Quick Answer
Swap timelines, collect the fuses, repair the panels, then push the crystal together. Touching the sphere is not enough to swap: you have to see each other through it and walk forward. In We Were Here Tomorrow, face your partner through the Time Crystal's spherical window, interact together, and press W to exchange timelines.
How do you swap timelines at the Time Crystal?
Face your partner through the spherical window, interact together, then press W to walk forward into it and exchange positions between the two timelines. Putting your hand on the sphere is only part of the interaction. You also need the forward movement.
The exchange sphere. You can see your partner through it, which is what lets the swap work.
You occupy different timelines, so the route visible to one player can differ from the route available to the other. A bridge on your side does not mean your partner has the same crossing. Use the window to compare what each of you can reach before deciding who needs to move. The exchange lets the player with the useful tool reach an obstacle that the other player cannot handle from their current position.
- Find the spherical window together. You both need to take part in the exchange. Tell your partner when you are at the sphere so you can check your positions before interacting.
- Move around the sphere until you can see each other. If your partner is missing from your view, ask them to move around to another side. Check that they can see you too. An interaction position alone is insufficient if you are facing through sides that do not reveal one another.
- Interact at the same time. Coordinate the attempt once you have mutual visibility. Starting the interaction while your partner is still finding the correct side leaves you without the conditions needed for the swap.
- Press W and move into the sphere. Keep contact as you move forward together. Simply placing a hand on it and waiting does not complete the exchange.
- Check the route from your new position. Work out which player can now reach the obstacle and whether their tool fits the task. Repeat the exchange when the next reachable route or required tool belongs to the other player.
If pressing W does nothing, check whether you can actually see one another before repeating the interaction. Players have become stuck after treating forward movement as the only requirement; moving around to the correct side of the sphere allowed the exchange to work.
Keep the two parts of this mechanic separate in your callouts to your partner: first establish the view through the window, then coordinate the interaction and movement. Saying that you are touching the sphere does not tell your partner whether you can see them. Likewise, seeing each other does not finish the swap without moving forward. These checks matter each time you return to the sphere, including after collecting something elsewhere in the area.
How do you reach the department head office?
The department head office route involves the missing walkway and collecting fuses, including a pink fuse that you need for a later repair. Once you can exchange timelines to bring the appropriate tool to a blocked route, follow the department head office projection route for this part of the chapter.
How do you get through the Time Crystal fuse panels?
After collecting fuses, continue to the paired panels, where one player has an open panel and the other sees its damaged counterpart in the other timeline. Keep those two views coordinated and follow the Time Crystal fuse panels page when you reach the repairs that depend on both fuse position and type.
Where do you use the Time Crystal final fuse layout?
The final fuse arrangement belongs at the panel associated with the reference book's eight-position diagram, after the earlier repairs. Have the player in the past find the book to the left of the machine, then follow the Time Crystal final fuse layout before returning to the crystal.
Where do you go after completing Time Crystal?
Return to the Time Crystal together after the final arrangement is accepted, interact with it, and press W to push forward into the next chapter.
Both players put their hands on the crystal and push forward together.
Leave the panel and head back outside the room to the crystal. Both players need to participate here, so coordinate the interaction before moving forward together. Finishing the fuse arrangement is followed by this shared push; staying at the repaired machine does not perform that last action for you.
Continue with Xenobotany once you have pushed the crystal together.
FAQ
The sphere lets you exchange positions between timelines by interacting together and moving forward with W. Find sides of the sphere from which you can both see one another before starting.
Pressing W is insufficient when you cannot see your partner through the sphere. Move around it until you have mutual visibility, then coordinate the interaction and forward movement.
It belongs to the missing-walkway route where you collect fuses for the later repairs. Continue with the department head office projection route once you can exchange timelines.
You need the pink fuse for a later panel repair. The Time Crystal fuse panels require the appropriate fuse type as well as the correct position.