If you're trying to squad up with friends on different systems, here's the answer right away: is elden ring crossplay supported in 2026? No—at least not in the full cross-platform sense most players mean. Elden Ring still keeps PlayStation, Xbox, and PC in separate multiplayer ecosystems, so a Steam player can't co-op with someone on PS5, and Xbox players still can't connect with PlayStation hosts. In this guide, we're breaking down exactly what works, what doesn't, how cross-save stands, and what your real options are if you want to play with friends.

Is Elden Ring Crossplay in 2026

As of 2026, Elden Ring does not have full crossplay between platform families. FromSoftware still hasn't announced any change on that front, and neither the base game nor the Nightreign release has added cross-platform matchmaking since Elden Ring first launched in February 2022. Pretty much everything online is still tied to the platform where you bought the game.

What is supported is cross-generation play inside the same hardware family. So yes, PS4 can play with PS5, and Xbox One can play with Xbox Series X/S. Anything outside those family lines is still off the table.

Platform A	Platform B	Can Play Together?
PS4	PS5	Yes — Cross-Gen Supported
Xbox One	Xbox Series X/S	Yes — Cross-Gen Supported
PC (Steam)	PlayStation 4/5	No
PC (Steam)	Xbox One/Series X/S	No
PlayStation 4/5	Xbox One/Series X/S	No

On PlayStation, PS4 and PS5 players share the same matchmaking pool, so summon signs, Furled Finger co-op, and invasions all work across both generations without any special setup. Xbox works the same way, with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S players able to co-op or PvP freely. That support exists because each pair stays inside the same network ecosystem—PSN on Sony's side and Xbox's online infrastructure on Microsoft's side.

Elden Ring Crossplay Platform Breakdown

PC and PlayStation

There is still no crossplay between the Steam version of Elden Ring and any PlayStation version. Steam runs as its own separate online environment, with a network layer and session structure that simply doesn't connect to PlayStation Network. So if you're on PC and your friend is on PS5, there is no native way to meet in the same multiplayer session.

There's also the service difference to keep in mind. PlayStation players need an active PlayStation Plus subscription for online co-op, while Steam players don't need a separate online subscription beyond owning the game. That split doesn't cause the lack of crossplay by itself, but it does highlight how separate these ecosystems really are.

PC and Xbox

PC-to-Xbox crossplay is also unavailable in the normal sense. If you're playing the native Steam version on PC, you're locked to the Steam player pool, and that pool does not connect to Xbox consoles.

There is one edge case, though. If someone is playing Elden Ring through Xbox Cloud Gaming on a PC browser or through the Xbox app, they're technically streaming the Xbox version rather than running the native PC version. In that case, matchmaking happens inside the Xbox ecosystem, which can make it look like PC and Xbox crossplay exists. It doesn't, not really—the game is still being run through Microsoft's servers, and the save data belongs to the Xbox side, not Steam. Native PC saves remain completely separate.

PlayStation and Xbox

PlayStation and Xbox still cannot play together. Their matchmaking pools are fully locked apart, and Elden Ring has no unified backend that bridges PSN and Xbox sessions. Neither Bandai Namco nor FromSoftware has said anything publicly that suggests this is changing for the current game.

So if your group is split between Sony and Microsoft consoles, that's the hard stop. Same game, same patch, same DLC—none of that matters if the platforms don't match.

Elden Ring Cross-Save and Cross-Progression

Cross-save is also not part of Elden Ring between different platform families. A character you build on PC stays on PC. An Xbox save won't transfer to Steam, and a PlayStation character can't just be picked up on Xbox. If you buy the game on more than one platform, you're starting over each time.

There are, however, limited save-transfer options within the same platform family:

• PS4 to PS5: Save data can be uploaded through PlayStation cloud storage and then downloaded on PS5.

• Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S: Cloud sync handles this automatically through the Xbox network.

• PC to consoles or vice versa: No support at all.

That means these features are better described as same-family save migration, not true cross-progression.

As for Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition, which remains indefinitely delayed on Nintendo Switch 2 as of 2026, there is still no official word on cross-progression being added alongside that release. A lot of players obviously want it, especially those with long-running builds they'd love to continue on portable hardware. But looking at FromSoftware's recent track record, expectations should stay grounded. Elden Ring Nightreign, the 2025 co-op spinoff, also launched without crossplay despite arriving years later than the base game. That makes any near-term cross-save rollout feel pretty unlikely. Cosmetic bonuses tied to Tarnished Edition are expected to reach existing platform versions, but nothing official points to a major backend overhaul.

How to Play Elden Ring With Friends

Even without crossplay, Elden Ring's co-op system works well as long as everyone is on the same platform family. The easiest way to connect with specific friends is by using a multiplayer password. Open the Multiplayer menu at a Site of Grace, enter the exact same password on both sides, and the game will filter summon signs so only matching players can see each other more reliably.

The basic summoning flow is simple:

1. One player uses Tarnished's Furled Finger to place a gold summon sign.

2. The host uses a Finger Remedy to reveal summon signs.

3. With the same password active, the host can summon the intended friend directly from that filtered pool.

If summons keep failing, it's usually worth checking a few things before assuming the servers are broken:

• NAT type: Strict NAT settings can block peer-to-peer connections. Open NAT or Type 1/2 is ideal.

• Region settings: Matchmaking filters can reduce visibility if players are in different regions.

• Game version: Both players need to be on the same update.

• DLC ownership: This one matters a lot. If the host is in Shadow of the Erdtree content, the summoned player also needs to own that DLC or the connection will fail.

That last point trips people up more often than you'd think. If one player doesn't own the relevant expansion area, the summon won't go through.

Best Platform Choice for Co-Op Players

Since is elden ring crossplay still has the same answer—no—the best platform is usually the one your friends already use. That's really the decision that matters most. If you buy Elden Ring on a different ecosystem from your group, you're effectively locking yourself out of co-op with them.

PC through Steam gives you the highest performance ceiling if your hardware can handle it, and the mod scene is a huge bonus. There are quality-of-life tweaks, visual upgrades, challenge runs, and plenty of community-made content that can keep the game fresh way longer. The downside is population consistency. PC activity tends to spike hard around patches, DLC drops, or major updates, then cool off between them.

Console player bases have generally been more stable through 2026, especially on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. PlayStation usually has the biggest overall pool thanks to its install base, which can make random matchmaking a bit easier. Consoles also give you a more predictable plug-and-play experience, though online access comes with subscription costs. On PlayStation, that's PlayStation Plus. On Xbox, players usually look at Game Pass Ultimate or the relevant online tier depending on their setup. If you're choosing between the two, it's smart to weigh the broader value of those subscriptions instead of treating them as an Elden Ring-only expense.

Conclusion

So, to answer the big question one more time: is elden ring crossplay available in 2026? No, not across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The base game, Shadow of the Erdtree, and Elden Ring Nightreign all keep multiplayer locked to platform-specific pools. The only compatibility that carries across hardware generations is PS4 with PS5 and Xbox One with Xbox Series X/S.

If you're deciding where to buy the game, the best move is simple—go where your friends are. There isn't a workaround, unofficial fix, or edition upgrade that changes Elden Ring's matchmaking structure. Tarnished Edition on Switch 2 could still bring surprises, but right now there has been no official commitment to crossplay or cross-progression. Until that changes, planning around your friend group's platform is still the only reliable way to enjoy co-op in the Lands Between.