Anime Shop Simulator Multiplayer: Co-op, PvP & Invites

What multiplayer includes

• Online co-op for up to 4 players in one shop. The store page’s pitch is that you “divide responsibilities” to maximise profit.
• PvP card battles: the store page says you can “fight with other players in PvP TCG game”. The game table’s menu lists a PvP tournament alongside rankings and quick battles; see the card battle guide.
• Character customization for each player, plus emotes. The release-date announcement mentions playing “friendly pranks” on a partner or cheering them up with a dance.

It is online only. PCGamingWiki lists no local or LAN play, and there is no crossplay because the game is only on PC.

How to play with friends

Multiplayer runs through the game’s own room system on Steam. You create a room, and friends join it through Steam. Demo patches added a way to kick players and blocked joining a host who is on a different game version. Both players need the same patch, so update before a session.

Friends-only rooms exist. One launch-week thread also shows a player opening their shop to anyone who wanted to join, so public rooms are possible too. Public rooms come with trolls: one player complained about strangers spending their money and throwing stock away, with autosave locking the damage in. Play with people you know if your shop matters to you.

Splitting the work

What the launch tips video and co-op players recommend:

• One player on the computer, one on unloading. Two people clicking the same delivery box used to freeze one of them. Hotfix 1.0.2 and 1.0.3 fixed that, but splitting jobs still avoids collisions.
• One player opens packs and tags rare pulls while the others run the floor. Opening boosters is slow.
• Take turns on thieves and graffiti once you have the bat.

Single players say the customer rush feels designed for a group. If you play alone, see the beginner guide for how to cope.

Co-op bugs to know about

• Items and shelves that stopped responding in co-op were fixed in Hotfix 1.0.3.
• One group lost access to their co-op save the day after a 5-hour session.
• Boxes scattering or vanishing from the delivery zone when a friend joins.
• A crash after placing a card display case in a friends-only game.
• Players have asked whether everyone needs the DLC for co-op, or only the host. The developers have not answered yet, and we won’t guess.

The full list with fixes is on the known issues page.

More than 4 players: the Bigger Lobby mod

A community mod called Bigger Lobby, by RaveN, raises the room limit to 32 players. Its install guide went up on Steam on September 13. It uses MelonLoader, and everyone joining the room needs the mod installed. The first launch after installing takes 5 to 10 minutes on a black screen. It’s unofficial and hosted outside Steam, so read the mods page before you try it.