Community discussions on Steam and the official forums highlight several reasons why a 3-player mod hasn't been realized:
For a complete breakdown of how the existing co-op systems function and the challenges you might face, watch this guide: Stranded Deep Co-op | What you should know in 2023 YouTube• Jan 25, 2023 Can You Use a Mod for 3 Players?
While you can’t add a third person, you can use mods to significantly overhaul the 2-player survival experience. stranded deep 3 player mod
Currently only supports single-player gameplay.
Currently, there is for Stranded Deep. Unlike games with highly flexible engines like Minecraft or Valheim , Stranded Deep’s multiplayer architecture is deeply tied to a peer-to-peer (P2P) system designed specifically for two people. Technical Hurdles Community discussions on Steam and the official forums
Supports 2-player online co-op but generally lacks local split-screen.
Stranded Deep ’s isolated, sun-drenched islands and shark-infested waters provide a visceral survival experience. While the game was originally a solo journey, developers eventually added to allow players to face the Pacific with a friend. However, many players find themselves with a group of three or four, leading to the persistent question: is there a 3-player mod for Stranded Deep? The Current State of Multiplayer Currently, there is for Stranded Deep
As of 2024, the official limit for multiplayer in remains two players for both online and local split-screen sessions.