Is Valheim Cross Platform (What You Need to Know)

Yes, Valheim is cross platform. Today, crossplay works between Steam, the Microsoft Store version on PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox consoles. When Valheim 1.0 launches on September 9, 2026, Iron Gate has confirmed full crossplay will expand to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, letting players across every supported platform share the same world.

Valheim crossplay is a pretty big deal. It's much easier to survive a Troll encounter, haul a ridiculous amount of iron back from the Swamp, or build the Viking village of your dreams when your entire friend group can actually play together.

The good news is that Valheim has supported cross-platform multiplayer since 2022, and that support is about to expand to every major platform at once.

Here's what works now, what changes with Valheim 1.0, and how to get your cross-platform crew into the same world.

#Is Valheim Cross Platform Right Now?

Yes. As of September 2, 2026, Valheim crossplay works between PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox.

That currently includes players using:

• Steam on Windows, Linux and Mac
• The Microsoft Store version on Windows
• The Humble Store version
• The Mac App Store version
• Xbox One
• Xbox Series X|S

Steam players can join Xbox players, Microsoft Store players can join Steam players, and mixed PC/Mac/Xbox groups can all adventure in the same Valheim world.

One point worth clearing up: Valheim was part of Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, but it left the service on September 30, 2024, and Iron Gate's official 1.0 platform list doesn't include it. If you're coming back to Valheim after a break and remember installing it through Game Pass, you'll need to buy a copy on one of the storefronts above. Game Pass catalogues do rotate, so it's worth a quick check on the Xbox store before you assume either way.

There's also one important timing detail.

PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions are not available yet. They launch alongside Valheim 1.0 on September 9, 2026. Iron Gate has confirmed that the 1.0 release will feature full crossplay between all supported platforms.

So if you're asking 'is Valheim cross platform' because you have one friend on Steam, another on Xbox, and someone waiting for the PS5 version, the answer is essentially yes - with PS5 and Switch 2 joining the party at the 1.0 launch.

#Which Platforms Support Valheim Crossplay?

Here's the easiest way to see where things stand.

There is no announced PS4 version, and the Nintendo release is for Switch 2 specifically, rather than the original Nintendo Switch.

Crossplay also doesn't mean a free copy on every platform. Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo and the rest are all separate purchases, and Iron Gate hasn't announced any cross-buy programme. Buying Valheim on Steam won't hand you the PS5 version. Crossplay simply means those players can meet in the same multiplayer world.

#What Changes for Valheim Crossplay Groups on September 9?

Valheim 1.0 isn't just a version number. It's the reason a lot of groups are re-forming right now, so it's worth knowing what's landing.

The headline addition is the Deep North, Valheim's final biome - a frozen endgame region with new enemies, materials and building options. It arrives at the same moment PS5 and Switch 2 players get the game for the first time, which means a lot of mixed-platform crews are about to start fresh worlds together.

Two practical things to note if you're planning a group run:

• The price goes up. Iron Gate has confirmed Valheim moves to $29.99 at 1.0, with possible regional differences. Anyone still on the fence about joining your crew is better off buying before launch day.
• Existing owners don't pay again. Your Early Access copy just updates, same as every previous patch. The download is around 4.3GB on most platforms.

Iron Gate also notes that while old worlds keep working, new biome generation only applies to areas you haven't explored yet - so if the Deep North is the goal, a fresh world is the cleaner option for the whole group.

#How Does Valheim Crossplay Work?

Thankfully, Valheim doesn't make cross-platform multiplayer particularly complicated.

Under the hood, Valheim runs two separate networking backends. The original Steam backend only lets Steam users see and join a server. The crossplay backend routes traffic through a relay, which is what lets Xbox (and soon PS5 and Switch 2) players connect. Enabling crossplay is really just a matter of telling Valheim to use the second one.

Crossplay works whether the world is hosted from someone's game or from a dedicated server. The main thing is making sure the session has crossplay switched on.

#How to Host a Crossplay World

For a regular multiplayer session:

1. Launch Valheim and select your character.
2. Choose the world you want to play.
3. Make sure Crossplay is enabled when starting the server.
4. Enter the world.
5. Open the pause menu to find the server's Join Code.
6. Send that Join Code to your friends.

Iron Gate specifically recommends using these Join Codes when connecting players across different platforms.

#How to Join a Crossplay World

If your friend is hosting:

1. Open Valheim.
2. Select Join Game.
3. Choose Add Server (this appears as Join IP in some versions).
4. Enter the Join Code provided by the host.
5. Enter the server password if required.
6. Join the world and start questioning why everyone volunteered you to collect copper again.

The Join Code is particularly useful for cross-platform groups because you don't need to rely on Steam invites or platform-specific friend systems.

#How to Enable Crossplay on a Dedicated Server

If you're running Valheim's dedicated server software yourself, crossplay needs to be enabled in the server configuration.

The important launch parameter is:

-crossplay

This switches the server onto the PlayFab relay backend. Leave it out and you're on the Steam backend, where only Steam users can see or join the world.

There's a genuinely useful side effect here that a lot of guides bury: a crossplay server doesn't need port forwarding. Because traffic goes through Iron Gate's relay rather than directly to your machine, you can skip the router configuration entirely. The trade-off is that you can't connect to a crossplay server over a local or loopback IP address - you'll need the public address or the Join Code, even from the same house.

Once the server is running with crossplay enabled, players connect using its Join Code.

Everyone should also be running a compatible version of Valheim. If one player hasn't updated after a patch, they may receive an incompatible-version error or fail to connect.

#Do You Need a Dedicated Server for Valheim Crossplay?

No. Valheim crossplay does not require a dedicated server.

One player can host a world through the game and invite everyone else using the Join Code.

The downside is that the world only stays available while that player is hosting it. If they log off halfway through the evening, everyone else is done too.

There's a second wrinkle that matters more once consoles enter the picture: console players can't run Valheim's dedicated server software. The server tool is a PC download. If your group is mostly on PS5, Switch 2 or Xbox, a persistent world has to come from either a PC friend who's willing to leave a machine running or a hosted server.

A dedicated server makes more sense when your group:

• Plays at different times of day
• Wants the world available without one specific player online
• Has several regular players
• Wants a persistent community world
• Is spread across consoles, where nobody can host one themselves
• Doesn't want one person's PC handling the server every session

For that kind of group, using reliable Valheim server hosting with Shockbyte keeps your world running independently, so players can jump in whenever they're free instead of waiting for the usual host to come online.

That becomes especially useful once PS5 and Switch 2 players join Valheim, as mixed-platform groups tend to have even more varied playing schedules.

#Do You Need PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online?

If your crew includes console players, this is the one cost that catches people out.

The PlayStation Store listing for Valheim states that online multiplayer requires a PlayStation Plus subscription, in line with most PS5 multiplayer titles. Iron Gate hasn't published Switch 2 specifics yet, but Nintendo Switch Online is normally required for online play on Nintendo hardware, so budget for it until confirmed otherwise.

Xbox players will need the usual Xbox subscription for online multiplayer on console, and PC players don't need anything beyond the game itself. Crossplay is a free feature of the base game - you're only paying your platform holder, not Iron Gate.

#Is Valheim Crossplay the Same as Cross-Save?

No, and this is one of the easiest parts of Valheim's platform support to misunderstand.

Crossplay means players on different platforms can play together.

Cross-save means your own character or save data follows you when you move between platforms.

Valheim has broad crossplay support, but cross-save is much more limited.

Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ confirms that Xbox players can access their saves from a PC when using the Microsoft Store version. Beyond that Microsoft ecosystem, the FAQ is explicit that there's no cross-platform sync for save files.

That means you shouldn't expect to:

• Create a character on Steam and automatically find it on PS5
• Start a PS5 world and continue that same save on PC
• Move your progression freely between Switch 2, Xbox and Steam

Your PS5 friend can still join the same crossplay server as you. They'll simply be using the character and save data associated with their own platform.

For most multiplayer groups, the easiest approach is to keep the world on a dedicated server and let everyone connect to it from their preferred system. The world lives in one place; each player just brings their own Viking.

#How Many Players Can Use Valheim Crossplay?

Valheim supports up to 10 players in the same world, and Iron Gate has confirmed that limit is unchanged at 1.0.

That cap applies whether your group is entirely on one platform or spread across several. It's a total, not a per-platform allowance.

For example, after the 1.0 launch, a single server could include a mix of:

• 3 Steam players
• 2 Xbox players
• 2 PS5 players
• 2 Switch 2 players
• 1 Microsoft Store player

That still gives you one 10-player Viking crew sharing the same world.

Whether you can convince all ten to agree on where to build the main base is a completely different problem.

#Can You Use Mods With Valheim Crossplay?

This is where things get a little messier.

Valheim does not have official mod support, and Iron Gate's 1.0 FAQ restates that clearly: no guarantee that mods will work at launch, no console mod support, and no Steam Workshop. The popular PC modding ecosystem relies on third-party tools such as BepInEx and Thunderstore, which console players simply cannot install.

In practice, that gives you a fairly hard split. Server-side-only mods (the kind that change world behaviour without needing anything installed on each client) can still work on a crossplay server. But the moment a mod requires every player to install files locally, your console friends are locked out, and you're effectively running a Steam-only world.

So if your goal is the smoothest possible Valheim crossplay experience, especially once PS5 and Switch 2 arrive, sticking close to vanilla is the safest option. It's also worth remembering that after an update as large as 1.0, most mods take days or weeks to become compatible again.

You can still customise your experience using Valheim's built-in world modifiers, which adjust combat difficulty, death penalties, resource rates, raids and portal rules without requiring anyone to install third-party files. For a cross-platform group, that's usually a much cleaner setup than asking why the Xbox player mysteriously exploded after the Steam host installed 37 mods at 2 AM.

#What If Valheim Crossplay Isn't Working?

Crossplay is relatively straightforward, but a few things can stop players from connecting.

#Check That Everyone Has Updated Valheim

Players should be running compatible versions of the game. Your patch version is shown in the bottom-right of the main menu, so it's easy to compare. After a new patch, restart Steam, the Xbox app, or your console and check for updates.

#Make Sure Crossplay Is Enabled

A PC-hosted session or dedicated server needs crossplay enabled if Xbox or other platform users are joining. For dedicated servers, double-check that the -crossplay parameter is active. Most managed hosts ship with it switched on, but it's worth confirming in your control panel.

#Use the Join Code

For mixed-platform groups, use the server's Join Code rather than relying on Steam invitations or platform-specific friends lists. The host can find the Join Code from the pause menu, and self-hosted servers print it in the console log at startup.

#Don't Use a Local IP Address

If you're testing a crossplay server from the same network, a local (192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) or loopback address won't work. Crossplay servers run through a relay, so you need the public address or the Join Code.

#Check Xbox Privacy Settings

Xbox account privacy or parental-control settings can prevent cross-network multiplayer. If crossplay options appear to be missing or an Xbox user consistently fails to connect, check the Xbox account's communication and multiplayer permissions. PS5 and Switch 2 accounts will have equivalent settings worth checking from September 9.

#Restart the Server After Updates

If Valheim has just received an update, a dedicated server may need restarting and updating before players on the latest client version can connect again.

#Does Valheim Have Crossplay Between PC and Xbox?

Yes. Valheim has crossplay between PC and Xbox, including Steam and Microsoft Store players.

Crossplay support arrived in September 2022, ahead of Valheim's Xbox launch in March 2023, and PC and Xbox players have been able to share worlds ever since - provided the multiplayer session or dedicated server is configured for crossplay.

You don't need to own the game through the same storefront as your friends. A Steam player can play with an Xbox player without ever touching the Microsoft Store version.

#Will Valheim Be Crossplay on PS5 and Switch 2?

Yes. If you've been wondering 'will Valheim be crossplay' when it reaches more consoles, Iron Gate has already confirmed the answer.

Valheim 1.0 launches September 9, 2026 with full crossplay between supported platforms, including the new PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 versions.

That means players on PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox, PS5 and Switch 2 will be able to adventure together in a single world.

Just remember that this functionality goes live with those versions on September 9 - it isn't available on PlayStation or Switch 2 before the games themselves release.

#Valheim Crossplay FAQ

#Is Valheim crossplay?

Yes. Valheim is crossplay between its current PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox versions. Full crossplay expands to PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 when Valheim 1.0 launches on September 9, 2026.

#Does Valheim have crossplay between Steam and Xbox?

Yes. Steam and Xbox players can join the same Valheim world. Make sure crossplay is enabled and use the server's Join Code to connect.

#Does Valheim have crossplay with PS5?

It will from September 9, 2026, when Valheim launches on PS5 alongside version 1.0. Iron Gate has confirmed full crossplay between all supported platforms.

#Can PS5 and PC play Valheim together?

Yes, once the PS5 version launches on September 9, 2026. PS5 players will be able to join PC players through Valheim's cross-platform multiplayer.

#Is Valheim cross platform between Xbox and PS5?

It will be from September 9, 2026. Both Xbox and PS5 are included in Iron Gate's announced full crossplay support for Valheim 1.0.

#Is Valheim on Game Pass?

Not currently. Valheim was on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass but left the service on September 30, 2024, and it isn't listed among the 1.0 storefronts. You'll need to buy it on Steam, the Microsoft Store, Humble, the Mac App Store, or a console storefront.

#Is there cross-buy between platforms?

No. Each platform is a separate purchase, and Iron Gate hasn't announced any cross-buy programme. Buying Valheim on Steam doesn't give you the PS5 or Switch 2 version.

#Does Valheim support cross-save?

Only in limited circumstances. Xbox and the Microsoft Store PC version support shared saves within Microsoft's ecosystem. General cross-save between Steam, PS5, Switch 2 and other platforms is not supported.

#Do I need PlayStation Plus to play Valheim crossplay?

The PlayStation Store listing states that online multiplayer requires PS Plus. PC players don't need any equivalent subscription, and Iron Gate doesn't charge anything for crossplay itself.

#Do I need a dedicated server for crossplay?

No. You can host a crossplay world directly from Valheim. A dedicated server is mainly useful if you want the shared world available 24/7 without depending on one player being online - and it's the only realistic option for a group made up mostly of console players, since consoles can't run the server software.

#Does Valheim crossplay work on Mac and Linux?

Yes. Valheim's Steam builds for Linux and Mac, plus the Mac App Store version, all use the same crossplay backend as Windows.

#Is Valheim Cross Platform? The Final Answer

Yes - and Valheim is about to become considerably more cross-platform friendly.

Right now, PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox players can already explore, build, sail and get absolutely demolished by Deathsquitos together. On September 9, 2026, Valheim 1.0 expands that crossplay support to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, alongside the Deep North.

For a couple of friends playing occasionally, hosting directly from the game works perfectly well. For a larger crew that wants one persistent Viking world everyone can access whenever they like - particularly a crew with console players who can't host at all - a dedicated crossplay-enabled server is the more convenient option.

Either way, the important part is simple: your choice of platform doesn't have to split up the crew.

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