Moon Sweepers: Steam Multiplayer, Controller, Deck Status
Moon Sweepers is a co-op mining game on Steam where you and up to three friends pilot a lunar rover, drill for resources, and survive the night. It supports full Steam multiplayer (online and remote play), has complete controller support, and is fully verified on the Steam Deck, so you can play it on the go or on a TV with a gamepad. Progression is tied to your host’s save file, meaning only the host unlocks new equipment and upgrades, while guests keep their cosmetic items but not story progress.
Background: What Is Moon Sweepers?
Moon Sweepers is an indie co-op game that blends mining, resource management, and survival. You and your crew land on the Moon, drive a customizable rover, and dig for minerals to sell and upgrade your gear. The game is designed around 2-4 player cooperation, but it can also be played solo. It was released in early access and has received regular updates adding new biomes, enemies, and quality-of-life features.
The core loop is simple: during the day, you mine and collect resources; at night, you must defend your base from hostile creatures. The game is often compared to titles like Deep Rock Galactic or Minecraft in terms of its mining and crafting mechanics, but it has a distinct lunar setting and a more relaxed, family-friendly tone.
Steam Multiplayer: How It Works
Moon Sweepers supports both online multiplayer and local co-op through Steam Remote Play. Here’s what you need to know:
- Online co-op: You can host a game or join a friend’s game via Steam friends list or a public lobby. Up to 4 players can play together.
- Remote Play Together: If you have a friend who doesn’t own the game, you can invite them to play via Steam Remote Play. The host needs a good internet connection, and the guest only needs a controller or keyboard.
- Cross-platform: The game is only available on PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) via Steam, so there is no cross-play with consoles.
Multiplayer is stable but has a few quirks. For example, if the host disconnects, the session ends for everyone. There is no dedicated server support, so you must rely on the host’s connection.
Controller Support: What Works and What Doesn’t
Moon Sweepers has full controller support, meaning you can play entirely with a gamepad. This includes navigation, mining, driving, and menu interactions. The game recognizes Xbox, PlayStation, and generic controllers via Steam Input. You can also remap buttons in the Steam overlay.
However, some players report that the controller vibration is too strong by default, and the sensitivity for aiming the mining laser can feel twitchy. You can adjust these in the in-game settings. If you’re using a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, you may need to enable “Switch Pro Configuration Support� in Steam’s controller settings.
For keyboard and mouse, the game also works well, but the controller is the recommended way to play, especially on a couch or on the Steam Deck.
Steam Deck Status: Verified and Playable
Moon Sweepers is officially rated “Verified� on the Steam Deck. This means it runs out of the box with no tweaks needed. The game’s default control scheme is fully mapped to the Deck’s buttons and trackpads, and the text is readable on the small screen. Performance is solid, with a stable 60 FPS at medium settings, and the battery lasts about 3-4 hours on a full charge.
One minor issue: the game’s font is small in some menus, but you can increase the UI scale in the settings. Also, if you use a Bluetooth controller with the Deck, you may need to disable the Deck’s built-in controller to avoid double input.
Progression: Who Keeps What?
Progression in Moon Sweepers is tied to the host’s save file. Here’s the breakdown:
- Host: All story progress, upgrades, and unlocked blueprints are saved to the host’s local save. When you host again, you continue from where you left off.
- Guests: Guests keep their cosmetic items (like character skins and rover paint jobs) and any Steam achievements they earn, but they do not keep story progress or research upgrades. If a guest wants to progress on their own, they must play solo or host their own game.
- Cross-save: There is no cloud save for the game, so if you uninstall or switch PCs, you’ll need to manually back up your save file (located in your Steam userdata folder).
This system is a common point of confusion. Many players expect all players to progress equally, but Moon Sweepers is designed as a “host-driven� experience. If you’re playing with friends, it’s best to pick one person as the “main� host and stick with them.
Common Problems and Fixes
Here are a few issues players often encounter and how to solve them:
- Can’t join a friend’s game: Make sure both of you have the same game version. Also, try inviting via Steam friends list instead of a public lobby.
- Controller not working: Check Steam Input settings. Go to Steam > Settings > Controller > General Controller Settings and enable support for your controller type.
- Steam Deck audio crackling: Lower the in-game audio quality from “High� to “Medium� in the sound settings.
- Save file lost: Back up your save regularly. The file is usually at
Steam\userdata\[yourID]\[appID]\remote\. You can also enable Steam Cloud by right-clicking the game in your library and checking “Keep games saves in the Steam Cloud.�
If you experience frequent crashes, try verifying the game files via Steam (right-click > Properties > Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Moon Sweepers have crossplay with consoles?
No. Moon Sweepers is only available on PC via Steam, so there is no crossplay with PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
Can I play Moon Sweepers solo?
Yes, the game is fully playable solo. You can adjust the difficulty to make it easier, and you’ll have a robot companion to help with mining and combat.
How many players can play in one session?
Up to 4 players can play together in online co-op. For local co-op, you can use Steam Remote Play Together to share the screen with friends over the internet.
Does Moon Sweepers support cloud saves?
Yes, the game supports Steam Cloud saves. You can enable it in the game’s properties in your Steam library. However, if you play as a guest, your progress is not saved to the cloud—only the host’s progress is.
Is there a way to transfer my progress to another computer?
If you enable Steam Cloud, your progress will sync automatically. If not, you can manually copy the save file from the folder mentioned above to the same location on the new computer.
Can I use a keyboard and mouse on the Steam Deck?
Yes, you can connect a keyboard and mouse via Bluetooth or USB-C. The game will recognize them, and you can switch between controller and keyboard input on the fly.
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