Fantasy Borderlands spin-off Tiny Tina's Wonderlands inherits most of its predecessor's looter shooter gameplay, including the series' propensity for cooperative multiplayer. Up to four players, their in-game characters known as Fatemakers, can join a game at once, from a combination of different consoles with or without split-screen. Borderlands has become well-known for its streamlined multiplayer gameplay, and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands isn't any different, although the cross-generational release does throw some wrinkles into the process.
Online multiplayer is available for every platform the game released on - PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. For those on a console, the tabletop shoot and loot of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands requires a subscription to either PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live. PC does not have this requirement, making a stable internet connection the only barrier of entry.
The seamless multiplayer allows players to drop in and out at will, with progression tied to a specific Fatemaker. Enemies will scale in difficulty based on how many players are in the game, with some caveats based on co-op settings discussed below. Playing solo is always an option, and while this results in relatively easier enemies, there won't be others to revive the player if they go down (although getting a second wind by killing an enemy is still a possibility, just like in Borderlands). Those wanting to play co-op for the entirety of the game won't have to worry about setting Fatemakers up individually, since multiplayer is immediately available, even from the very beginning in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' character creation.
Crossplay In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands, there are virtually no limits on crossplay. Regardless of platform, players will be able to join one another's sessions. It does, however, require each player to have a SHiFT account. SHiFT is Gearbox Software's proprietary network, and players who have played previous Borderlands games will likely already have an account. An existing SHiFT account can be linked to other services, like Xbox Live or PlayStation Network, or similar accounts can be used to sign into SHiFT itself. SHiFT accounts are required for crossplay of any kind, since there's no other way to connect with friends on different platforms.
SHiFT accounts will let players share the outrageous (but flawed) fun of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands across any set of platforms. Those hoping to team up with their friends will just have to add each other's SHiFT account usernames to the in-game friends list, and there will be an option to invite each other to a session. Having a SHiFT account linked usually brings other incentives as well, most commonly codes that can be used to get keys for a special, re-usable chest in-game.
Co-Op In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
No matter what, every multiplayer session will use one of two options for co-op, Cooperation or Coopetition, each of which affect the gameplay at large. Cooperation makes Tiny Tina's Wonderlands multiplayer a smooth experience, where encounters scale to each individual player. Enemies deal and take damage based on each Fatemaker's level, and loot they drop will be instanced so that each player gets a reward. For anyone hosting a session for random players to jump in and out of, or those who are Bordelands and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands beginners, the Cooperation setting is a good way to prevent griefing, and will ensure no over-leveled characters join and make quick work of all the enemies.
Coopetition, on the other hand, is perfect for those who want to be able to antagonize their friends (or random strangers in matchmaking). The strength of enemies will scale based on the host's level, and loot is first come, first serve. Items dropped from enemies will be shared amongst the whole team, leaving the splitting of the spoils up to the players. Wonderlands' on-the-fly multiplayer extends to these options as well, meaning Cooperation and Coopetition can be switched between at will from the game's settings. Cooperation will likely be better for those experimenting with all of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' classes, but Coopetition can add some extra entertainment if the entire game is being played with a dedicated group of Fatemakers
Split-Screen In Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
Playing multiplayer in split-screen is a bit of a mixed bag in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. Those playing on the previous generation of consoles - all models of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One - can only have two players at a time in local co-op. Split-screen was similarly limited in Borderlands 3, which introduced four-player local co-op with its current-gen update. Those who have made the jump to the new consoles - PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S - can participate in four-person split-screen in Tiny Tina's Wonderlands again. The only downside is the much smaller area in which to see Tiny Tina's Wonderlands' new environments and menus, which may be harder to read. Split-screen rosters are similarly easy to manage from the main menu and pause screens.
Although many gaming rigs would likely have sufficient hardware, there is no split-screen for Wonderlands on PC. Other games have made split-screen work on PC, but Gearbox hasn't attempted the feature in any past Borderlands games. It's an unfortunate omission from the PC version, likely caused by the various peripherals PC players can use and the assumption that most will be playing the game on a monitor at a desk. This is another quirk of the game's PC version, alongside Tiny Tina's Wonderlands not being available on Steam, since it's a time exclusive for the Epic Games Store.
Gearbox Software's Borderlands games have always had reliable and fun cooperative gameplay, and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands doesn't attempt to innovate when it's unnecessary. Fans of Borderlands will find an almost identical co-op experience in Wonderlands, with the added bonus of a novel fantasy setting dressed in a Dungeons & Dragons frame. The shift toward crossplay has been gradual, but has been embraced whole-heartedly by Gearbox for its looter shooters. Although signing up for a SHiFT account might be a slight inconvenience when trying to get into the game, it makes joining players on other platforms virtually hassle free. Borderlands has been a staple for AAA co-op games, and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands continues that tradition.
Source: Gearbox Software