Escape Academy 2 FAQ: PS5, Game Pass, Couch Co-op and Do You Need Two Copies?

Escape Academy 2: Back 2 School, the sequel to Coin Crew Games' co-op escape room game, launched on 5 November. This time the campus itself is one big puzzle, which iam8bit Presents bills as the first open-world escape room game. Here's what's confirmed about platforms, Game Pass, co-op and price, and what isn't.

Update, 10 November: The game is out, and its Steam page now lists Remote Play Together, so on PC one owner can bring in a friend who doesn't own it. There's still no friend pass. On Steam it's $16.99, 15% off its $19.99 price, and Coin Crew Games says it's Steam Deck Verified and rated Very Positive (97%) by players.

Is Escape Academy 2 on PS5?

Yes. Escape Academy 2 came out on PS5 on 5 November, the same day as every other platform. Coin Crew Games confirmed it on the PlayStation Blog on 13 October, when the release date was announced. The PlayStation Store listing supports two online players with PS Plus, is PS5 Pro Enhanced and supports Remote Play.

The full list: PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. There's no Switch version announced.

Is Escape Academy 2 on Game Pass?

Yes, from day one. Xbox Wire lists it for 5 November on cloud, Xbox Series X|S, handheld and PC, in Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. It's one of the headline games in our Game Pass November wave 1 roundup.

Does Escape Academy 2 have couch co-op?

Yes. It has two-player split-screen co-op on one screen, as well as online co-op for two. The Steam page lists shared/split-screen co-op, and the Xbox listing gives local co-op for two players. You can also play the whole game solo, and a new optional No-Timer Mode lets you puzzle at your own pace.

Do you need two copies of Escape Academy 2?

For couch co-op, no: both players share one copy on one system in split-screen.

For online co-op, it depends on the platform. On Steam, the store page now lists Remote Play Together, Steam's feature for sharing a local co-op game with a friend online: the owner hosts the split-screen game and streams it, so only one of you needs to buy it. For the game's own online co-op, both players need a copy, as neither iam8bit nor Coin Crew Games has announced a friend pass. On consoles, online play also needs a subscription per player: PS Plus on PS5, and Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate on Xbox, according to the Xbox Store. If you both have Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, the game is included for both of you.

Does Escape Academy 2 have crossplay?

Partly. The Xbox Store lists Xbox cross-platform co-op, which links Xbox consoles and PC through Microsoft's store and app. There's no word on crossplay between PS5 and Steam, so for now plan on playing online with friends on the same platform.

How much does Escape Academy 2 cost?

The Xbox Store lists it at $19.99, and a Deluxe Edition at $29.99. The Deluxe Edition adds the Season Pass, which covers two upcoming expansions, each with a new story and new escape rooms playable solo or in co-op, plus a cosmetic pack of ten animal masks. Steam lists it at $19.99, discounted 15% to $16.99 on 10 November, and sells the Season Pass on its own for $14.99.

Do I need to play the first Escape Academy first?

No. Coin Crew Games says on the PlayStation Blog that the sequel is open to everyone, whether you played the first game or not. The Steam page promises new teachers alongside familiar faces from the original, and the story digs into a mystery about the school's founding.

Can my PC run it?

Most likely. Steam lists Windows 10 or 11, an Intel Core i5-8400, 16GB of RAM, a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB and 5GB of storage as the minimum. It has full controller support, Steam also lists SteamOS requirements, and Coin Crew Games announced on 9 November that it's Steam Deck Verified.