Cross-platform play lets friends play together across consoles and PC, but it is not one universal switch. The platform must allow it, the game must support it, and the game’s own account or crossplay setting often has to be enabled too.
These steps apply to PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC for games that officially support crossplay.
Does this affect you?
Use this if a friend is on another platform and you cannot find them, invite them, or join the same online match.
Enable crossplay on PlayStation
- Open Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy.
- Choose Communication and Multiplayer.
- On child accounts, look for Communication and User-Generated Content.
- Make sure communication with players outside a game session is not set to the most restrictive option.
- Open the game and check its Settings, Online, or Multiplayer menu for a Crossplay toggle.
Most PS5 and PS4 accounts allow crossplay by default, but family and child settings can block it.
Enable crossplay on Xbox
- Open Settings > Account.
- Go to Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy.
- Open View details & customize > Communication & multiplayer.
- Set multiplayer with people outside Xbox Live to Allow.
- Allow voice and text communication outside Xbox if the game requires it.
- For child accounts, use the Xbox Family Settings app or family organizer account.
Xbox treats crossplay as part of broader online safety and multiplayer permissions.
Nintendo Switch and PC setup
- Nintendo Switch does not have one system-wide crossplay toggle; check the game settings.
- On PC, crossplay is usually tied to account linking.
- Look for Link Accounts, Cross-Play, Cross-Progression, or Online Account in the launcher or game menu.
- Link Steam, Epic, EA, Ubisoft, Activision, or the game’s publisher account as required.
- Both players usually need their cross-platform account link completed before invites work.
Some games support crossplay only in certain modes or between certain platforms. Check the official game FAQ if one friend can join but another cannot.
Input and matchmaking limits
Some games separate controller and mouse-and-keyboard players even with crossplay enabled. If you can see friends but cannot match together in one mode, the game may be enforcing input-based matchmaking rather than failing.
Sources
- PlayStation Support – Cross-Platform Play on PS5 (2025)
- Xbox Support – Cross-Platform Play Settings (2025)
- Nintendo Support – Online Play Between Different Systems (2025)