Cross-Platform Gaming Guide: Playing Together Across Devices

Cross-platform play lets PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile players game together. Implementation varies by game and platform, and knowing the specifics prevents frustration when setting up group play.

Full Crossplay Games

Fortnite supports crossplay across all platforms including mobile with a unified Epic account. Minecraft Bedrock Edition connects PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and mobile through Microsoft accounts. Rocket League uses Epic accounts for cross-platform parties. FFXIV connects PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players on shared servers.

Partial Crossplay

Call of Duty supports cross-platform play but allows console players to disable matching against PC players (due to mouse aim advantage concerns). Destiny 2 supports crossplay but restricts some competitive modes. Diablo 4 supports full crossplay with shared progression across all platforms.

Cross-Progression

Cross-progression (carrying your save between platforms) is separate from crossplay. Genshin Impact saves sync between PC, PlayStation, and mobile. Fortnite carries progression everywhere. Baldur’s Gate 3 supports cross-save between PC and console through Larian accounts. Not all crossplay games support cross-progression.

Setting Up

Most cross-platform systems require linking platform-specific accounts to a unified publisher account (Epic, Activision, Square Enix). This linking process usually happens once through the game’s menu or the publisher’s website. Friend lists may require adding friends through the publisher’s system rather than the platform’s native friend list.

Input Fairness

Cross-platform play between PC (keyboard/mouse) and console (controller) creates input disparity in competitive games. Mouse aiming provides higher precision in shooters, while controller aim assist compensates with tracking assistance. Most cross-platform competitive games address this through input-based matchmaking (matching keyboard players with keyboard players regardless of platform) or by allowing console players to opt out of PC lobbies entirely.

In cooperative games, input disparity is irrelevant. BG3, Monster Hunter, and Diablo 4 play identically regardless of input method, making cross-platform co-op seamless.

Account Linking Pitfalls

Some games allow account linking only once, making mistakes permanent. Before linking, verify you are connecting the correct accounts. Some platforms have historically restricted cross-progression or charged for previously-free content when linking accounts. Read the specific terms for each game cross-platform implementation before linking.

Epic Games accounts serve as the cross-platform backbone for an increasing number of games beyond Fortnite. Linking your Epic account to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Steam provides a single friend list and progression track across platforms for supported titles.

Cloud Gaming and Cross-Play

Cloud gaming services (Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, PlayStation Portal streaming) add another dimension to cross-platform play. A player using Xbox Cloud Gaming on their phone can join the same Destiny 2 raid as a PC player running the game natively and a console player on their living room TV. The quality depends on internet connection, but for cooperative and turn-based games where input latency is less critical, cloud gaming enables genuinely platform-agnostic play sessions.

Recommended Cross-Play Games

For families with mixed platforms, Minecraft Bedrock Edition provides the most seamless cross-platform experience. For competitive groups, Rocket League offers the tightest crossplay implementation. For RPG enthusiasts, FFXIV connects an enormous player base across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox with shared servers and cross-progression.

For co-op game recommendations, see Best Co-Op RPGs. For community finding, check Finding Your Gaming Community Online.