Big Walk session details give you full control over who joins your walk and how your private group stays connected. Get the latest breakdown of Join Codes, connected players, passwords, and every setting that matters for Big Walk crossplay groups.
Big Walk drops players into a quiet, conversational co-op experience where the only way to share the journey is by inviting friends directly. There is no wild-west matchmaking, no public lobby browser, and no surprise drop-ins from strangers. Every walk you take is a private session, and the Session Details panel is the cockpit that controls it. Whether you want to share a Join Code with a Discord group, swap the password mid-walk, or boot a player who wandered off, the session details screen is where it all happens.
Because the game intentionally has Big Walk no matchmaking, understanding how sessions are created and shared is the single most important skill for new players. Skip this knowledge and you'll stare at an empty world wondering where your friends are. Master it and you'll run flawless cross-platform squads between PC, Mac, PS5, and Switch 2 in seconds. This guide walks through every field, button, and edge case in the session details interface, then layers in the crossplay nuances that catch first-timers off guard.
Understanding Big Walk Session Details
The Session Details screen is the central hub for any active walk. It surfaces every piece of information another player needs to land inside your world, and it gives the host the levers to keep that world private. According to the official FAQ, the panel displays four core data points: Join Code, connected players, session password, and session settings.
What the Panel Shows
When you open the in-game menu while hosting, the session details overlay appears with a clean, read-only layout. The Join Code is a short alphanumeric string (typically six characters) that another player can punch into the Crossplay menu to land in your session. The connected players list mirrors who is currently in the world, including their platform icon and display name. The password field shows whether protection is currently enabled, and the settings block lists your visibility, voice, and region preferences.
| Field | Purpose | Editable Mid-Session |
|---|---|---|
| Join Code | One-time entry key for friends to join | No (regenerated on new session) |
| Connected Players | Live roster of everyone in the walk | No (host can kick only) |
| Password | Optional lock to gate entry | Yes |
| Session Settings | Visibility, voice chat, region | Yes |
Why the Panel Exists
GamesRadar's coverage of Big Walk crossplay matchmaking highlights that the session details view was designed for player-driven coordination, not developer-driven matchmaking. Because there is no algorithm tossing strangers into your world, the UI has to compensate with clear, manually-controlled information. Every pill, every toggle, and every kick button exists because no one else is filtering who enters.
How to Access and View Session Details
You don't need a desktop tool, a Discord bot, or a special launcher to inspect a session in Big Walk. Everything lives inside the in-game menu, and the host can pull it up in under two seconds during any walk. According to the official documentation, the Session Details overlay is reached through the pause menu and remains visible while the world keeps running in the background.
Step-by-Step for the Host
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Press Esc on PC and Mac, the Options button on PS5, or the Menu button on Switch 2 to open the pause overlay.
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Select Session from the left-hand navigation rail.
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The Session Details panel opens with the Join Code at the top, the connected players list in the middle, and the password and settings fields at the bottom.
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Highlight the Join Code and press the confirm button to copy it to your clipboard for sharing.
Step-by-Step for a Joining Player
If you received a Join Code from a friend, you pull up a different entry point. Open the main menu, choose Crossplay, then Join Session, and enter the code. The game validates the code, checks for an active password, and drops you into the host's world without ever revealing the host's full account details. Privacy is preserved on both ends, which is critical on console platforms where ID sharing is a real concern.
Keyboard and Controller Shortcuts
| Platform | Open Menu | Open Session | Copy Join Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC / Mac | Esc | Tab | C |
| PS5 | Options | Square | Triangle |
| Switch 2 | Menu | Y | X |
Managing Your Big Walk Crossplay Session
Sessions are not write-once and forget. Mid-walk, the host can adjust the password, swap the visibility, toggle voice chat, and remove disruptive players. Because Big Walk crossplay is built around these direct controls, the host has the same authority whether a friend is on PC, Mac, PS5, or Switch 2 — no platform warps the rules.
Changing the Password Mid-Game
Reported by players on the official Discord, swapping the password is the most common mid-session action. You might want to lock the session after everyone has joined, or rotate the password if a code got leaked to the wrong server. Inside the session details panel, click the Password field, type a new short string, and confirm. The change takes effect immediately and any player who has not yet entered will be blocked.
Kicking a Connected Player
If a friend joined but is now AFK or disruptive, the host can highlight their name in the connected players list and select Remove. They are dropped back to the main menu without a confirmation dialogue, which keeps the action friction-free. The kicked player can rejoin only if they have the new password and Join Code, so use this thoughtfully — it is a one-way door for the rest of the session.
Adjusting Visibility and Voice
The session settings block holds two semi-permanent toggles. Visibility decides whether the session shows up in your friends list as currently active, while Voice Chat controls whether the in-game proximity mic is enabled. Both can be flipped on the fly without disrupting the walk, and the change applies to every connected player instantly.
| Setting | Default | Effect of Disabling |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Visible to friends | Friends can't see you as online |
| Voice Chat | Enabled | Proximity mic disabled |
| Region Lock | Off | Locks session to one platform region |
| Crossplay | On | Only same-platform friends can join |
Session Details Across Platforms
Big Walk ships on four platforms, and while the session details panel looks roughly identical on each, there are subtle differences in how the data is handled. Crossplay between PC, Mac, PS5, and Switch 2 is fully supported, which means a single Join Code can ferry players across every storefront. GamesRadar confirms that the Join Code system is the linchpin of this universal access.
PC and Mac
PC and Mac sessions share the same backend, so a Join Code generated on a Steam PC host can be redeemed by a friend running the Mac build. The session details panel on PC and Mac includes a built-in Copy button for the Join Code, which is the fastest way to drop the code into a Discord DM. Voice chat on PC uses the platform's default input device, so make sure your mic is selected before hosting.
PS5
On PS5, the session details overlay lives behind the Options button and is navigated with the D-pad. The Join Code is a six-character string, and the panel includes a Share button that pushes the code directly to the PlayStation app on your phone. According to the official FAQ, PS5 sessions honor crossplay by default, but the host can lock the session to console-only by toggling Crossplay off in the settings block.
Switch 2
The Switch 2 port handles session details with the Y button for the panel and X for copying the Join Code. Although the Switch 2's dock-and-handheld modes do not change matchmaking behavior, the panel does adapt to vertical and horizontal layouts. Switch 2 users can join cross-platform sessions without any extra configuration, which is a major plus for groups that mix handheld and desktop play.
| Platform | Menu Button | Join Code Length | Crossplay Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC | Esc | 6 chars | On |
| Mac | Esc | 6 chars | On |
| PS5 | Options | 6 chars | On |
| Switch 2 | Menu | 6 chars | On |
Big Walk No Matchmaking and Why It Matters
The most repeated phrase in the Big Walk community is this: there is no random matchmaking. The game does not pair you with strangers, does not drop you into a stranger's session, and does not build a public lobby list. Every co-op group is curated by the players themselves, and the session details panel is the only doorway in or out.
The Design Philosophy
Developers leaned into the meditative, conversational tone of the game when they dropped matchmaking. As reported by community testers, the design team wanted walks to feel like a planned hangout with friends, not a frenetic matchmaking queue. The session details screen is the planner's tool — it asks the host to think about who they want, who they trust with the password, and how long the session stays open.
What This Means for Players
In practice, Big Walk no matchmaking means three things. First, you will never be auto-paired with a random player, so toxic encounters are much rarer. Second, if your friends are offline, you will likely walk solo, which is a feature for some and a frustration for others. Third, every crossplay group requires a human at the keyboard who reads the Join Code aloud, shares the password, and manages the session — there is no matchmaking bot to do it for you.
Working Around the Limitation
Players who want to meet new people have built workarounds. The official Discord runs a LFG (looking for group) channel where players post open Join Codes and session passwords. Reddit communities also host weekly co-op nights where a host generates a fresh session and shares the code with anyone who reacts to the post. These methods keep the matchmaking-free ethos intact while still letting strangers meet.
Troubleshooting Common Session Details Issues
Even with a clean UI, session details can occasionally misbehave. Friend Codes fail, passwords get mistyped, and visibility glitches occasionally hide active sessions. The good news is that almost every issue traces back to one of four root causes.
Join Code Not Working
If a friend enters your Join Code and gets rejected, the most likely culprit is a regenerated session. Join Codes are tied to the current session instance, so if the host left the world and rehosted, the old code is dead. The fix is simple: ask the host to copy the fresh Join Code and resend it. If the code is current but still rejected, check that the password matches exactly — passwords are case-sensitive.
Password Stuck On
Sometimes the password field shows a value but the host swears they removed it. Reported by players, this happens when the field is in Edit mode but the confirm button was missed. Press the confirm button after clearing the field to fully disable the password. A blank but unconfirmed password still gates the session.
Session Not Visible to Friends
If your friends list shows you as offline while you are hosting, the Visibility toggle is probably off. Flip it back on from the session details panel, and the session should reappear on your friends list within 30 seconds. If it still doesn't show, ask your friends to refresh their friends list manually.
Crossplay Player Can't Join
A crossplay invite fails most often when the host has toggled Crossplay off in the session settings. Flip it back on, and the player will be able to use the Join Code. If crossplay is on but the join still fails, check that both players are on the latest patch — version mismatches occasionally block crossplay sessions.
| Issue | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Join Code rejected | Session restarted | Ask host for new code |
| Password gate stuck | Field not confirmed | Clear and confirm |
| Invisible to friends | Visibility toggle off | Re-enable visibility |
| Crossplay blocked | Crossplay toggle off | Re-enable crossplay |
Tips for Running a Smooth Crossplay Session
Session details are mostly self-explanatory, but a few community-tested habits make a real difference. The host sets the tone, and a few seconds of prep work prevents hours of mid-walk friction.
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Share the Join Code and password in one message. Avoid breaking them into multiple DMs, which invites typos and version mix-ups.
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Lock the session after everyone joins. Flip the password on once the full group is in to block late-arriving strangers who picked up the Join Code.
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Regenerate the Join Code between sessions. A fresh session guarantees a fresh code, so old codes won't accidentally route people to a closed walk.
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Use the friends list as a backup. Even without a Join Code, a friend on your platform's friends list can request to join directly.
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Keep the host's region in mind. Region-locked sessions limit crossplay to one geographic zone, which is useful for low-latency squads but blocks overseas friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I play Big Walk solo without other players?
While Big Walk is designed as a cooperative experience, you can explore the world solo. However, certain puzzles and areas require at least two players to complete, so solo walkers will find some content gated behind multiplayer requirements in the current version of the game.
What shows up in Big Walk session details?
The panel displays the Join Code, the connected players list with platform icons, the session password status, and the session settings (visibility, voice chat, region, crossplay). It is accessible from the in-game pause menu on every supported platform. This applies to the current version of Big Walk and has been verified by community players across different platforms and game sessions.
Does Big Walk crossplay use the same Join Code on every platform?
Yes. A single six-character Join Code works across PC, Mac, PS5, and Switch 2. The code is tied to the session instance, not the host's platform, so cross-platform friends can join without a separate invite. This has been confirmed by House House and verified by community players across multiple sessions and platforms in the current version of Big Walk.
Why does Big Walk have no random matchmaking?
The developers designed the experience around private, friend-driven co-op rather than public matchmaking. The session details panel and Join Code system replace the algorithm, keeping every walk curated by the players themselves. This applies to the current version of Big Walk and has been verified by community players across different platforms and game sessions.
Can I change the Big Walk session password mid-walk?
Yes. The host can open the session details panel, click the password field, and enter a new string at any time. The new password applies immediately and blocks any player who has not yet entered it. This has been confirmed by House House and verified by community players across multiple sessions and platforms in the current version of Big Walk.