Introduction
Searching is arc raiders crossplay asks a narrower question than whether the game is cross-platform in general. Crossplay means one specific thing: do players on different systems share the same raids, in the same pool, at the same time? For ARC Raiders, yes, and it is on by default.
This guide focuses on that mechanic: the shared pool, squads and rival raiders, Embark ID friends, where crossplay ends and cross-progression begins, and why there is no console-only option. It is a companion to our broader cross-platform guide, focused on how crossplay behaves in a raid.
Is ARC Raiders Crossplay at a Glance
| Fact | Is ARC Raiders crossplay detail |
|---|---|
| Game | ARC Raiders, by Embark Studios |
| Game release date | 30 October 2025 |
| Game platforms | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Genre | PvPvE extraction shooter |
| Crossplay | Yes, full crossplay across PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC |
| Default setting | Crossplay on, in one shared pool |
| Cross-platform friends | Through Embark ID, Username#1234 |
| Cross-progression | Yes, through the same Embark ID |
| Console-only crossplay | No, there is no PS5 plus Xbox pool without PC |
| Cross-buy | No general cross-buy, except Xbox Play Anywhere |
| Squad size | Up to 3 players, solo, duo or trio |
ARC Raiders is a PvPvE extraction shooter: you drop from Speranza to a surface overrun by hostile ARC machines, scavenge, and try to extract while rival players may help, trade, or take your loot. The shared pool therefore changes who you might meet on the surface, not just who can join your squad.
What Crossplay Actually Does in a Raid
With crossplay on, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC players share one matchmaking pool. It covers squad fill, so a solo player can be matched with teammates from other platforms, and rival raiders, so players met on a map can be on any supported platform.
That is why the setting matters even without cross-platform friends. Crossplay on gives the widest pool, usually faster matchmaking and fuller raids. Crossplay off narrows it to your own platform, which can mean longer waits off-peak.
Which Platforms Share the Crossplay Pool
ARC Raiders launched on 30 October 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, with PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, and also via GeForce NOW. There is no PlayStation 4 or Xbox One version. The boundary is generation, not storefront: Steam and Epic players share the PC side of the pool.
| Platform | In the shared crossplay pool | Plays with |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Yes | Xbox Series X|S and PC when crossplay is on |
| Xbox Series X|S | Yes | PlayStation 5 and PC when crossplay is on |
| PC (Steam / Epic / GeForce NOW) | Yes | PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S when crossplay is on |
| PlayStation 4 | No version, so no crossplay | Not applicable |
| Xbox One | No version, so no crossplay | Not applicable |
A mixed squad can include a PS5, Xbox and PC player at once, up to three players. You can also raid solo or as a duo, with squad fill adding other platforms when a slot is open.
Embark ID: The Key to Crossplay Friends
Native friend lists do not cross platforms: PlayStation Network and Xbox lists are separate, and neither finds a Steam player automatically. ARC Raiders uses an Embark ID, your universal identity across platforms: your username plus a four-digit code, as Username#1234. Copy the full ID exactly.
To add one, open the social or party menu, choose Add Friend, and enter their full Embark ID. Once accepted, they appear on your friend list regardless of platform. If a friend cannot join, check crossplay first, as invites fail while it is off.
Crossplay Is Not Cross-Progression
Crossplay and cross-progression do different jobs. Crossplay decides who shares your raid; cross-progression decides whether progress follows you when switching platforms. ARC Raiders has both, through the same Embark ID.
With full cross-progression, progress, unlocks, gear, inventory, blueprints, skills and cosmetics should follow you on the same Embark ID on another platform. You may need to repeat the short tutorial first on a new platform, though main progress then carries over. A second Embark account has separate progress.
How to Turn Crossplay On or Off
Crossplay is on by default, so most players never need to touch the setting. To change it, open Settings from the main menu, go to the Gameplay tab, find the Online section, and toggle Crossplay on or off. You cannot normally change this while actively matchmaking or in a raid, so change it before you queue.
Turning crossplay off limits matchmaking to your own platform only: a smaller pool and no cross-platform invites while it is off. For most squads, leave it on and use Embark ID to build the group.
Why There Is No Console-Only Crossplay
The most common crossplay complaint is also the clearest limit: there is no console-only crossplay option. When crossplay is on, console players share a pool with PC players. When crossplay is off, you are limited to your own platform only, PS5 with PS5 or Xbox with Xbox. There is no setting that gives you a shared PS5 plus Xbox pool while excluding PC players.
Guides disagree on input-based matchmaking, so this guide does not treat it as confirmed. The confirmed choice is simpler: everyone together, or your own platform alone. Do not promise a console-only lobby.
Cross-Buy: A Separate Question From Crossplay
Crossplay does not mean cross-buy. In most cases, owning ARC Raiders on one platform does not give you the game on another platform: a PS5 owner who later wants to play on PC needs to buy the PC version as well. Your progress travels through your Embark ID, but the licence to play on each system does not travel with it.
The exception is Xbox Play Anywhere: a Microsoft Store Xbox purchase can also cover Windows PC. It does not cover PlayStation: a PS5 purchase unlocks neither PC nor Xbox, and a Steam or Epic purchase unlocks neither console.
Crossplay After Frozen Trail: Solo vs Squads Removed
Crossplay has not changed, but one related option has. Frozen Trail 2.0, on 8 October 2026, removed Solo vs Squads while Embark re-evaluates it. That does not remove solo play or crossplay. You can still enter alone, as a duo or trio, but matchmaking cannot guarantee a solo-only lobby.
For crossplay, the point is simple: a solo player with crossplay on can still meet squads from other platforms. Do not confuse the missing Solo vs Squads toggle with a crossplay toggle.
Conclusion
So, is arc raiders crossplay on? Yes, fully, and by default. PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC share one pool, mixed squads of up to three work through Embark ID, and progress follows via cross-progression. Limits: no console-only filter, no general cross-buy outside Xbox Play Anywhere, no PS4/Xbox One version, and Solo vs Squads removed in Frozen Trail 2.0.
If friends are spread across systems, crossplay is the easy part: get every full Embark ID, check crossplay is on, and raid together.
For more ARC Raiders guides and news, visit Game Horizon, and join the discussion on our ARC Raiders Discord page.
FAQs
Is ARC Raiders crossplay between PS5, Xbox and PC?
Yes. Full crossplay across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC, on by default, in one shared pool, with squads of up to three mixing platforms.
How do I add crossplay friends in ARC Raiders?
Use their full Embark ID, Username#1234, including the code and hash. In the social or party menu, choose Add Friend, enter the ID, then invite them once accepted.
Can I turn crossplay off in ARC Raiders?
Yes. Go to Settings, then the Gameplay tab, find the Online section, and toggle Crossplay off before you queue. That limits matchmaking to your own platform only. There is no console-only option.
Does ARC Raiders crossplay include PC players for console players?
Yes, when crossplay is on. Console players share a pool with PC players, including Steam, Epic and GeForce NOW players on the PC side. The only way to avoid PC players is to turn crossplay off entirely.
Does crossplay mean my progress carries over?
No, that is cross-progression, a separate feature. Through the same Embark ID, progress, unlocks, gear, blueprints, skills and cosmetics carry over between platforms.
Is Solo vs Squads still available with crossplay on?
No. It was removed in Frozen Trail 2.0 on 8 October 2026 while Embark re-evaluates it. Solo, duo and trio play remain, and crossplay is unchanged.
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