Is Arc Raiders Crossplay: The Guide for PS5, Xbox & PC
First Things First – Is Arc Raiders Crossplay?
You know what? Nothing kills the vibe faster than realizing your best friend is on Xbox, you’re on PS5, and the game you’ve been hyping up for months doesn’t let you play together. It’s the worst. So, let’s get straight to the point: Is Arc Raiders crossplay supported? Yes.
Honestly, it would have been a massive miss if Embark Studios skipped this. The game supports full cross-platform play right out of the gate. Whether you’re on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, or PC, you can squad up without any barriers. You don’t need to jump through weird hoops or download third-party apps. It just works.
But here’s the thing – it’s not just about being able to play together. It’s about how the system handles the matchmaking pool. Since the game shifted from a free-to-play model to a premium $40 price tag, keeping the player base healthy is crucial. Crossplay in Arc Raiders ensures that whether you’re logging in at 3 AM on a Tuesday or during a prime-time weekend event, you’re going to find a match.
Is Arc Raiders Crossplay: The “Console-Only” Dilemma
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “That’s great, but I don’t want to get beamed by a PC player with a mouse and keyboard while I’m on my controller.”
It’s a fair concern. In many shooters, console players like to turn off crossplay to avoid the “PC advantage” or the occasional cheater. Here is where it gets a little tricky with Arc Raiders. While you can turn crossplay off in the settings, the game doesn’t currently support a “Console-Only” pool. If you disable crossplay on your PS5, you won’t be matched with Xbox players. You are matched only with other PS5 players who also have crossplay disabled.
And let me tell you, that is a lonely place to be. You might be waiting in queues for a long time. So, while the option is there, the game really wants you to play with everyone.
Is Arc Raiders Crossplay Feature Confirmed by Developers?
Okay, let’s look at the technical side. Is Arc Raiders crossplay implementation robust enough for the long haul? Embark Studios has a pretty solid track record here (remember The Finals?). They use their own Embark ID system to bridge the gap between Steam, PlayStation Network, and Xbox Live. When you boot up the game, you’re essentially logging into their ecosystem, which is the glue holding everything together.
This system is what allows you to see your Steam friends while you’re playing on Xbox. It handles the invites, the voice chat, and the party management.
Why Does This Matter?
Because relying on platform-specific invites (like inviting directly through the PSN dashboard) can be buggy when your friend is on a different system. Using the in-game social menu via the Embark ID is a smooth way to do it.
Another detail people often miss is the input matchmaking. The devs have been tweaking aim assist to ensure controller players can hang with the mouse-and-keyboard crowd. It’s not perfect – it never is – but it feels decent. You won’t feel like you’re bringing a knife to a gunfight just because you prefer a gamepad.
Arc Raiders – Platform Availability & Specs (As of February 2026)
If you’re trying to figure out where to buy it or if your rig can handle it, check this out.
| Platform | Crossplay Status | Performance Target | Input Support |
| PlayStation 5 | Enabled by Default | 60 FPS | Controller (DualSense) |
| Xbox Series X | Enabled by Default | 60 FPS | Controller |
| Xbox Series S | Enabled by Default | 30-60 FPS (Variable) | Controller |
| PC (Steam/Epic) | Enabled by Default | Uncapped (Hardware dependent) | KBM & Controller |
A quick note for Xbox players: There is a sweet bonus called Xbox Play Anywhere. If you buy the digital version on the Xbox Store, you get the PC version (Windows Store) for free, and your progress syncs perfectly. It’s a steal if you switch between a console in the living room and a PC in the den.
Is Arc Raiders Crossplay Progression Coming Too?
So, we know we can play together, but is Arc Raiders crossplay progression a thing? Absolutely. This is arguably more important than crossplay for some of us. Cross-progression (or cross-save) means your loot, your level, and your extraction stats travel with you.
Here is how it works:
- You create an Embark ID.
- You link your PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam accounts to that single ID on the Embark website.
- That’s it.
If you grind for six hours on your PC and finally extract with that rare loot you’ve been hunting, it’ll be there waiting for you when you log into your PS5 later that night.
But there is a catch.
Virtual currency often doesn’t travel. If you buy “Raider Coins” (or whatever the premium currency is called this week) on the PlayStation Store, they usually stay on PlayStation. The items you buy with them will transfer, but the unspent coins might not. It’s a licensing thing with Sony and Microsoft, not the devs trying to be annoying.
Also, be careful when unlinking accounts. If you unlink a platform from your Embark ID, you could temporarily lose access to that progress until you re-link it. Don’t mess around with those settings unless you really have to.
The Reality of Premium vs. Free-to-Play
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Arc Raiders was supposed to be free. Now it’s $40. How does this impact crossplay in Arc Raiders?
In a free-to-play game, player counts are massive. You don’t really worry about queue times. With a paid entry fee, the player base is naturally smaller (though more dedicated). This makes crossplay essential.
If the devs had walled off PlayStation from Xbox, the matchmaking pools would shrink too fast as the game ages. By forcing everyone together, they ensure the game stays alive for years rather than months. It’s a smart move, even if it annoys the “console wars” purists.
Preparing Your Squad for the Crossplay Match
If you are the “tech support” friend in your group (we all have one), here is what you need to tell your buddies before they buy:
- Discord is King: The in-game voice chat is fine, but since Discord is now integrated on both PS5 and Xbox, just use that. It’s clearer and doesn’t cut out during loading screens.
- Check Your Region: Crossplay works globally, but lag does not. If you are playing with a friend in Europe and you are in the US West, one of you is going to have a bad time. Try to find a server midway if the game allows region selection, or just accept the high ping.
- Embark ID Numbers: When adding a friend, you need the numbers after their name (e.g., RaiderOne#1234). Don’t forget them.
Comparing Extraction Shooters
It’s crowded out there. Here is how Arc Raiders stacks up against the competition regarding accessibility.
| Feature | Arc Raiders | Escape From Tarkov | Hunt: Showdown 1896 |
| Crossplay | Yes (Full) | No (PC only) | Yes (Console only) |
| Cross-Progression | Yes | No | No |
| Price | $40 | $50+ | $30+ |
| Console Ports | Yes | No | Yes |
You see the difference? Tarkov is still PC only. Hunt has crossplay between consoles, but PC is kept separate. Arc Raiders is the only one in this specific “high-fidelity extraction” niche that truly throws everyone into the same bucket. It’s risky, but it feels like the future.
Is Arc Raiders Crossplay: Common Issues and Quick Fixes
Look, technology breaks. It happens. Here are a few hiccups you might run into with Arc Raiders’ crossplay settings:
- “I can’t hear my teammates”. Check your “Voice Chat Channel.” Sometimes it defaults to “Team” instead of “Party.” If you are in a cross-platform party, you want to be in the Party channel.
- “My friend appears offline”. This is usually an Embark ID sync issue. Have them restart the game. If that fails, remove them and re-add them using the full ID.
- “I turned off crossplay and can’t find a match”. Yeah, turn it back on. Seriously. The “same-platform-only” pool is a ghost town.
FAQ
Can I play with PS5 friends if I am on PC?
Yes, absolutely. You just need to add them via their Embark ID in the social menu.
Is there a console-only crossplay setting?
No. You can turn crossplay off entirely (playing only with your specific platform), but you cannot group Xbox and PS5 while excluding PC.
Do I need to buy the game twice for cross-progression?
Yes. If you want to play on both PS5 and PC, you need to buy a copy for each. However, Xbox Play Anywhere covers both Xbox and the Windows Store versions.
Does Arc Raiders have aim assist for controllers on PC?
Yes, controller support on PC includes aim assist to keep things balanced against keyboard and mouse players.
Is voice chat cross-platform?
Yes, the in-game Vivox system works across all platforms. Discord is also a great alternative supported on consoles now.
Can I transfer my skins from PS5 to Xbox?
Yes, all cosmetics and progress travel with you via your Embark account.
Is Arc Raiders crossplay free-to-play now?
No, it shifted to a premium model (around $40) before launch to ensure a higher quality experience without aggressive monetization.
Conclusion
So, is Arc Raiders crossplay worth the hype? It’s solid. Embark Studios didn’t overcomplicate it. They gave us a unified system that lets us play with our friends regardless of hardware, and they backed it up with seamless cross-progression.
Sure, the lack of a “Console-Only” toggle might annoy some purists who hate fighting PC players, but for the health of the game and the speed of matchmaking, it was the right call. The extraction shooter genre is brutal enough without having to fight the menus just to get into a game.
Get your squad ready, sync your accounts, and watch your back-because it doesn’t matter what platform the enemy is on; they all want your loot just the same.
See you in the drop zone.
P.S. Show some love and support to YaninaGames by spreading this post across all your social networks and bookmarking it right now. Want to discuss creative concepts or explore commercial opportunities together? Don’t hesitate – write directly to the ObserverGames team anytime!