Table of Contents

Understanding Crossplay Limitations in Risk of Rain 2

If you are wondering whether you can team up with friends on different gaming systems, the short answer is that Risk of Rain 2 does not support cross-platform play between PC and consoles. Players on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch are restricted to playing with others on their respective console families. There is no functionality that allows a PC player to join a session hosted on a console, or vice versa.

While the game features a "crossplay" toggle in its settings, it is important to clarify that this option specifically facilitates cross-store compatibility between the Steam and Epic Games Store versions on PC. It does not bridge the gap between PC and console hardware.

How to Enable Crossplay Between Steam and Epic Games Store

For those playing on PC, the game allows for a seamless experience between Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you want to play with friends using a different PC storefront, follow these steps:

  • Initial Setup: When you first enter the multiplayer menu after an update, you may see a notification regarding crossplay. You can enable it there or navigate to the "Gameplay" section in your settings menu.
  • Restart Required: After toggling the crossplay option to "On," you must restart the game for the network rules to update properly.
  • Account Linking: To invite friends from the Epic Games Store while playing on Steam, go to the Options menu and select the account linking feature. You will be prompted to sign in or create an Epic account to link your profiles.
  • Managing Sessions: Once enabled, you can join sessions via the server browser or by using a Lobby ID. Note that players who have opted into crossplay cannot join sessions hosted by those who have the feature disabled; ensure all members of your party share the same preference.

Tip

If you are having trouble connecting to a friend, verify that both players have the same crossplay preference enabled. Mismatched settings are a common cause of "failed to join" errors.

Troubleshooting Multiplayer Connectivity

Beyond the crossplay settings, technical issues can occasionally prevent successful connections. According to community reports, if you are struggling to host or join a lobby, consider these standard troubleshooting steps:

  • Version Mismatch: Ensure all players have updated the game to the latest patch. Even minor version differences between players can prevent the game from establishing a stable connection.
  • Lobby Privacy: Check your party privacy settings. If your lobby is set to "Private," your friends may be unable to see your invite or join your game directly.
  • Network Environment: If invites are failing despite correct settings, check for firewall restrictions or NAT type issues on your router. A full restart of the game client on every player's system is often the quickest way to resolve intermittent handshake errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play with my friends on Xbox if I am on PC? No. Risk of Rain 2 does not support crossplay between PC and any console platform. You must be on the same platform family to play together.

Does disabling crossplay affect my Steam-only experience? No. If you prefer to only play with other Steam users, you can leave crossplay disabled. It is an entirely optional feature that does not change the core gameplay or the ability to play with other Steam users.

Will cross-platform play ever be added? As of October 2026, there is no official information or roadmap suggesting that full cross-platform play between consoles and PC will be implemented. The current multiplayer architecture relies on platform-specific APIs, which makes such integration a significant technical challenge.

Related Guides

In this category

A Guide to Multiplayer in Risk of Rain 2: Teamwork and Challenges

Master the multiplayer experience in Risk of Rain 2 with practical tips on loot sharing, character synergy, and coordinating runs for better team success.

Continue reading
In this category

Risk of Rain 2 Steam Player Count: Current Statistics and Trends

Explore real-time and historical Steam player count data for Risk of Rain 2. Discover how community activity and updates shape the game's concurrent player trends.

Continue reading
In this category

Risk of Rain 2 on Nintendo Switch: Performance, Gameplay, and Tips

Explore the Risk of Rain 2 experience on Nintendo Switch. Learn about performance, gyro controls, difficulty management, and multiplayer features.

Continue reading
In this category

Is Risk of Rain 2 on Xbox Game Pass? Current Availability Explained

Find out if Risk of Rain 2 is available on Xbox or PC Game Pass and explore the best ways to play this roguelike shooter on your preferred platform.

Continue reading

References