Is Elite Dangerous co-op?

Yes, Elite Dangerous supports co-op.

Does Elite Dangerous have PvP?

Steam does not list PvP for Elite Dangerous.

Do we both need to own Elite Dangerous to play together?

Yes. Elite Dangerous is played online, so each player needs their own copy on their own Steam account (or PC Game Pass where it is offered). Steam Families can share a library, but two people cannot play the same shared game at the same time.

How many people play Elite Dangerous?

About 4,845 players were in-game when this page's data was last refreshed (2026-09-09).

Ready Up — what game do we play?Compare two Steam libraries →

Multiplayer games › Vehicle combat › Space ships

Is Elite Dangerous multiplayer or co-op?

Yes — co-op. Elite Dangerous is a space ships game released in 2015, 77% positive on Steam (100,024 reviews), with 4,845 playing right now. $5.99 on Steam.

Co-opSingle-player tooVehicle combat · Space ships

Take control of your own starship and blaze your trail in an ever-changing galaxy. Master the arts of combat, mining and trade or venture out into the unknown…

How Elite Dangerous plays with friends, according to Steam

Online co-op: Not listed on Steam
Local / split-screen co-op: Not listed on Steam
Online PvP: Not listed on Steam
LAN play: Not listed on Steam
MMO: Yes
Single-player mode: Yes
Controller: Partial controller support

Steam's own category list for the game, as of 2026-09-09. "Not listed" means the store page does not claim that mode; community mods or Remote Play can still add it.

Steam tags: Space Sim, Space, Open World, Exploration, Sci-fi, Simulation, Massively Multiplayer, Multiplayer

Do you and a friend both own Elite Dangerous?

Ready Up compares two Steam libraries and shows every multiplayer game you both have — including whether Elite Dangerous is one of them — then helps you pick tonight's game with a weighted roll or a bracket.

Or open the Steam store page.

Games like Elite Dangerous you can play together

Empyrion - Galactic Survival

Space ships · 79% positive on Steam (33,247 reviews) · 990 playing right now

Avorion

Space ships · 90% positive on Steam (13,614 reviews) · 618 playing right now

STAR WARS™: Squadrons

Space ships · 66% positive on Steam (27,054 reviews) · 79 playing right now

PULSAR: Lost Colony

Space ships · 90% positive on Steam (5,578 reviews) · 21 playing right now

Starbase

Space ships · 58% positive on Steam (6,606 reviews) · 6 playing right now

HELLION

Space ships · 55% positive on Steam (4,148 reviews) · 3 playing right now

Tired of Elite Dangerous? The Swap tab finds the closest unowned games of the same type that are newer or rated higher.

Quick answers

Is Elite Dangerous co-op?: Yes, Elite Dangerous supports co-op.
Does Elite Dangerous have PvP?: Steam does not list PvP for Elite Dangerous.
Do we both need to own Elite Dangerous to play together?: Yes. Elite Dangerous is played online, so each player needs their own copy on their own Steam account (or PC Game Pass where it is offered). Steam Families can share a library, but two people cannot play the same shared game at the same time.
How many people play Elite Dangerous?: About 4,845 players were in-game when this page's data was last refreshed (2026-09-09).

Ready Up is a free tool: enter two Steam usernames and it lists the multiplayer games you both own, runs a bracket to pick one, and suggests new co-op games that fit how you both play. Ratings, tags and player counts from Steam and SteamSpy; page updated 2026-09-23. Powered by Steam — not affiliated with or endorsed by Valve Corporation or Microsoft. Ready Up is a Somebody Decide program. How the data works · Legal & privacy · All types · Game Pass