Is Ark cross-platform?

By Jesse Lennox September 4, 2024

Several dinosaurs in Ark. — Studio Wildcard

The best survival games come in all shapes and sizes, but not even Minecraft can claim to let you tame and ride all kinds of realistic dinosaurs. Taking place on another planet that just so happens to have very Earth-like dinosaurs, you are dropped into this dangerous world full of threats. Because Ark: Survival Evolved is a persistent online game, it will only be a matter of time before you encounter other human players. They could be your greatest ally, or destroy everything you own. Your best bet is to bring your own friends along to help you survive and work together like you would in other games like Rust. Ark is available on almost every platform, but how easy is it for you all to play together? Has Ark evolved to be a cross-platform game?

Is Ark cross-platform?

Sadly, Ark is not fully cross-platform — the game only allows for a very specific combination of systems to play together. As of now, only Xbox and PC players are able to team up on the same servers, while mobile players on iOS and Android can link up as well. There’s no crossplay available between any PlayStation platforms.

In terms of cross-progression, it is a similar story. You can transfer your progress only between Xbox and PC platforms and nothing else. If you started or want to switch to PlayStation, you’ll need to begin your adventure all over again from scratch.

Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…

Gaming

Is Elden Ring cross-platform?

Multiple players dueling in Elden Ring.

When it launched in 2022, Elden Ring was an immediate hit. The challenging game took everything great from previous FromSoftware titles and merged it with a sweeping open world to explore -- letting players venture in any direction just a few minutes after starting the game. That also made it incredibly daunting. Not only did you have to contend with nightmarish monsters and rage-inducing combat, but you had to figure out how to best reach your next destination without stumbling upon enemies that were twice your skill level.

Thankfully, Elden Ring makes use of a (cryptic) multiplayer system, allowing you to explore the Lands Between with a buddy by your side. You can also read and leave messages for other players, giving them tips and tricks to guide their journey. But is Elden Ring cross-platform, or are you stuck playing with folks on the same platform as you?

Gaming

Is Valorant cross-platform?

Characters in Valorant.

For years, Valorant was one of the best PC games and an exclusive to that platform. Due to the game requiring twitch reflexes and pinpoint aiming to land those critical headshots, many assumed it would never come to consoles. It may have taken a while, but Valorant is now playable on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Given that players on those systems will be using controllers instead of keyboard and mouse, PC players might be wondering if they will have a host of easy targets coming into the game. That would only be true if Valorant makes it onto our list of all cross-platform games, though. Pick your agents and buy your guns and armor before we rush the site and see if Valorant has cross-platform support.
Is Valorant cross-platform?

Valorant has partial cross-platform support. Console players on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S can freely play with and against one another, but PC players will remain locked on their own ecosystem. This makes sense since the PC crowd would have a massive advantage playing on keyboard and mouse rather than with controllers, even with a heavy helping of aim assist.

Gaming

Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?

Stardew Valley Multiplayer Fishing

Stardew Valley is a game made by just one person, but it has seen more success than most games made by dozens, or even hundreds, of people. It's even one of Digital Trends' top 50 video games of all time. Since its release in 2016, it's been updated regularly with new features and content to keep its avid fans coming back. As of the Stardew Valley 1.6 update additions, this includes an online multiplayer component that allows you and up to three friends to hang out on each other's farms. Of course, many players are still wondering when Stardew Valley 1.6 is coming to consoles. And with the recent trend of games allowing players on different platforms to join together, you may wonder if Stardew Valley offers cross-platform functionality. Here's everything we know about cross-platform support in Stardew Valley.
Is Stardew Valley cross-platform?

Stardew Valley does not offer cross-platform support, meaning you can't play online multiplayer between any of the systems the game is on. So if you want to team up with some friends, make sure you all are playing on the same platform, such as the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, or PC. Also be aware that whoever starts a multiplayer game is saving that shared world locally, meaning no one else can reenter that world without the host present.