Is Palworld crossplay or cross-platform?

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Palworld's crossplay and cross-platform capabilities are still yet to come.

Palworld
(Image credit: Pocketpair)

Palworld crossplay has been one of the most requested features since the game's launch, and while it's not in the game yet, Pocketpair are working on it. The game's base-building and Pal-collecting mechanics mean it's nicely geared towards being a highly social game, and while you can play Palworld with other players, you're limited to those on the same platform or version of the game as you for now. So, we've laid out the details on Palworld's crossplay capabilities below and whether they're liable to change in updates to come.

Does Palworld have crossplay and cross platform?

No, Palworld does not have crossplay or cross-platform functionality between Steam, Xbox, or PS5. Although, there is crossplay for Xbox players and PC players that have Palworld because they bought it on the Microsoft Store or have a PC Game Pass subscription - the Xbox and PC Microsoft Store/Game Pass versions are effectively the same version of the game, hence why they are compatible but the Steam version is not.

Thankfully, developer Pocketpair has said that it is working on implementing crossplay functionality to Palworld, but there is no official word on when this will be just yet, even now that the game is out on PS5. Hopefully when the feature launches, it'll include full crossplay for all available platforms, including PS5, letting you build bases and set your Pals to work with whoever you want.

So, for now, Palworld multiplayer is limited to fellow Pal collectors on the same platform as you (or the same version in the case of Xbox and PC), and since there's also no cross-progression, you'll need to start over if you switch to a different version of the game (though Xbox players retain their progress, even if they switch to playing on PC via Game Pass or vice versa!). We recommend watching the Palworld Discord server for any news and details about when the feature is going to be implemented.

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Joel Franey
Joel Franey
Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

Joel Franey is a writer, journalist, podcaster and Very Tired Man with a BA from Brunel University, a Masters from Sussex University and a decade working in games journalism, often focused on guides coverage but also in reviews, features and news. His love of games is strongest when it comes to groundbreaking narratives like Disco Elysium, UnderTale and Baldur's Gate 3, as well as innovative or refined gameplay experiences like XCOM, Sifu, Arkham Asylum or Slay the Spire. He is a firm believer that the vast majority of games would be improved by adding a grappling hook, and if they already have one, they should probably add another just to be safe. You can find old work of his at Eurogamer, Gfinity, USgamer, SFX Magazine, RPS, Dicebreaker, VG247, and more.

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