Play with 2 players local? Not splitscreen.

[SoloShep]

I have a Switch and want to buy the game. But first can I play with a family member privately with two switch? We both have nintendo switch, but do not want to play splitscreen. We want to play both of are handheld mode. So does this have like a LAN option. Because at best buy says" Team up with hundreds of players or play locally " So what does that mean play locally?

[Thalyn]

Play locally in this case means local (wireless) network.  One player has to act as the host and the other will join their game.  When you enter the world the host will determine the "active" game area, in so much as the other player/s will have to remain within approximately 260m of the host at all times, but that can also be useful in that anyone who isn't the host can die and be teleported back to the host immediately upon respawn (though if the host dies and respawns they will pull any other players back to them when reviving).  You don't have to be in the same tribe, though honestly there's little point in trying to actively compete against each other with the tether in place so you may as well work together.

There is no splitscreen option on the Switch.

NB There are a few issues with the Switch multiplayer at the moment.  Some stability issues are present, and entering a cave will behave akin to a teleport.  But the big issue is that the host will have their stats saved at the end of the first session, and every session after that will roll them back to that point - regardless of how far they've advanced in subsequent sessions.  You can restore the host's progress by having them die before making a level, but they will need to re-assign any points and re-learn any Engrams that happened after the first session.