Elden Ring launched in 2022 as one of the biggest gaming releases in years, but it shipped without a feature many players expected: cross-platform multiplayer. If you bought the game on PC while your friends grabbed it on PlayStation, you discovered the hard way that you can’t play together.
The multiplayer restrictions split the community into separate platform pools, creating confusion about who can actually connect with whom. This guide breaks down exactly how Elden Ring’s multiplayer works, which platforms can play together, why crossplay doesn’t exist, and what options you have if you’re stuck on different systems.
Can you play Elden Ring cross platform?
No, Elden Ring doesn’t support cross-platform play between PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. PC players connect only with other PC players, PlayStation users stay within the PlayStation ecosystem, and Xbox players remain on Xbox servers.
The game does offer cross-generation support within the same platform family. PS4 players can summon PS5 players for co-op, and Xbox One users can join Xbox Series X|S owners, but that’s where compatibility ends.
Here’s how it breaks down:
- PC (Steam): Plays only with other PC players
- PlayStation: PS4 and PS5 share servers, isolated from Xbox and PC
- Xbox: Xbox One and Series X|S connect together, separate from PlayStation and PC
If you bought Elden Ring on Steam and your friend grabbed it on PlayStation, you can’t play together. Period.
Quick compatibility table:
| Platform | Can Play With | Cannot Play With |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | PC only | PlayStation, Xbox |
| PS4/PS5 | PS4 and PS5 | Xbox, PC |
| Xbox One/Series X|S | Xbox One and Series X|S | PlayStation, PC |
What multiplayer options does Elden Ring offer?
Understanding the difference between cross-generation and cross-platform is key here. Cross-gen lets you play with friends on different console generations within the same family (PS4 with PS5). Cross-platform would let you play across different ecosystems entirely (PlayStation with Xbox or PC) – and that’s what Elden Ring lacks.
Elden Ring’s multiplayer centers on cooperative play and PvP invasions, both limited to players on the same platform ecosystem. You can summon up to two other players for boss fights, explore the Lands Between together, or engage in duels and invasions.
Here’s what multiplayer modes are available:
- Co-op: Summon up to 2 players to help with bosses and exploration
- PvP invasions: Invade other players’ worlds or get invaded yourself
- Duels: Consensual 1v1 fights using red summon signs
- Password matchmaking: Connect with specific friends regardless of level
Cross-generation compatibility means PS5 owners can play with friends still on PS4 hardware. A PS5 player drops a summon sign, a PS4 player picks it up, and the connection works smoothly as long as both use PlayStation Network. Same deal for Xbox consoles.
The multiplayer uses a password system to connect with specific friends, while random matchmaking pairs you with whoever’s in range on your platform. Level range and weapon upgrade level affect who you can summon or invade, creating natural brackets that prevent low-level characters from getting stomped by endgame builds.
For official details on multiplayer mechanics, check out Bandai Namco’s official Elden Ring FAQ.
Important: Cross-save and cross-progression don’t exist. Your character data stays locked to whichever platform you started on.
Platform-by-platform: Who can play together?
PlayStation ecosystem
PS4 and PS5 players share the same multiplayer pool. Your buddy upgraded to a PS5 while you’re still on PS4? You can still summon each other for Malenia attempts or invade in Liurnia without issues.
The PlayStation version uses PSN for matchmaking, keeping it completely separate from Xbox and PC networks. No exceptions, no workarounds.
Xbox ecosystem
Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, and Xbox Series X|S all connect to the same servers. The cross-gen support here mirrors PlayStation – older hardware plays with newer hardware as long as everyone’s on an Xbox console.
Xbox Network handles the multiplayer backend, isolating players from other platforms. Even though Microsoft pushes crossplay hard in their first-party titles, third-party games like Elden Ring don’t automatically get the feature.
PC standalone
PC players on Steam exist in their own isolated pool. You can’t connect with console players at all, though PC typically has the most active PvP scene thanks to mouse and keyboard precision and higher frame rates.
Modding on PC adds another layer. FromSoftware’s anti-cheat blocks most online mods, but the PC version offers single-player flexibility console players don’t get.
Why doesn’t Elden Ring have full crossplay?
FromSoftware’s engine wasn’t built with cross-platform networking in mind. The studio’s history with Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro shows a consistent pattern of platform-exclusive multiplayer, likely due to technical architecture decisions made years before crossplay became standard.
Anti-cheat systems complicate things further. PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam all handle cheating prevention differently. Unifying these systems requires significant development resources and ongoing maintenance that FromSoftware apparently chose not to invest in.
Easy Anti-Cheat (which Elden Ring uses) technically supports crossplay, but implementing it across three different ecosystems means coordinating updates, patches, and ban lists across Sony, Microsoft, and Valve infrastructures simultaneously.
Publisher Bandai Namco and the platform holders (Sony, Microsoft, Valve) each have their own network policies and certification processes. Getting all three to agree on crossplay implementation involves legal agreements, revenue sharing discussions, and technical coordination that can delay or kill features entirely.
The community has been vocal about this limitation since launch. Reddit threads and Steam forums show frustrated players who bought the game on different platforms than their friends, only discovering after purchase that they can’t play together.
One Steam user summed it up perfectly: “Bought this on PC thinking I could play with my PS5 friends. Wasted $60 because I’m not buying it twice.”
Will Elden Ring ever get crossplay?
FromSoftware hasn’t made any official statements about adding crossplay to the base game. The Shadow of the Erdtree DLC released in 2024 without changing the multiplayer structure, suggesting the studio considers the current system final.
Elden Ring: Nightreign, the standalone co-op spinoff announced for 2025, follows the same cross-gen-only pattern according to Windows Central’s coverage. PS4 works with PS5, Xbox One with Series X|S, but no cross-platform support between ecosystems.
More games launch with crossplay as a standard feature now, but retrofitting it into an existing game presents bigger challenges. Games like Rocket League and Fortnite built crossplay into their architecture from day one, while adding it post-launch to Elden Ring would require rewriting core networking code.
Player counts on each platform would benefit from a unified pool, especially for PvP matchmaking in specific level ranges. Whether FromSoftware sees enough value to justify the development cost remains unclear.
The community continues pushing for it, but don’t hold your breath. If it hasn’t happened by year three, it’s probably not happening.
What are your options if you want to play with friends on other platforms?
The most straightforward solution is buying the game on the same platform your friends use. Your core group plays on PlayStation? Grab the PS5 version even if you prefer PC gaming. It sucks, but it’s the reality.
Some players buy multiple copies across platforms, though that means starting fresh each time since cross-save doesn’t exist. Your 150-hour character with every legendary weapon stays trapped on whichever platform you built it on.
PC mods claiming to enable crossplay exist, but they violate FromSoftware’s terms of service and will get you soft-banned from online play. The risk isn’t worth it for most players, especially when the mods often don’t work reliably anyway.
If you’re switching platforms and want to skip the early grind, you can get back up to speed faster with Elden Ring items from Eldorado. Starting fresh on a new platform doesn’t mean you need to farm runes for hours just to catch up to your friends.
Warning: Avoid sketchy sellers offering “crossplay unlocks” or account sharing schemes. These are scams that can get your account banned or stolen. If you’re considering buying an account on another platform, make sure you understand how to do so safely.
Your safest bet remains either convincing your friends to switch platforms or accepting that you’ll need to buy the game twice. Neither option feels great, but those are your realistic choices.
Safe trading & account solutions for multi-platform players
If you’re switching platforms or starting fresh, Eldorado.gg offers a secure marketplace for items, runes, and accounts. Here’s what to look for in a trusted seller:
- Verified seller ratings with recent positive reviews
- Secure payment processing through established payment methods
- Buyer protection guarantees that cover scams and non-delivery
- Clear communication about delivery times and methods
Eldorado’s TradeShield buying protection ensures your purchases are protected from scammers and fake sellers.
Avoid these red flags:
- Sellers promising “crossplay unlocks” or “platform transfers” (these don’t exist)
- Requests for your account password or login credentials
- Deals that seem too good to be true (they usually are)
- Sellers with no reviews or suspiciously new accounts
Stick with established marketplaces that offer buyer protection, and never share your account details with strangers.
Final thoughts: Is Elden Ring cross platform in 2026?
No, Elden Ring is not cross platform in 2026, and there’s no indication that will change. You can play cross-generation within the same console family (PS4 with PS5, Xbox One with Series X|S), but cross-platform play between PlayStation, Xbox, and PC doesn’t exist.
Your best options are buying the game on the same platform as your friends or accepting that you’ll need multiple copies if you want to play across ecosystems. It’s frustrating, especially for a game this popular, but that’s the reality FromSoftware has given us.
You’re not alone in this frustration – thousands of players discovered the hard way that Elden Ring doesn’t support crossplay. The community has adapted with platform-specific groups and workarounds, but it shouldn’t be this complicated.
Looking to connect with other Tarnished on your platform? Head over to Eldorado.gg to find co-op partners, trade items, and join a community that understands the struggle of fragmented multiplayer.
