How to Use the Friend's Pass for Follow Us and Play Co-op Free

To use the Friend's Pass for Follow Us, the person who owns the game must download and launch the full version, then invite a friend directly from the in-game main menu. The friend only needs to download the free "Friend's Pass" trial version from their platform's store to accept the invitation and play the entire story. This system lets two people experience the whole game, from the harrowing introduction in the Echoed Archives to the final confrontation at the Core, with only one purchase.

Follow Us is built from the ground up as a two-player, asymmetrical experience. One player takes the role of Alex, wielding the Signal Disruptor, while the other plays as Ben, using the Aether Lens to see the unseen. Communication is everything, and the Friend's Pass system brilliantly removes the biggest hurdle to entry: convincing a friend to buy a game they're not sure about. With this feature, you can share the entire tense, mind-bending journey at no extra cost to your partner.

01

What Exactly Does the Friend's Pass Do?tag

The Friend's Pass is not a demo. Let's be clear about that. It's a free, downloadable client that allows someone who does not own Follow Us to join and play the entire game with someone who does. The owner of the full game acts as the Host, and the person using the free pass is the Guest.

Here’s the breakdown:

• The Host: Must own a paid copy of the full Follow Us game.
• The Guest: Downloads a separate, free application called the "Friend's Pass" from the same digital storefront (e.g., Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store).
• The Connection: The Host invites the Guest from the game's main menu. Once connected, both players can progress through the entire story together.

The Guest has access to all the same content as the Host, but only while playing with them. If the Host disconnects, the Guest's session ends. All story progress, chapter unlocks, and collectible memories are saved to the Host's game file. This means you can pick up a session right where you left off, even if it's days later.

02

Step-by-Step Guide to Inviting Your Friendtag

The process is straightforward, but a few small steps can trip people up. We've broken it down by role—one set of instructions for the person who bought the game and one for the friend they're inviting.

For the Game Owner (The Host)tag

As the owner, you are the key to starting the session. Your friend cannot play without your invitation.

1. Install the Full Game: Make sure you have the complete, paid version of Follow Us purchased and installed on your system.
2. Launch and Navigate: Start the game. From the main menu, look for the option labeled "Play With a Friend." This is your co-op portal.
3. Invite Your Partner: Selecting this option will bring up your platform's native friends list overlay (e.g., the Steam Overlay, the PlayStation Game Base, or the Xbox Guide). Find the friend you wish to invite from this list and send them a game invitation.
4. Wait for Connection: Once the invite is sent, the game will wait in a lobby for your friend to join. Once they accept and connect, you can choose your characters (Alex or Ben) and start your playthrough.

For the Friend (The Guest)tag

Your side of the process is even simpler, as you don't need to purchase anything.

1. Find the Friend's Pass: Go to the digital store on your platform (Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store). Do not search for the main game and buy it. Instead, search specifically for "Follow Us Friend's Pass." It will be a separate, free item.
2. Download and Install: Download this free client. The file size is significantly smaller than the full game because it streams many assets from the Host's machine and doesn't contain all the solo content.
3. Accept the Invitation: Once the Friend's Pass is installed, wait for the Host to send you an invitation. You will receive it as a standard system notification. Accept it directly from the notification.
4. Connect and Play: Accepting the invite will automatically launch the Follow Us Friend's Pass client and connect you to the Host's game lobby. You're now ready to play the full game for free.

03

Platform-Specific Requirements You Need to Knowtag

While the Friend's Pass works on all launch platforms, there are minor differences in requirements, primarily concerning online service subscriptions. Critically, the Friend's Pass is not cross-platform. A PC player cannot invite a PlayStation player, and vice-versa. Both Host and Guest must be on the same platform family.

Here is a quick reference table:

For console players, the subscription requirement is standard for almost all online multiplayer games and is not unique to Follow Us. If you regularly play games online on your PS5 or Xbox, you likely already have the required subscription. For PC players, the only hoop to jump through is ensuring you both have free EA accounts, which the game will prompt you to create or link when you first launch it.

04

Common Problems and How to Fix Themtag

Sometimes technology doesn't cooperate. If you're having trouble connecting, run through these common troubleshooting steps before giving up.

• "My friend isn't receiving the invitation."

  • Solution: First, ensure you are both listed as online and not "Appear Offline" on your platform's friend service. Second, have both players completely restart the game. On consoles, this means closing the application from the system dashboard, not just putting it in rest mode. If that fails, restarting your console or PC is the next step. This solves the vast majority of invite issues.

• "We keep getting disconnected during gameplay."

  • Solution: The connection quality is largely dependent on the Host's internet. The Host should ideally be using a wired ethernet connection, not Wi-Fi, to provide the most stable experience. If disconnects persist, have the Host run an internet speed test. A low upload speed is often the culprit.

• "The Friend's Pass isn't in the store!"

  • Solution: This can happen due to regional store caching or simple search errors. Try searching for the exact phrase "Follow Us Friend's Pass." If it still doesn't appear, navigate to the store page for the main, paid version of Follow Us. On this page, look for a section labeled "Demos," "Editions," or a button with three dots (...). The Friend's Pass is often linked there.

• "Can we swap roles between Alex and Ben?"

  • Solution: Yes, you can. However, you cannot swap roles mid-chapter. To switch who plays as Alex and who plays as Ben, you must quit to the main menu and start the session again from the "Play With a Friend" screen. The Host can then select the chapter you were on, and you can choose your new roles before loading in. All your story progress will be intact.

05

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)tag

Do both players need PlayStation Plus or Xbox Game Pass Core? Yes. On consoles, any game that uses online multiplayer requires the platform's subscription service. Both the Host (game owner) and the Guest (Friend's Pass user) must have an active subscription (PS Plus or Game Pass Core/Ultimate) to connect and play together.

Can two people using the Friend's Pass play together? No. The system is designed to connect one game owner with one non-owner. At least one of the two players must own the full version of Follow Us to act as the Host for the session.

Does my progress carry over if I use the Friend's Pass and then buy the game? Yes, in a way. All game progress (completed chapters, collectibles found) is tied to the Host's save file. If you play through half the game as a Guest and then decide to buy it, you can then become a Host yourself and invite another friend. When you start your own game, you will have access to the Chapter Select screen and can start from any chapter you previously completed as a Guest.

Is the Follow Us Friend's Pass cross-platform? No. The Friend's Pass does not support cross-play between different console families. PlayStation 5 users can only play with other PlayStation 5 users, Xbox with Xbox, and PC with PC.

A Feature Worth Championingtag

The Friend's Pass system is an exceptionally pro-consumer feature that perfectly complements the design of Follow Us. It acknowledges that co-op games live and die by their community and makes it as easy as possible to share the experience. By allowing a friend to join for the entire journey at no cost, it ensures that no player has to navigate the game's tense, cryptic world alone. It's a model more developers should follow.