Beat Saber for PlayStation VR just got multiplayer, minus cross-play

PS VR owners can’t compete against PC VR or Oculus Quest players in online multiplayer

Thanks to a better-late-than-never update, the PlayStation VR version of Beat Saber now has multiplayer. The online mode rolled out for free on PS4 today, which is just in time to help offset all of that pre-Halloween candy-jar snacking some of us have been enjoying.

In online multiplayer, up to five Beat Saber players can compete with cartoonish avatars slashing the night away to the rhythm of the music. Private and public matches are supported, and players can earn multiplayer badges for their feats. If you’re matching via Quick Play, for instance, you can set it to Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert, or Expert+ difficulty.

It’s been a full year since SteamVR and Oculus players were able to try out Beat Saber multiplayer, so some PS VR owners were starting to lose faith in developer Beat Games. This was one of those frustrating situations where in-the-know fans had to constantly keep tabs, and every time they looked into it, the release date was still up in the air.

Speaking of which, PlayStation VR players can compete in Beat Saber multiplayer, but not against other platforms — as the developer confirmed today, “cross-play for PS VR is currently not supported.” Additionally, you’ll need a PlayStation Plus membership.

Beyond the stylized trailer, here’s some actual PS VR footage from PSVR ZEST.

This song, “Spooky Beat,” is a new drop. The track is out now for free.

In September, Beat Games said it was “exploring ways” to implement cross-play for PlayStation VR, which may or may not open the door just a crack for another update in the future. Cross-play can be a major boon, but considering that Beat Saber is a top-five most-played PS VR game (per Sony), there should be a decent-sized audience to play against.

“It was a complex feature to develop and we’re so happy we can finally share this with all of you and welcome new players online,” head of marketing Michaela Dvorak said on the PlayStation Blog.

I wonder if Beat Saber will be one of the “bonus” PlayStation Plus games in November.