What crossplay is
Crossplay, or cross-platform play, is the ability for players using different hardware platforms to play the same game together. Traditionally, a game's players were separated by the system they used, so console and PC players could not share the same matches. Crossplay removes that barrier, letting people play together regardless of the device they are on, as long as the game supports it.
Why crossplay matters
Separating players by platform divides a game's community into smaller groups, which can make it harder to find matches and splits friends who own different systems. Crossplay addresses this by uniting players into a shared pool. This means a larger population to play with, easier matchmaking, and the ability for friends to play together even if one is on a console and another on a PC.
How crossplay works
For crossplay to function, a game must be built so that its different platform versions can connect to the same online services and play together. This requires the versions to be compatible in how they communicate and share the game state. When a game supports crossplay, its servers bring players from different platforms into the same sessions, so the underlying differences between systems are hidden during play.
Challenges of crossplay
Enabling crossplay is not always simple. Different platforms can have differences that must be reconciled, and there are considerations around fairness when players use different kinds of controls. Games sometimes offer options related to crossplay so players can choose their experience. These challenges are part of why crossplay took time to become common, even though the benefits to players are clear.
The growth of crossplay
Crossplay has become increasingly common in online games as its advantages have become widely recognized. Uniting players across platforms keeps communities larger and healthier, which benefits both players and the games themselves. What was once unusual is now a frequently expected feature, with many major online games supporting play across different systems to keep their player base connected.
Why it matters
Crossplay reshapes online gaming by letting people play together regardless of their chosen platform, strengthening communities and connecting friends. Understanding what crossplay is - cross-platform play that unites players on different systems - clarifies why it has become a sought-after feature. For anyone who plays online games, crossplay is an important and increasingly standard concept.
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See also: PC game stores explained: Steam, Epic, GOG, What is cloud gaming and how it works.
Sources
Published date reflects the original event date (2023-04-25). This article is original Skillo editorial written from the sources above; facts were verified in September 2026.
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