Multiplayer

Multiplayer is a game type that was added in update v0.09 of The Forest which allows players to play together. In update v0.12, multiplayer was integrated into Steam making it easy for users to host and join a server. It also refers to dedicated servers.

Gameplay
The Forest only has cooperative mode as its default game mode. There is no death match mode in the game. Though players can injure and kill each other. Based on this, players could form a set of rules to form their own death match, providing the players follow the set rules. In P2P, it is possible to play with up to 8 players in a single game. To play with more players, you will need to run a Dedicated Server, which are often more popular. The PS4 version of the game has a maximum of four players in a game due to performance issues.

Differences between singleplayer and multiplayer
There are a number of differences between single player and multiplayer, some are crucial to know:
 * In multiplayer, when a player's health reaches 0 they will enter an injured state (unless death is caused by drowning or sharks). They will fall to their hands and knees, and in this state, the player cannot use a walky talky and they are essentially disabled, they cannot move or attack. Cannibals and mutants will surround the player, sometimes still attacking them, though this has no effect. When in this state, they will need to be revived. This requires another player to approach the player and hold the  key for about 5 seconds without being injured. Before v0.27, reviving players used to cost meds, though it is no longer required to revive a player. The injured player will stand up and be able to continue playing, with 10 health. If a player isn't revived, they will die and have to restart. If a player dies, the player's strength, athleticism, weight and sanity will be reset back to their starting values. If the player wishes to avoid this, they can reload the game if they have one. However, if the player continues to play, they can go to the location of their dead body and there will be a backpack which will contain all their items.
 * In multiplayer, the player can make proper use of the walky talky to communicate with other players. This is classed as a left hand item so the player cannot use a lighter, flashlight, cassette player, or compass while using the walky talky. It can be access by pressing the  key, and can be stashed away by doing the same. Players can also use text chat by pressing   to open the chat box and the same key to send the message.
 * In multiplayer, the player will find a unique item called the metal tin tray, which is located at the back of the plane near the passenger manifest. The metal tin tray allows players to place items on it within their inventory by combining it with the tray and equipping it. This holds the tray out and other players can take items from the tray. Some items like blueberries can be shared with players, even if they don't have a pouch. Certain items cannot be shared, such as the repair tool, though this item can be placed in a catapult which allows the other player to collect it from there.
 * In multiplayer, there is a client and a host. Clients are players that join and the host is the one who create the game. The host can control the settings of the game such as building destruction and tree regrowing mode. The host is also the only one who can save the game world. Clients have no control over the game settings. When a client saves, they only save their own current state. This saves their items and their stats, such as strength and athleticism.
 * There are more differences between the two, most can be found in the patch notes below. Though these are the most important ones that should be known.

Injured
Injured refers to the state when a player has been killed but is playing in multiplayer where another player may attempt to revive them by getting to the Injured player in time. You do NOT need meds to revive a player.

When in multiplayer if a player loses all their health from normal means. E.g. cannibals, fall damage, etc. They will fall down and the screen will go black/white and a white skull will appear onscreen.

The skull will begin to fill up as the player begins to die, allowing an approximation of how long the player has left until death, although no exact time. While injured it also gives the player the option of giving up and dying in order to respawn sooner.

A skull will appear and be shown to players so they know when another players been downed and needs to be revived. Note that this skull does not show the injured player's bleed-out timer, so there is no way to know much much time you have to heal them before they die.

Important

 * v0.27 - Reviving another player no longer uses meds and restores only a minimum amount of health
 * v0.67 - Player can no longer be revived after being killed by a shark or drowning

Update History
All (multiplayer) notations have been removed these patch notes to make it easier to read and reduce the length of the notes.