Chained Together is getting a new free map on PC via Steam on November 12, 2026. Its next escape route trades the game’s original infernal setting for another kind of punishment: an upward climb through a corporate-themed vision of hell.

The new map is a notable expansion for Lab42 Games’ co-op platformer because it is described as the first officially developed map set outside the game’s original escape-from-hell environment. Rather than simply extending the existing setting, it gives the climb a different visual and thematic frame while retaining the central premise of difficult platforming under pressure.

Players will make their way past skyscrapers, wooden boxes and giant fans as they attempt to “climb the corporate ladder” in the most literal and least HR-approved sense possible. The map will be free, and it can be tackled alone or with a group of up to four players.

A new kind of ascent for Chained Together

The announced obstacles offer a straightforward picture of the route’s intended challenges. Skyscrapers suggest a more vertical setting than a conventional enclosed platforming course, while wooden boxes point to smaller, potentially awkward footholds. Giant fans add a hazard that players will need to avoid rather than merely jump across.

That combination matters because platforming difficulty is not only about the distance between platforms. A level can create pressure through unstable-looking footing, the need to judge timing around moving or environmental hazards, or by placing a dangerous obstacle where players have limited space to recover. The announced elements do not reveal the full level layout, checkpoint structure or exact hazard behavior, so players should not assume details beyond those named. They do establish that the corporate map will be built around climbing and navigation rather than being only a cosmetic reskin of the original setting.

The corporate imagery also gives the update a clear comic angle. “Climbing the ladder” is normally a workplace metaphor for career advancement. Here, the game turns it into a hazardous physical ascent involving vast buildings and industrial-scale fans. It is an appropriately grim joke for a game whose premise already treats escape as a group coordination problem.

Solo play and four-player co-op are both supported

The map supports one to four players. That means it is available to players who want to learn its obstacles on their own as well as groups that want to take on the course together.

In a co-op platformer, the basic task of reaching the next ledge becomes more complicated because every player’s movement can affect the group’s pace and positioning. A player who is ready for a jump may need to wait for a teammate to reach a safe spot; a rushed attempt at a hazard can turn one bad decision into a broader setback. The new map’s solo option removes that interpersonal layer, while the full four-player option preserves it for teams that prefer the game’s communal chaos.

Related coverage includes Chained Together’s Free Corporate Hell Map Arrives November 12.

Practically, the choice between solo and co-op may shape how players approach the level. A solo run puts all timing, route-reading and recovery decisions in one person’s hands. A group run adds the need to communicate clearly: calling out an upcoming fan, deciding who moves first, and avoiding a situation where multiple people commit to the same dangerous jump without a plan.

None of that requires the map to be designed around a single preferred party size. The key confirmed point is flexibility. Players will not need a full four-person group to access the new course, and established groups will not need to split up to try it.

The corporate map will work in 2v2 Race mode

The November 12 map will also be compatible with 2v2 Race mode, which is already available. In that mode, two teams of two race against one another to finish ahead of their opponents. The mode uses a 30-minute clock.

“2v2” means four players are divided into two pairs rather than all four collaborating as one team. That small change can alter the mood of a climb. Standard co-op is fundamentally about getting everyone through the course; a race asks each pair to balance careful execution with the pressure to stay ahead. The other team’s progress becomes part of the decision-making, even when the best route is unclear.

The 30-minute clock gives each race a defined time window. It is important not to read more into that detail than has been confirmed: the available information establishes the clock but does not specify every rule for how the timer affects wins, unfinished runs or ties. What is clear is that the new level is not restricted to a conventional shared climb. It will be another venue for the game’s competitive team format from launch.

For pairs planning to race the map, the named obstacles imply two useful priorities. First, consistency is likely to matter as much as a fast first attempt. A spectacular shortcut is not much help if it sends a team back into a dangerous sequence. Second, concise communication can be more valuable than constant chatter. A quick warning about a fan or a simple signal that one player is ready to move can help a team preserve momentum without turning the climb into a committee meeting conducted at terminal velocity.

What is confirmed, and what remains unknown

The announcement confirms a free November 12 release for the new map, its corporate-hell premise, several obstacle types, one-to-four-player support, and compatibility with 2v2 Race mode. It also confirms that Chained Together is available on PC through Steam.

Several details have not been provided. There is no stated price because the map is free, but there is also no additional information about its length, exact route count, whether it has multiple difficulty variants, or whether it brings changes beyond the map itself. There is likewise no announced console availability in the supplied details. Players should treat the update as a PC Steam addition unless further platform plans are specified.

The map’s status as the first officially developed environment outside the original escape-from-hell setting is the most interesting long-term signal. It shows that Chained Together’s climbing format can support a setting beyond its initial premise, at least in this one new course. Whether that leads to more themed maps has not been announced, and it would be premature to present it as a roadmap. Still, the corporate setting is a deliberate expansion of the game’s world rather than a minor adjustment to an existing area.

How to prepare for the November 12 climb

  • Decide on a group size early. The map supports solo play, pairs, trios and four-player groups, so a complete squad is optional.
  • Use the first run to read the hazards. Skyscrapers, boxes and giant fans suggest vertical sections where knowing the next safe landing may be more important than immediately chasing speed.
  • For 2v2, settle on simple callouts. Pairs benefit from short, shared language for hazards and movement timing.
  • Do not mistake the mode for ordinary co-op. In Race mode, the opposing pair adds urgency, but reckless attempts can still cost more time than they save.
  • Check the game’s Steam page on release day. The new map is slated to be free, with the date set for November 12.

Chained Together’s next climb is therefore more than another stretch of platforms. It is a fresh official setting, a solo-or-group challenge, and a new competitive course for teams willing to find out whether corporate hell has better views than the original kind. For more PC release-day context, see games releasing today: October 9, 2026.