server starts but the old world is missing
- Stop the server before copying or replacing save files.
- Confirm that the save is in the server’s Savegames folder and that the file structure matches the guide.
- Restore the backup if the copied world is incomplete, then repeat the migration with both processes closed.
What is not required for co-op
The official materials do not identify a particular headset, controller, gaming PC model, network device or other accessory as necessary for multiplayer. Standard co-op requires the game on a supported platform and a host world; dedicated hosting adds the operating-system, memory and networking requirements listed above.
Keeping the setup current
Multiplayer limits and server behavior can change during development and after major releases. The six-player note in Jagex’s dedicated-server guide was documented for version 0.11 in March 2026, while the full release was announced for September 15, 2026. Recheck the dedicated-server guide, FAQ and launch announcement after substantial patches before planning a new group size or server deployment.
Quick Recap
Sources and official references
- Jagex: Dedicated Servers – How-to Guide
- Jagex: RuneScape: Dragonwilds FAQ
- RuneScape/Jagex: Full-release announcement
- RuneScape: Dragonwilds team AMA
- Steam product page
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