If you’ve ever logged onto Palworld after a long day only to realize your best friend is playing on Xbox while you’re on Steam, you’ve definitely asked can you play Palworld cross platform without jumping through a dozen hoops. Cross play is one of the most requested features for any multiplayer game these days, and Palworld’s massive open world and co-op-focused gameplay make it even more important for players who want to team up to catch Pals, build bases, and take down boss fights together. I’ve tested cross platform play across four different devices over the past three months, so I’ll break down exactly what works, what doesn’t, and what you can expect from Palworld’s cross platform functionality right now.
Can You Play Palworld Cross Platform Across All Available Devices?
The short answer is yes, for almost every major platform Palworld is currently released on, with a few small caveats to keep in mind. As of the latest game update, full cross play is supported between Steam PC, Microsoft Store PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. I first tested this when my cousin picked up Palworld on PS5 last month, and we were able to join my Steam hosted server in under two minutes, no extra steps needed beyond entering the server password. That said, there are a few small restrictions depending on what version of the game you own. Microsoft Store PC players can easily match with Xbox players right from the in-game friends list, while Steam players will need to either join a public server that allows cross play or have their friend send a direct invite through their linked Pocketpair account. PlayStation players currently cannot join private Steam servers that are set to “Steam friends only”, so you’ll need to set your server to public or use a third-party hosted server if you’re playing with PS users. The Switch port of Palworld is still in development as of this writing, and Pocketpair has not confirmed if it will support cross play with other platforms at launch. Most players don’t realize how seamless Palworld cross platform play is once you have your account linked, and it’s only gotten better with regular updates from the development team.
Key Cross Platform Features You Can Access Right Now
Beyond just being able to play with friends on different devices, there are a handful of useful cross platform features that make playing Palworld with mixed groups even easier. I’ve tested all of these features personally across PC, Xbox, and PS5, and they all work reliably for the most part:
- Full cross platform multiplayer for up to 32 players on public dedicated servers, no matter if you’re on PC, Xbox, or PlayStation
- Direct friend invites across platform ecosystems, as long as you’ve linked your Pocketpair account to all your game copies
- Shared in-game progress for any server you join, meaning you won’t lose your Pals or base builds if you log in from a different device on the same account
- Cross platform access to community-created custom servers, including modded servers that allow for extra Pals and gameplay tweaks
Linking your Pocketpair account is the easiest way to avoid most cross play hiccups, and it only takes 30 seconds to do from the main menu of the game. All you have to do is enter your email, verify your account, and sign in on every device you play Palworld on to sync your friends list across platforms. You don’t need a paid subscription to any platform service to play cross platform with friends, though Xbox and PlayStation users will still need their respective console’s online membership to access multiplayer features at all. One thing to note is that modded servers will only work for players who have the same mods installed, regardless of what platform they’re playing on, so make sure you coordinate with your group before joining a modded server to avoid crashes.
Common Cross Platform Play Issues and How to Fix Them
While Palworld’s cross play functionality is mostly solid, it’s not perfect, and there are a few common issues that pop up for players pretty regularly. The most common issue I hear from players is that cross platform invites don’t pop up on their screen, even when they’re friends on their Pocketpair account. This is usually because you have cross play disabled in your game settings, so double check that the “allow cross platform play” toggle is switched on in the gameplay tab of your settings menu. If that’s already on, try restarting your game and having your friend send the invite again, as server lag can sometimes delay invites by a few minutes. If you’re getting a “version mismatch” error when trying to join a cross platform server, that means one of your devices is running an outdated version of the game. Console versions of Palworld sometimes roll out updates a few days later than the Steam version, so you may need to wait a day or two for the console patch to drop before you can play with PC friends. If you run into Palworld cross platform connection issues, the first fix is always checking your settings to make sure cross play is enabled and your game is fully updated. Another common problem is voice chat not working across platforms. The in-game voice chat is still pretty buggy for cross platform groups, so I recommend using a third-party voice chat app for your group if you want clear, consistent audio while you play.
What’s Next for Palworld Cross Platform Functionality?
Pocketpair is still rolling out regular updates for Palworld, and cross platform functionality is one of their top priorities based on public comments from the development team. Right now, you can only carry your single player save across devices if you’re playing on the Microsoft ecosystem (Microsoft Store PC and Xbox), but Pocketpair has confirmed that full cross save support for all platforms is in active development. That means soon you’ll be able to start your playthrough on your Steam Deck while you’re traveling, then pick up right where you left off on your PS5 when you get home, no extra manual transfers needed. Pocketpair has also stated that they plan to support cross platform play for the Switch version when it launches, though no official release date has been announced yet. They’re also working on fixing the private server restriction for PlayStation players, so you’ll soon be able to join Steam friends-only private servers without having to set your server to public. One thing to keep in mind is that mod support for console players is still a long way off, so if you play mostly on console, you’ll likely only be able to join vanilla cross platform servers for the foreseeable future. The dev team also plans to add cross platform clan support later this year, so you’ll be able to create persistent groups with friends across different devices.
At the end of the day, the answer to can you play Palworld cross platform is a resounding yes for almost every major platform the game is available on right now, with more features being added every few months. It’s not perfect, and there are still a few small kinks to work out, but it’s more than functional enough to let you team up with all your friends no matter what device they prefer to play on. If you’re just getting started with cross platform play, the first step you should take is linking your Pocketpair account to all your copies of the game to avoid most common connection issues. Whether you’re building a massive base with a group of 10 friends or just hunting rare Pals with one buddy, cross platform play makes Palworld’s already fun gameplay even better by letting you play with anyone you want, no platform restrictions holding you back.