If you’ve been looking to team up with friends playing on different consoles to catch Pals and build bases together, you’ve probably asked is Palworld cross platform xbox and ps4 at least once. It’s frustrating to grab the game on your preferred console only to realize you can’t join your crew, so we’ve broken down everything you need to know about crossplay support between the two systems, including official statements, workarounds, and what’s coming down the line. We’ve tested crossplay across every available platform ourselves, so we can give you honest, no-fluff answers instead of vague rumors you’ll find scattered on random forum threads. A lot of players reach out to us every week asking this same question, because most modern multiplayer games support crossplay across all major consoles as a standard feature.
Is Palworld Cross Platform Xbox and PS4? Official Current Support
Let’s cut straight to the most important answer first. As of the latest official patch, there is no native cross platform support between Palworld on Xbox and PS4/PS5 consoles. This means if you own Palworld on Xbox and your friend owns it on PS4, you can’t join each other’s lobbies natively right now, no matter what settings you adjust in your game or console menus.
Right now, Xbox players can only crossplay with other Xbox players and PC players who own the game through the Microsoft Store. PS4 players are limited to playing only with other PS4 and PS5 players, with no cross access to any other platforms. The PS4 version of the game launched several months after the Xbox and PC versions, so it’s still playing catchup on a lot of feature support.
You might have seen conflicting information online about this, because early marketing materials for Palworld mentioned crossplay support, but didn’t specify which platforms it applied to. That confusion led to a lot of disappointed players when the PS4 version launched without Xbox crossplay support.
Why Crossplay Between Xbox and PS4 Isn’t Available Yet
A lot of players assume devs are just holding back crossplay to force people to buy multiple copies of the game, but that’s not the case here. Crossplay development is not just a flip of a switch for indie developers need to sync patch schedules, server infrastructure, and platform approvals all have to align perfectly for it to work without bugs.
First, Sony has historically had stricter crossplay approval policies for third-party games, especially early access titles that receive frequent content updates. They require developers to meet specific security and player count requirements before greenlighting crossplay, and indie studios often wait far longer for approval than large AAA publishers.
Second, Pocketpair, the studio behind Palworld, only has around 50 full-time employees. They’ve been prioritizing fixing game-breaking bugs, adding requested quality of life features, and optimizing performance on older consoles before they divert resources to full crossplay rollout. For context, crossplay between Xbox and PC took two full months after launch to get working seamlessly for all players.
Workarounds to Play Palworld With Friends Across Xbox and PS4 Right Now
Native crossplay might not be available yet, but there are a few reliable workarounds that let you play with your friends on opposite consoles without having to buy a second copy of the game. None of these workarounds are perfect, but they work well for most casual players who just want to team up and catch Pals together.
- Use cloud gaming services to stream the same platform version: If you have a cloud gaming subscription that offers Palworld, you can stream the Xbox version on your PS4’s built-in browser, or stream the PS4 version on your Xbox’s browser, to join lobbies with friends on the other system. Just note you’ll need a fast, stable internet connection with at least 25 Mbps download speed to avoid noticeable input lag.
- Set up a shared dedicated server on PC: If one person in your friend group owns Palworld on PC, you can host a custom dedicated server that both Xbox and PS4 players can join through the custom server search menu. This is the most reliable workaround right now, with almost no lag if the host has a strong internet connection.
- Rent a third-party dedicated server: If no one in your group has a PC available to host a server, you can rent a pre-configured Palworld dedicated server from a third-party hosting service for as little as $5 a month. These servers stay online 24/7, so you don’t have to worry about the host logging off and kicking everyone out mid-game.
Dedicated server workarounds are the best for groups of 4+ players, as they support up to 32 players at once, far more than standard player lobbies. The setup process for custom servers only takes around 10 minutes, and there are plenty of simple step-by-step guides available to walk you through every part of the process.
What to Expect for Future Palworld Crossplay Support
The good news is that full crossplay across all platforms is one of Pocketpair’s top long-term development priorities. They’ve already successfully rolled out crossplay between Xbox, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, so PS4 and PS5 crossplay support is the next logical step in their roadmap.
Leaks from internal beta testers have shown that the devs are already testing crossplay between PS5 and PC, so PS4/Xbox crossplay testing is likely to start in the next few months. There’s no firm release date for the feature yet, but Pocketpair has repeatedly stated that crossplay will be added as a free, no-cost patch for all players when it’s ready.
Always check official Palworld social channels for the latest crossplay announcements, as devs post update previews every two weeks. They usually tease new features a few weeks before they launch, so you’ll have plenty of warning when PS4 and Xbox crossplay is about to drop. There’s also a good chance that cross-save support will launch alongside crossplay, so you’ll be able to transfer your existing save files between consoles if you ever switch systems.
At the end of the day, you don’t have to wait too long to get a clear answer to is Palworld cross platform xbox and ps4, even if native support isn’t available right now. If you can’t hold off on playing with your cross-console friends, the workarounds we covered will let you team up without too much extra hassle. Make sure to follow official Palworld update notes so you don’t miss the announcement when crossplay finally drops. Most importantly, don’t let missing crossplay stop you from enjoying all the chaotic Palworld fun on your own or with friends on the same platform.