Is Elden Ring Cross Platform? No, Here’s Who Can Play Together
Is Elden Ring cross platform? No: PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch 2 players can't play together. Only cross-generation works within one console family.
No, Elden Ring is not cross platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch 2 players can’t play together as of November 2026. The only mixing allowed is cross-generation within one console family, so PS4 plays with PS5 and Xbox One plays with Xbox Series X|S, the same rules that have applied since the game’s February 2022 launch. The Switch 2 version, Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, arrived August 28, 2026 with online play for Switch 2 owners only.
So “is Elden Ring crossplay?” has a short answer and a slightly longer one. Here’s the longer one.
Is Elden Ring cross platform anywhere? The platform breakdown
Think of it as four separate pools of players: PlayStation (PS4 and PS5), Xbox (Xbox One and Series X|S), Steam and Switch 2. This table is based on FromSoftware’s official game FAQ (checked November 2026), the PlayStation Store listing, and Nintendo’s Tarnished Edition page.
| Your platform | Can play with | Can’t play with | Online needs |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS5 / PS4 | Each other | Xbox, PC, Switch 2 | PlayStation Plus |
| Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One | Each other | PlayStation, PC, Switch 2 | Game Pass Essential or higher |
| PC (Steam, incl. Steam Deck) | Other Steam players | All consoles | No subscription |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Other Switch 2 players | PlayStation, Xbox, PC | Nintendo Switch Online |
The PlayStation Store listing notes PS Plus is required for online play and supports up to six online players. On Switch 2, Nintendo’s page lists online play for 1 to 6 players with a paid Nintendo Switch Online membership. On Xbox, Microsoft’s store says console online multiplayer needs Game Pass Essential, Premium or Ultimate.
Can PC and PS5 play Elden Ring together?
No. A PS5 player can only summon, join or be invaded by PS4 and PS5 players. The same wall stands between Xbox and PlayStation, and between Xbox and PC. Elden Ring on PC is a Steam game, so Steam is its own pool; there’s no Microsoft Store or Game Pass PC version that would link it to Xbox.
Can Steam Deck play Elden Ring with PC players?
Yes. Steam Deck runs the same Steam version as a desktop PC, so a Steam Deck player and a Windows PC player share one pool. That’s not crossplay, just one platform on two kinds of hardware.
Does the Switch 2 version have crossplay?
No. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition launched on Switch 2 on August 28, 2026, bundling the base game, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion and new Torrent customization, per Nintendo’s product page. Online co-op and PvP work, but only with other Switch 2 players.
The spin-off follows the same rule. FromSoftware’s FAQ says Elden Ring Nightreign, the co-op roguelike, doesn’t support crossplay across console makers either: only PS4 with PS5, Xbox One with Xbox Series X|S, and Steam with Steam.
Is Elden Ring cross-progression or cross-save?
No. Your character lives on the platform family where you made it. There’s no account system that carries a save from PlayStation to PC, or Xbox to Switch 2. If you switch platforms, you start over. Industry-wide cross-save is on the way for new games; platform holders have confirmed a cross-save standard for 2027 releases, but that’s aimed at future titles, not a 2022 game.
Can you move a PS4 save to PS5?
Yes. FromSoftware’s FAQ says to copy the save to your PS5 with Sony’s data transfer, start the PS5 version and pick “Convert Save Data” on the title screen. That overwrites any existing PS5 save, so only do it if the PS4 character is the one you want to keep.
How to play Elden Ring with friends when you’re split
Run the numbers on your group before anyone buys a copy. A worked example: four friends own a PS5, a PS4, a Steam Deck and a Switch 2. The PS5 and PS4 players can co-op together. The Steam Deck and Switch 2 owners are each on their own island. Best case, two of the four play together. Move the Steam Deck owner and the Switch 2 owner to PlayStation and all four share one pool.
If your group is truly scattered, the fix is hardware, not settings. Our guide to which console to buy in late 2026 helps if someone is choosing a platform anyway. Once you’re on the same family, set a matching multiplayer password in the game’s network settings so your summon signs show up for each other first.
For a game with partial crossplay, see our Deep Rock Galactic crossplay guide; our answers on Battlefront 2 crossplay and Red Dead Redemption 2 crossplay cover two more big multiplayer games.
FAQ
Will Elden Ring ever get crossplay?
Nothing official says it will. Bandai Namco and FromSoftware haven’t announced crossplay for Elden Ring, and the newer Nightreign and the August 2026 Switch 2 release both launched without it. FromSoftware’s earlier Souls games never added full crossplay either, so we wouldn’t plan a group around it changing.
Why isn’t Elden Ring cross platform?
FromSoftware has never given a public reason. Its official FAQ only states that Elden Ring and Nightreign don’t support crossplay across console makers. Our take: with no change in more than four years, including the 2026 Switch 2 release, treat your platform’s pool as permanent when your group picks where to play.
Can Xbox and PS5 play Elden Ring together?
No. Xbox players, whether on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, can only play with other Xbox players. PS5 players are limited to PS5 and PS4. Different console makers’ versions of Elden Ring are kept in separate online pools, and there’s no setting that links them.
Same family, same game. Pick a platform together and the Lands Between opens up.
Cassia Fenwick
Cassia Fenwick is a staff writer at Console Alley, covering console gaming from the latest hardware questions to the games players return to for years. Her work moves across news, practical guides, reviews, gaming gear, and the wider culture around games. Whether she is breaking down a new console feature or explaining a mechanic in a familiar favorite, she writes with a straightforward goal: help readers understand what matters and what to do next. She pays particular attention to the small details that shape the playing experience. A controller compatibility rule, a battery-life setting, a difficult-to-find resource, or a change introduced by a game update can make the difference between a frustrating evening and a rewarding one. Her published coverage includes Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 questions, Terraria, Stardew Valley, and The Sims 4, with explanations that welcome readers who may be discovering a game for the first time or returning after time away. Cassia's style is clear, patient, and grounded in practical examples. Rather than assuming readers already know the terminology, she begins with the question at hand, adds the context that genuinely helps, and keeps instructions easy to follow. She is interested not only in how a feature works, but also why its design matters—especially when a small interaction, interface decision, or unexpected mechanic changes how a game feels. Outside her gaming coverage, Cassia enjoys colorful postcards, making books, and noticing the shapes, colors, and details built into everyday objects. That curiosity carries naturally into her writing, where overlooked features and thoughtful design can provide a fresh way to look at a game. Her aim is for every article to be useful on its own: approachable enough for a newcomer, specific enough for someone looking for a quick answer, and enjoyable enough to leave readers with something new to explore.
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