4.0: Online Multiplayer

Learn how to set up and play online multiplayer in Keep Driving. Discover game modes like Race and Road Rage, lobby details, and important gameplay mechanics.

Online mode was introduced in Version 1.04 of Keep Driving, offering a way to play with friends. A PS Plus or Xbox Live GOLD membership is required. While there are no trophies associated with online play, it provides a fun or competitive experience. There is no unranked option, so all games are ranked.

The lobby supports 1 to 6 players, with a minimum of 2 players required to start a game. The host is indicated by a dog icon next to their gamertag/ID.

There are two modes of online play:

• Race: Similar to Career mode, featuring typical traffic races.
• Road Rage: One group (Blues) tries to escape while another (Reds) hunts them. Blues who are taken out can become Reds by pressing Circle/B, provided there are 2 or 3 Blues initially.

Key details about online mode include:

1. No Handicap: Unlike some previous titles, there is no handicap system. Players falling behind do not receive extra boost. Catching up relies on careful driving, avoiding crashes, and cutting corners.
2. Same Car for All: All players use the same car as the host for fairness and balance. Most cars, excluding Cop Cars and VIP Sedan, are available. Saved paint jobs from Single Player are applied.
3. Host Controls Start: The host must wait for all players to be ready (indicated by a green checkmark) before starting the game.
4. Ranking System (Version 1.08): A ranking system using ELO is in place, starting at 1,200. Winning against higher-ranked players increases ELO faster. Losing or quitting reduces ELO, with significant losses when defeated by lower-ranked players. The highest reported ELO is 2,500.
5. Low Player Count: The online community is very small, making it difficult to find full lobbies. The Xbox One version is reported to have more players.
6. Track Limitations: 9 Point 2 Point tracks cannot be chosen due to a tunnel stutter issue.
7. Set Laps: Players can select a set number of laps (1, 2, 3, 5, or 10) but cannot choose an exact number.
8. Boost Bar: The boost bar has two segments by default and does not decrease below this, even after wrecks. The maximum is four segments.
9. Oncoming Traffic: Only Oncoming traffic is present, making boost acquisition riskier and requiring Near Misses for effective collection.

While the online mode can become repetitive with few players, it can be enjoyable with a group of friends.