MACHINE PARTY
MODS GUIDE.

01 / WHAT IT ADDS

WHAT MACHINEPARTY+ V2.1.0 DOES

The base game creates friends-only Steam lobbies. According to the mod's source documentation, MachineParty+ can mark a host's existing lobby as public and list tagged lobbies in a worldwide browser. Joining still uses the game's Steam lobby flow.

• Public or private: hosts can publish a named lobby or return it to friends-only.
• Room codes: the browser also accepts the normal 18-digit room ID.
• Vanilla compatibility: unmodded players can still join a modded host by room ID, according to the creators.
• Mod-only features: public listings, voice chat, and text chat require MachineParty+ on the players using them.

What changed in v2.1.0?

The August 12 release updated the mod for Machine Party v2. In local couch co-op, public/private lobby controls and lobby tools are now hidden because the server browser is network-only. Voice, text chat, moderation, and the scoreboard remain available for online sessions. These are community-mod release notes, not a base-game update.

02 / BEFORE INSTALLING

READ THE RISK NOTES

1. Use only the creators' GitHub release pages.
   Avoid reuploads, shortened links, “pre-installed” packs, and files distributed through comments.
2. Check the release name and digest.
   For the versions checked below, compare the file hash before running anything.
3. Scan the file yourself.
   A public malware scanner can add evidence, but no scan is a guarantee of safety.
4. Know the recovery path.
   The loader includes restore and uninstall flows; Steam's “Verify integrity of game files” is the final fallback.
5. Expect game updates to remove the loader patch.
   The current loader documentation says to re-run Loader v3 or Reinstall Mods (run after game updates).bat; the mod folder does not need to be downloaded again.

03 / INSTALL

INSTALL MACHINEPARTY+ V2.1.0

This is a condensed version of the creators' current instructions. Read both repositories before deciding to run the loader.

1. Open the game folder from Steam.
   Right-click Machine Party → Manage → Browse local files, then open Machine Party_Windows. Confirm that Machine Party.exe and Machine Party.pck are present.
2. Download Mod Loader v3.
   Use the official v3.0.0 release page. Place MachinePartyModLoader.exe beside the game's .exe and .pck files.
3. Run the loader only after verification.
   The loader patches the game package and creates a mods folder. If your security tools warn, stop and verify the source, release URL, and file hash before choosing what to do.
4. Download MachineParty+ v2.1.0.
   Get Jarunk-MachinePartyPlus.zip from the official v2.1.0 release page.
5. Extract the mod folder.
   The final path should be mods\Jarunk-MachinePartyPlus\, with files such as main.gd and mod.json inside—not another nested ZIP.
6. Launch normally from Steam.
   Press the backtick key (`) to test the loader console. On the main menu, JOIN should open the server browser when MachineParty+ is active.

04 / PLAYER LIMIT

INSTALL THE MACHINE PARTY 8-PLAYER MOD

Do not confuse this with MachineParty+. The two projects solve different problems:

What has actually been tested?

The author reports automated unattended host/client verification plus human observation across all 15 minigames at eight players. That is useful engineering evidence, but the author explicitly says it is not a completed real-human eight-player match. Scoring, pacing, edge cases, and disconnect behavior can still differ in a full group. Treat the mod as a community experiment for friends, not as official stable support.

Source-checked install route

1. Match the game build.
   Release v1.5 targets Machine Party v2.1.2 and identifies the patched game as v2.1.2-8P-v1.5. Do not assume it works after a future game update.
2. Download from the named GitHub release.
   Use the machine-party-8p v1.5 release, not a mirror. The checked asset is machine-party-8p-mod.zip.
3. Verify the release digest.
   The published SHA-256 checked on Aug 21 is 6031425e58d434190ae2b62a8557cecaef1d057ce030acb03dd02c327d7baac4.
4. Start from a clean PCK.
   If another direct patch has changed Machine Party.pck, use Steam Verify first. The installer refuses a non-pristine package rather than stacking an unknown patch.
5. Run the installer for your system.
   The release provides WindowsInstall.bat, install.sh, and python3 install.py routes. Read the repository instructions before executing any community script.
6. Confirm every group member matches.
   For five to eight players, everyone must see the same 8P release identifier before joining. A vanilla or mismatched participant returns the practical cap to four or can cause compatibility problems.

How to uninstall the 8-player mod

Use Steam → Machine Party → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files. This restores the official package. Recheck the upstream release before reinstalling after any base-game update.

If you only want to find strangers rather than exceed four players, use the separate MachineParty+ installation route. For official multiplayer and local-play limits, see the Machine Party multiplayer guide.

04A / FIVE-PLAYER CHECK

VERIFY THE 8P INSTALL BEFORE INVITING FRIENDS

Check the main-menu version label on every PC. For the current community release, it should read v2.1.2-8P-v1.5. This checks the patched game, not merely whether the ZIP was downloaded. The author's v1.5 release notes are the source for the version and installer behavior; we have not tested a live eight-human match.

This check is for machine-party-8p, not MachineParty+. The latter adds a server browser but does not raise the four-player cap. If the unmodified game also fails to start, use the base-game troubleshooting guide after restoring clean files.

05 / RECOVERY

FIX MODS AFTER AN UPDATE

If the mod disappeared after a game update

The current loader documentation says Steam updates can overwrite the loader patch while leaving the mod folder intact. Re-run MachinePartyModLoader.exe or double-click Reinstall Mods (run after game updates).bat. You do not need to re-download MachineParty+.

Remove only MachineParty+

Delete the Jarunk-MachinePartyPlus folder inside mods. Other loader-based mods can remain.

Remove the loader and all mods

Run Uninstall Mods.bat, review the removal list, and confirm. If you added a custom Steam launch option, remove it manually afterward.

If the game no longer starts

1. Do not download replacement game files from third-party mirrors.
2. Run the loader's restore or uninstall path.
   Loader v3 documents --restore and --uninstall options.
3. In Steam, verify the integrity of the installed game files.
   Use this if the loader cannot restore the original package.
4. Return to the unmodified game before testing again.
   If vanilla also fails, continue with the Machine Party crash recovery guide.

06 / FAST ANSWERS

COMMON QUESTIONS

Are there mods for Machine Party?

Yes. MachineParty+ v2.1.0 adds public-lobby and social tools through Loader v3. A separate machine-party-8p v1.5 release raises compatible online groups to eight players.

Is MachineParty+ official?

No. It is a community project by J_axon and Krunk, loaded through Krunk's separate community mod loader. The 8-player mod is also an independent community project.

Is there a Machine Party 5-player or 8-player mod?

Yes. The source-visible 8-player mod v1.5 targets game v2.1.2. Every person in a five-to-eight-player lobby must use the same release. Its automated and observed test coverage is documented, but a complete real-human eight-player match is not yet confirmed.

Can it find random players?

MachineParty+ can list public MachineParty+ lobbies. The separate 8-player mod raises lobby capacity but is not a public matchmaking service. The base game's developers said official in-game public matchmaking is not planned.

Does every player need a mod?

For ordinary MachineParty+ room-code play, no; vanilla and modded players can remain compatible. For a five-to-eight-player 8P lobby, yes—every participant needs the same 8P release.

Why did the mod disappear after an update?

Game updates can overwrite or invalidate patches. Re-run Loader v3 for MachineParty+, but restore a clean game package and wait for a compatible upstream release before reinstalling the separate 8-player patch.

Are these mods safe?

They are third-party software, not official game files. Use only named GitHub releases, compare the published SHA-256 digests, scan downloads, and understand the Steam recovery path before running an installer.

Do they add local co-op or split-screen?

No. The base game itself added native couch co-op in v2.0. MachineParty+ stays out of the Local flow, and the checked 8-player release is for online groups.

Is Linux supported?

MachineParty+ publishes a Windows-focused loader route. The 8-player release includes shell and Python installers, but compatibility can change; follow the current upstream instructions rather than assuming every Linux setup works.

07 / EVIDENCE

SOURCES

• machine-party-8p source repository — compatibility, player requirements, 15-minigame adaptation, test boundary, install, and uninstall documentation.
• machine-party-8p v1.5 release — v2.1.2 compatibility, release asset, SHA-256 digest, and installer routes checked Aug 21.
• MachineParty+ source repository — features, compatibility, controls, installation, and the four-player setting limit.
• MachineParty+ v2.1.0 release — current ZIP, SHA-256 digest, Machine Party v2 compatibility, and local-mode behavior checked Aug 21.
• Machine Party Mod Loader source repository — update reinstall behavior, patch warnings, install, restore, and uninstall documentation.
• Mod Loader v3.0.0 release — current executable, SHA-256 digest, Machine Party v2 update, and API level 2 checked Aug 21.
• MachineParty+ creators' community release post — launch context and player questions. Community source, not an official game announcement.